Learn English: “How come?”
“How come?” is a very, very common English expression that is important to learn. It is used all the time, but many textbooks and teachers don't teach it, because it is informal. In this simple video, I will teach you what “how come” means, how to use it, and when to use it. After watching, take the quiz at www.engvid.com/how-come/ to make sure you've got it!
TRANSCRIPT
Hello. My name is Emma, and in today's video I am going to teach you a very important expression for conversation. That expression is: "How come?" It's a very popular expression you may see in movies, on TV, or in conversation with English speakers. But it's a very good one to know because we do use it a lot.
So, what does "How come?" mean? Okay, well, first I have a question for you. I have here two sentences. "Why did you miss your plane?" and "How come you missed your plane?" What is the difference in meaning between these two sentences? Maybe you already know. Okay? So take a guess. The difference in meaning is actually they mean the same thing. "How come?" is another way to say "Why?". It's just a little bit more informal. Okay? So if you're writing, you're going to use "Why?", but if you're speaking you can use both. Okay? "How come?" is informal, it's an informal way to say "Why?" And so, by informal, I mean you use it with your friends, with, you know, people you're talking to on the street, but you wouldn't use it in an essay. Okay? Or for school.
Okay, so: "How come?" means: "Why?" So, when we're asking: "How come?" what we're asking about is... we want to know why something happened or the reasons why something happened. Okay? So, for example: "How come you missed your plane?" You know, a reason might be: "Oh, I was late getting to the airport" or "I slept in." Okay? So these would be the answers to a question like: "How come?" So, a lot of the time, teachers will ask this question. "You were late for class today. How come?" That means the teacher wants to know why you were late for class. So now let's look at the grammar of "How come?" and how we can use it in a sentence.
Okay, so again, "How come?" is an informal way to say: "Why?" So, we often use it in conversation. Now let's look at the grammar of "How come?" and how we make a sentence with "How come?" So, I have here: "How come", which is at the beginning, and then we have plus the subject. A subject is... It can be: "I", "you", "he", "she", "they", "we", or it can also be a thing, a place, or a person, but it's the doer of a sentence. Then we have the verb. So, for example: "play", "take", "listen", "sing", "eat", these are all verbs. And then finally we have an object, which comes after the verb in regular English sentences and usually those can be people, they can be places, they can be things, so these are the objects. If this is confusing, let's look at some examples, maybe that will help.
So, for example: "How come you"-is the subject-"take"-is the verb, and the object is-"the bus"? "How come you take the bus?" This means the same thing as: "Why do you take the bus?" So, here I actually have this written: "Why do you take the bus?" And you'll actually notice "How come" is easier in terms of grammar than "Why". If you look here: "Why do you take the bus?" you have this word, here: "do". Okay? In other sentences we say: "Why does he" or "Why didn't he", but there's always something like: "do", "does", "did", "didn't" here with "Why". And a lot of students forget to put this here. A lot of students will say: "Why you take the bus?" But this is not correct English. For "Why" we always need something here. Now, the nice thing about "How come" is you don't need this. Okay? If you look at "How come", if you can make an English sentence: "you take the bus", you can change this into "Why" just by adding "How come". So, the structure of this is just like a regular English sentence. We have the subject, the verb, and the object, and then we just add "How come" at the front of it.
So let's look at another example: "How come Toronto isn't the capital of Canada?" So, again, we have: "How come", we have "Toronto" which is the subject, we have "isn't" which is the verb, and we have "the capital", which is the object. So, if you want to make a regular sentence, I would just say: "Toronto isn't the capital", we can just add "How come" to this, and then it becomes a question, meaning: "Why isn't Toronto the capital?"
"How come John didn't come?" Okay? So here we have "How come" at the beginning, "John" which is the subject, and "didn't come", because it's negative form we have "didn't" here, so this is the past, past tense. "Didn't come" is the verb. Okay? This sentence doesn't have an object. Not all sentences in English need objects. The main thing is that you have a subject and a verb. Okay, so that might be a little confusing for you.
Пікірлер: 923
How come I didn't learn this before? This lesson is so interesting. Thank Emma!
