How vs. Who

Attribute	How	Who
Definition	The method or manner in which something is done	The person or people responsible for an action or task
Question	Asking "how" focuses on the process or steps involved	Asking "who" focuses on the individual or group carrying out the action
Interrogative Pronoun	"How" is an interrogative pronoun used to ask about manner or method	"Who" is an interrogative pronoun used to ask about a person or people
Examples	"How do you bake a cake?"	"Who is coming to the party?"

Introduction

When it comes to asking questions, two common interrogative pronouns are "how" and "who." These two words serve different purposes in a sentence and are used to gather specific information. In this article, we will explore the attributes of "how" and "who" and discuss how they differ in their usage and meaning.

How

The word "how" is used to inquire about the manner or method in which something is done. It is often used to ask for details or specifics about a process or action. For example, one might ask, "How did you make that delicious cake?" to learn about the steps involved in baking the dessert. "How" can also be used to ask about quantity or degree, such as in the question, "How many cookies did you eat?"

• Used to inquire about the manner or method
• Asks for details or specifics
• Can be used to ask about quantity or degree

Who

In contrast, the word "who" is used to inquire about a person's identity or to specify a particular individual. It is commonly used to ask about the subject of a sentence or to learn more about someone's involvement in a situation. For example, one might ask, "Who is coming to the party?" to find out which individuals will be attending the event. "Who" can also be used to ask about the authorship of a work, as in the question, "Who wrote this book?"

• Used to inquire about a person's identity
• Specifies a particular individual
• Commonly used to ask about the subject of a sentence

Usage Differences

One key difference between "how" and "who" is their usage in a sentence. While "how" is typically used to ask about the manner or method in which something is done, "who" is used to inquire about a person's identity or involvement. For example, one might ask, "How did you learn to play the piano?" to inquire about the process of learning a skill. On the other hand, one might ask, "Who taught you to play the piano?" to inquire about the specific individual who provided instruction.

Meaning Differences

Another difference between "how" and "who" lies in their meanings. "How" focuses on the method or manner in which something is done, while "who" focuses on the identity of a person. This distinction is important when asking questions, as it helps to clarify the type of information being sought. For example, asking "How did you get here?" would prompt a response about the mode of transportation used, while asking "Who brought you here?" would prompt a response about the individual responsible for transportation.

Examples

Here are some examples to illustrate the differences between "how" and "who" in context:

• "How did you learn to speak Spanish?" - This question asks about the method or process of learning a language.
• "Who taught you to speak Spanish?" - This question asks about the specific individual who provided instruction in the language.
• "How many books did you read last month?" - This question asks about the quantity of books read.
• "Who is your favorite author?" - This question asks about the identity of the preferred writer.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "how" and "who" are both important interrogative pronouns that serve different purposes in a sentence. While "how" is used to inquire about the manner or method in which something is done, "who" is used to inquire about a person's identity or involvement. Understanding the distinctions between these two words can help improve communication and ensure that questions are phrased accurately to elicit the desired information.