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  #1  
Old May 11, 2010, 12:33 PM
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Cómo es...

Instead of saying:

She'll ask what the university is like, may I say:

She'll ask how the university is

or is it completely wrong?

Thanks.
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  #2  
Old May 11, 2010, 01:15 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by irmamar View Post
Instead of saying:

She'll ask what the university is like, may I say:

She'll ask how the university is

or is it completely wrong?
*sigh* It is not wrong, but there is possibly a difference in context and meaning.

If she is a school student looking to study at a university and asks a university student what their particular university is like then

She'll ask what the university is like

But, if your elder sister somes home from university for a vacation, and the younger sister asks how the elder sister is personally affected by university, then

She'll ask how the university is

i.e. this question is really 'how did you get on at university?'

Does that help?
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Old May 11, 2010, 01:28 PM
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Yes, but I'm still a bit conused, . The sentence I translated was (well, they are strange sentences...):
Cuando llegue Mary, puede que quiera sentarse entre aquellos dos chicos y preguntarles qué carrera piensan hacer, si saben cómo es la universidad (...).

The book says "what the university is like", my option is "how".
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Old May 11, 2010, 01:31 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by irmamar View Post
The book says "what the university is like", my option is "how".
I think the book is quite right, and I can't see how you could use 'how'.
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  #5  
Old May 11, 2010, 01:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Perikles View Post
I think the book is quite right, and I can't see how you could use 'how'.
Muy fácil, how es cómo.

Thanks.
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  #6  
Old May 11, 2010, 01:47 PM
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Muy fácil, how es cómo.
Not always.
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  #7  
Old May 11, 2010, 01:49 PM
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Something occurs to me; she might want to determine whether or not they know how the University system "works"...
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"Be brief, for no discourse can please when too long."
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  #8  
Old May 11, 2010, 01:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Perikles View Post
Not always.
I know it, but sometimes I forget it.


Hermit, I can't know Mary's purpose

Last edited by irmamar; May 11, 2010 at 01:52 PM.
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  #9  
Old May 11, 2010, 02:18 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by irmamar View Post
Yes, but I'm still a bit conused, . The sentence I translated was (well, they are strange sentences...):
Cuando llegue Mary, puede que quiera sentarse entre aquellos dos chicos y preguntarles qué carrera piensan hacer, si saben cómo es la universidad (...).

The book says "what the university is like", my option is "how".
Irma, that's your clue.
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  #10  
Old May 11, 2010, 03:21 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by irmamar View Post
Yes, but I'm still a bit conused, . The sentence I translated was (well, they are strange sentences...):
Cuando llegue Mary, puede que quiera sentarse entre aquellos dos chicos y preguntarles qué carrera piensan hacer, si saben cómo es la universidad (...).

The book says "what the university is like", my option is "how".
¿Estás segura de esa "the"? Me parece probable (estaría bien tener un poco más del contexto) que habla de la universidad (en general), y sólo debe ser "the university" si habla de una universidad específica.
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