I am completely fluent in English, Born and live in Canada, never thought about needing to learn english , and yet for some reason KZread has put this in my recommended for like 6 months
@vyoutube8276
Жыл бұрын
Can you just talk to me in English so I can learn
I used to encourage my students to use HOW COME !!! I enjoy watching American Teachers bringing "Real English". Blessings upon you, dear Emma.
@georgette7122
4 жыл бұрын
Then you were a bad teacher. It is bad English, plain and simple.
Emma thanks for teach us... i'm a Brazilian man and in the next year ill go to USA and your classes will help me to emprove my English. On more time THANKS
Emma my favorite teacher!
@walberpacheco4910
6 жыл бұрын
Luis Barrionuevo she's very great but you should watch Ronnie too, she's so funny
@luisbar7951
6 жыл бұрын
Yes I know her. You are right
@80dakka
6 жыл бұрын
which country she live ?
@luisbar7951
6 жыл бұрын
I think she lives in Canada.
@97marwa
6 жыл бұрын
Luis Barrionuevo me too
Emma, this is a super helpful topic! Thank you a lot!
emma I always come back to your videos . I love canada . I love the way you teach. you are a nice person.
There are lots of good teachers on so many chanels, but Emma is really the best. She's simply marvellous! I love her and, off course I wish her all the best.
thank you for this lesson. I will try to use most often "how come" in my daily conversation
@georgette7122
4 жыл бұрын
Do not use "how come." It is childish and very bad English.
@elainejones9299
4 жыл бұрын
Georgette No, it’s not. Stop trying to confuse non-native speakers. 🙄
I am planing to become a teacher. I love your style so much!
I absolutely LOVE you Emma!!! You’re the best teacher on this world! You’ re so easy to understand. Hearing you is a pleasure as your explanations are clear and simple. In addition, your voice is like silk and you’re beautiful. I LOvE YOU !
Hi, Emma, actually I want to thank you for each one of your lessons through your videos. You are very polite and your speaking English is lovely. I wish you all the best in your life.
Great lesson, Emma! Here's a thought I'd like to share with you: when I use "How come?" rather than "Why?" in questions -maybe it´s only me- I have the impression that I also add the idea, the feeling of being surprised by that situation..don't know if you agree with me. So, in a way, I think these two questions are not only different in terms of level of formality, but also in their pragmatics.
@AbuAmmar2
6 жыл бұрын
That is correct. I have noticed the same on many occasions during my interaction with native speakers in work and study places.
@BenBen-se9dg
6 жыл бұрын
Daniel Santos i agree with you
Wooowww, this video is great and your explination was cool, thanks a lot 😉 Note: I'm from México and I'm a new speaker of english, I love your videos 😍😍😍
Emma is a very good English instructor. I understand her lessons well and I like how she teaches. She is very nice likeable. Very good for her.
My best English teacher! Thank you so much for such hard and informative work.
The final piece of the puzzle of “how come” is the fact that it is actually an abbreviation of a longer phrase, which, although not known with certainty, was probably “how comes it” or “how does it come,” meaning “how did this (event, condition, etc.) happen to be this way.”
Thanks a lot!you're one of my best teachers on this channel.
@rohitgusain30
6 жыл бұрын
Evgeniya Das hy
@evgeniyadas4254
6 жыл бұрын
Rohit gusain hi
@rohitgusain30
6 жыл бұрын
what's up dear ...r u a english learner.
@evgeniyadas4254
6 жыл бұрын
Rohit gusain not exactly.... I try to improve my skills
@rohitgusain30
6 жыл бұрын
mee too..
I’m a native English speakers who has taught ESL before. I wish I could have showed this video to my students, it helps simplify things a lot
I love to learn more about the english lessons with this teacher
How come you became an English teacher? I know it's because you have the best way to teach English.
@Paritosh2646p
3 жыл бұрын
Well she has said that "how come" exactly means why and we can use "how come " instead of "why" so I don't think your sentences match ... Coz it's exactly mean that "why you became an English teacher ?....
@kamleshsainiindia
3 жыл бұрын
@@Paritosh2646p We can't use past simple verb in question form. But we can use 2nd form of vert with how come.
My God THANK YOU for this vid! I started to use *How Come* in my questions and my husband always tells me... it's not how come is why. Maybe is the way I ask. But now looking at the examples I'll practice, hopefully use it wisely. Thank you again!
