Topic: I have said 3 millions of times that 'HOW TO' is not a correct way to make a question. Once again, please remember what you should say is 'how do..', 'how can/could', 'how is'....I promise you I won't say that again. @枫下论坛 The Rolia Forum

工作学习 / English / I have said 3 millions of times that 'HOW TO' is not a correct way to make a question. Once again, please remember what you should say is 'how do..', 'how can/could', 'how is'....I promise you I won't say that again. -wjiang(wjiang); 2001-3-19 (#34793@0)

答案正确, 加十分. 态度恶劣, 扣二十分. -wonton_soup(Wonton Soup); 2001-3-19 (#34799@0)
Your answer is wrong."How to " is a very popular oral english even for native Canadian. "How could I read..." is formal English if you want to write it in TWE. -wins(wins); 2001-3-19 (#34832@0)

Exactly. -rolling(Rollor); 2001-3-19 (#34841@0)
'How to' is correct only if you use it as a title or part of a statement. To make a question, it is wrong. -wjiang(wjiang); 2001-3-19 (#34845@0)
I give you one day to check with the native speakers. I bet 10 dollars. -wjiang(wjiang); 2001-3-19 (#34846@0)

I heard several times when I talk with my manager and native colleagues -wins(wins); 2001-3-19 (#34849@0)

I've never heard any of my co-worders asking questiona that way. It's rude if you ask a question that way in oral English. -albxu(Yukon); 2001-3-20 {218} (#35040@0)
you may hear the "how to" when they're speaking, but listen carefully to what they've said before the "how to".

I saw "How to" at the beginning of a sentence only in FAQ sections of manual pages or web site.

It is not rarely heard that sb said:Could you tell me how to ....? In ielts test book, you can still find the same sentence. I promise it is right . -wins(wins); 2001-3-20 (#35047@0)

In your example, 'how to' is the object of the sentence. However, you CAN NOT make a question by saying "how to do this?". -wjiang(wjiang); 2001-3-20 (#35082@0)

I corrected my students similar problems when I was a teacher. But now, living in Canada, all mistakes are acceptable, as long as you get your idea pass through. -rolling(Rollor); 2001-3-20 {697} (#35101@0)
第二句语法不对，动名词形式主语与句子的主语不一致，不应省略。但是，说英语不是考试，你说清楚，别人明白就行了，千万不要纠缠细节。（谁能分析一下这句话的汉语结构有没有错误）

如果你不想当语言学家或政治家，就别在这事上下太多功夫。

When I first started working in an American company, my friend told me that I always corrected my grammar during my speech. He told me I should not be stopped by thinking of these mistakes. When you stop, your flow of thoughts is stopped, too. So, keep going with all your grammatic errors, they are acceptable.

However, if you always use "he" instead of "she", you may need to draw a picture in you mind when you speak. But, this is NOT a big mistake, either.
there is much oral English which disobey grammer rules, for example: 1.How about ... 2.Coffee or tea( In formal English,you should say:Which one would you like,coffe or tea?) 3. cauz ...(It should be :"Because...") 4. I gonna to leave. -wins(wins); 2001-3-20 {300} (#35129@0)
If I back to China, I could bring the ielts test book to show you it is right for speaking "how to...".
And sometimes ," How to " become a word "howto".
So, I can say :Could you show me how to do this?
or just say:How to do this?

We want to learn living English ,not only testing English.

man, you DIDN'T ask. -wjiang(wjiang); 2001-3-20 (#35211@0)

"How to..." is the shortcut of "Could you tell me how to...". Am I right? I know my english is poor. -eglington(eglington); 2001-3-19 (#34853@0)

No. In no circumstance can you short your sentence in this way. "How do/can/could/is... " is the only correct way to use. I have given 'wins' one day of time to confirm it with the native speakers. -wjiang(wjiang); 2001-3-19 (#34866@0)