Grammar Spod: How about this?

Dear friends of the English language,

As Christmas is getting closer and we are all in a festive mood, enjoying mince pies, Christmas puddings and mulled wine, I thought I’d keep this month a bit lighter than usual. We will be looking at how and various words it can be combined with (lexical phrases). But I don’t want to bore you with a lengthy explanation so let’s get right to it:

• how + about/are/do/far/fast/high/long/much/tall

Practice

Complete the questions with how and a word from the box above:1)    A: How _____ is your house from the North Pole, Father Christmas?    B: About one mile.2)    A: How _____ coming to my house for dinner on Christmas Eve?    B: Sorry, I’m away that evening.3)     A: How ___ did those earrings cost?    B: I don’t know. My mum gave them to me as a present last Christmas.4)     A: How _____ you spell that reindeer’s name?    B: D-A-S-H-E-R.5)    A: How _____ have the elves been working on these presents?    B: Just over a month.6)    A: How _____ was he driving when he crashed his sleigh?    B: Only about fifty miles an hour.7)    A: How _____ you feeling now, Rudolph?    B: Much better, thanks.8)    A: How _____ is Father Christmas? Will he fit down our chimney?    B: He is about six foot two inches.9)    A: Tom, I’d like you to meet Father Christmas.    B: How _____ you do, Santa Claus? It’s nice to meet you.10)    A: How _____is this Christmas tree?    B: Over 2 m.You can check your answers on page 14.I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!Until 2010 – yours sincerely,

Countess Grammar AB