@georgette7122
4 жыл бұрын
Please, there is no need to use this expression. I'm American and I NEVER say "how come." It is very bad English, childish, as another commenter wrote.
@whatsthepurpose1420
4 жыл бұрын
@@georgette7122 i'm not even an Amercian, but i'm sure that you can't be right about that
@alondrarojas5478
3 жыл бұрын
It means "why", but you have to use it in a situation of surprise, not all the time... For example, if a friend tells you "I don't like chocolate" you may say... Whaaaat! How come you don't like chocolate? O.o
@Victrixiux
3 жыл бұрын
@@alondrarojas5478 Thank you so much! I've heard this on native English speakers but as you mentioned they used it as a surprise answer. Again, I truly appreciate your help.
@Paritosh2646p
3 жыл бұрын
@@georgette7122 I do think the same .... But it's only to know all the things and depends upon u whether u will apply it or not ...
The best English teacher ever, i love you
The best teacher... Bravo Emma
Ohhh I didn't know about this ... Thanks a lot Professor Emma
I always use "that" after "how come" I don't know why but I just feel that I need it 😎. I have to pay attention for that point. Thanks alot.
@diogomendespaiva4396
6 жыл бұрын
Maybe it's have happened due to your native language. You can try think in English.
@virginiaprats9156
5 жыл бұрын
Which is your native language?
Teacher Emma, 🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧 🇷 loves you!!!! Tks for teaching!
You are the best English teacher and teach for the whole world and not just for one country.
This the new thing that I have learned today.
@virginiaprats9156
5 жыл бұрын
Me too!
I've been learning English fo 14 years and haven't known about "how come?". I've seen it but I thought it was a kind of joke.
@DaveF
5 жыл бұрын
You really shouldn't use it. It is something a child would say. It's important to know what it means, but you should always say "Why?" instead of "How come?"
@rituparnamohapatra6013
4 жыл бұрын
Hii
@darm.8172
3 жыл бұрын
@@DaveF ... That's What I Said!!! How Come Sounds Like Improper English -To ME.
Maravillosa maestra de Ingles para quienes amamos ese idioma....
I Like all tips about IELTS and english lessons..I follow her all English lectures & IELTS TIPS ...She is very good trainer, I like her learning accent and I understand her learning way............................so I am satisfy with her learning way .................great teacher
Hai emma...ur doing a great job for many people.even english teachers and who knows very well english language need to watch your videos..bcz u have been covering a different parts of english grammer...i would like to say thnq so much for your valuable vedios for us...have a nice day emmma..
@mehakanand1655
6 жыл бұрын
sameera shaik exactly 👍👍
@ilya0885
6 жыл бұрын
your grammar is terrible and awful
@nurhosen8399
6 жыл бұрын
হব স৩এক্স
Emma, I am mad at you! How come you didn't teach us that before? Jajaja Just kidding It was such a nifty video. Thanks for doing it.
Emma is the best teacher ever thank you
Simply awesome Emma ! You rock ! I teach English here in Donetsk Republic, Russian speakers, and your vids are so useful ! Thanks Emma !
Hello, I'm French native and I understand every single word you say but how come I don't understand English movies very well ? Need your answer please !
@axbdaz4735
6 жыл бұрын
Dear Mamadou because she's a teacher and speaks clearly and slowly, so the students can understand.
@astuces.tech2.0
6 жыл бұрын
AXB DaZ the true is : I'd like her to tell me how to understand English movies?
@axbdaz4735
6 жыл бұрын
Dear Mamadou Just turn on the subtitles while watching movies, it will take time but sooner you'll be able to comprehend English properly.
@astuces.tech2.0
6 жыл бұрын
AXB DaZ thank you ! are you an English native ?
@axbdaz4735
6 жыл бұрын
Dear Mamadou No but I grew up speaking in English along with Arabic.
How come? = Cómo es qué?
