Search from various English teachers...
Sean
What or How?
I am just wondering
Why you say "What do you call it?" and "How do you say it?".
Why you don't say" How do you call it?" and "What do you say it".
Are there any clear rules for non-native english speakers to follow?
Feb 13, 2017 8:35 AM
Answers · 2
1
"What" is a describes the item itself, and "how" is the method.
In such a short sentence, the rules are clear: "What do you say it" is incorrect, because you cannot "say" a description.
You can say, "How do you say it" or "How do you call it", as it refers to the method of doing something. The answer could be the method or the name of the item (e.g. "The answer is a car" or "I call it a car")
"What do you call it" is almost the same, but generally it is to describe what the thing is (e.g. "It is a car"). If I answer "The answer is a car", it would sound unnatural.
February 13, 2017
Still haven’t found your answers?
Write down your questions and let the native speakers help you!
Sean
Language Skills
Chinese (Mandarin), English, Japanese
Learning Language
English
Articles You May Also Like

Same Word, Different Meaning: American, British, and South African English
11 likes · 7 Comments

How to Sound Confident in English (Even When You’re Nervous)
13 likes · 9 Comments

Marketing Vocabulary and Phrases for Business English Learners
10 likes · 2 Comments
More articles