Danyel
How many people ARE THERE in your family & How... How many people ARE THERE in your family & How many people DO YOU HAVE in your family Which one example is more correct one to say?
Aug 2, 2013 12:12 PM
Answers · 9
3
How many people are there in your family? This is correct and would sound fairly natural. Less formal: How big is your family? You could ask the second way and it would also be correct. You just wouldn't hear it as often. You might hear it asked with a particular inflection if the person asking was surprised at how big a family it was: "How many people do you HAVE in your family?
August 2, 2013
Thank you,JMat. I love your answers.
August 2, 2013
Danyel, 'there is/are' is used to indicate that something exists. As Frank says, it doesn't make sense if you interpret it literally. It's similar to 'es gibt' in German.
August 2, 2013
I meant the family where father, mother, and children
August 2, 2013
The "there" in the first sentence is unnecessary. How many people are in your family? Now the problem becomes a cultural one. Do you mean "current nuclear family", "nuclear family of your childhood", "extended family", ...?
August 2, 2013
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