@Bumbumbr-zu5gc
5 жыл бұрын
ZombieShitHolocaust yes it translates to that. English is very Latin influenced. Though English is a Germanic language, English has way more Latin than German. We don’t really use Latin in our language a lot though you’ll hear at school, like we have to learn out prefixes. For example: the prefix “mal” which means bad in both Spanish and Portuguese and probably more Latin languages. Well in English mal also means bad, so when an English word starts with mal we instantly know it’s about something bad. Another word annual which means “year” it’s close to the word año in Spanish and ano in Portuguese. We have lots of Latin in English so I really can’t go through all of it!!
You are the best English teacher I have ever studied from. You pronounce so clearly and .....so great. Best wishes for you.
This is the clearest tutorial. Thanks Emma!
The first one
@tuananhvu6597
6 жыл бұрын
Kim hanh dong
Thank you Emma , you know what the students need and explain them very well💕
Thanks it's good to know and learn new things ... ,,,,,,,, If many people hadn't watched this video they wouldn't have known about this.... It's amazing that we can all learn from u..
Emma is just the best teacher everrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr !!! Thank you so much !!!
thank you Emma for this detail lesson,.. we need teacher as you, I love your explanation.
Dear Emma, lessons like this indeed make the difference. Congrats and thanks.
Thanks Miss. Emma you are the best.
It seems to me I used to see this expression in different texts. But I just never paid attention to it. I subconciously understood what it meant. But I never used it in my speaking. So the time has come. Thank you Emma!
She is my favorite teacher. Y love her❤❤
Your English is clear . Thanks Emma.
Thanks Emma! I loved Your classes! Continue with your channel. From Brazil!
Thank you Emma, you speak so clearly, so I can understand what you say.
Her English is easy to listen!it helps my English learning improve!
Love your classes,Emma.
You are a Good teacher indeed!!!
Emma is the best teacher...
Many thanks, Emma!
Thank you. Your explanations about how come are very clear. Congrats !
Thanks Emma you my best teacher
Emma teacher my favorite 👍👍👍👍👌👌👌👌👌
Emma I really like your lessons, you are very good teacher. I'm Brazilian student and I can understand all your lessons and I have learn so much with you. thanks a lot.
As always you are great in teaching English language. Thank you so much.
You are the best teacher.
Thank you for your service
Mark,love you.Emma,You teach me a lot.
Thank you Emma you are my best teacher
Hi, you really are a great help like I had to give my IELTS exam and I was like I don't know how to do it but your videos helped me a lot. Thank You
Thank you for your wonderful lessons.
Excellent class, thank you.
Excellent class thank you very much teacher. I'm Brazilian and I loved your explanation.
the best teacher ever
My Best teacher
Everytime i listing your lesson, i seems like getting better than ever! Thanks
You teach every english topic nicely.
thank you so much . you are one of the best teachers on youtube for me
You are my favourite English teacher ever. I really like your every lesson, because them are very usefull.
Thank you Emma!
I live the way you teach.
Emma you are the greatest I like your teacher way rather than others ..
Really I love your teaching Emma thanks a lot
Thanks for your detail introduction, Emma. I got so much.
Hi Emma, you always explain so clear, so that everybody can understand all you say, this lesson was so clear
Hi my great teacher ,i can not find enough words to express my great thanks to u for your great works and generosity , with the best wishes and best regards .student Yousif from Iraq
You're the great teacher that I have seen in my life
Hi Emma I didn't hear this word before thank you for teaching us and helping us to improve our English.
Thanks a lot teacher Emma.❤
Olá Emma, assinei seu canal recentemente e estou adorando o modo que você ensina, mesmo sendo tudo inglês e eu por ser um iniciante é ótimo o seu canal aqui no KZread. Parabéns, e obrigado por cada aula aqui postado.
Miss Emma is my favorite teacher.
Great lesson Emma..we love you
Love Emma, thank you for this topic.
This lesson is most important to me.Thanks ma’am
u r one of the best teachers i have ever learnt..tnx from Bangladesh
Thank you very much Mrs!
You're a great teacher....Thank you. My test...100/100....
Emma,your teaching is easy to understand
Thanks Emma you are great teacher
Thanks a million teacher.I'm really into your teaching and your explaining what easy to understand.
Emma u r my favourite teacher and thank you
Thanks for teaching us a great lesson.
You,re awesome. I'd been using How come for a long time but didn't know the grammar difference from Why. Thank you!!!