这三个疑问词都是用来对时间提问的,但他们在含义和用法上是有区别的.How often有“多久一次”的意思.当对频率提问时,我们常用How often.频率副词和短语有often,sometimes,usually,once/twice/three times a week等.
其中:
how soon指某件事情距离现在多久会发生;用in回答,意思是“多久以后”
how long指某件事情持续的时间多长;或者是某样东西的物理长度——回答用一个长度(包括时间长度和空间长度),意思是“多长时间”、“多长”
how often指事情发生的频率如何;表示频率时用“twice a day”、“always”等来回答.意思是“多久(一次)”等等.
找几个例子:
e.g How often do you watch TV?
你多长时间看一次电影?
How long是提问某物“多长”,也可以提问某延续性动作持续“多长时间”.
e.g How long is the stick?
这根棍子有多长?
How long have you lived here?
你住在这里多久了?
How far 是提问“路程有多远”
e.g How far is it from his house?
距离他家有多远?
How soon是提问再过“过多久就做某事”
e.g How soon will Mike come back?
迈克多过久就回来呢?
一、how soon
表示“要过多久以后,要到什么时候”的意思,用来对句中带有in no time(马上,立即;即将),immediately(马上,立即),before long(不久之后,在短时间内),(very)soon(马上,立即),in five days(5天后)(weeks,months,years,etc.),after Monday(星期一之后)(January,1949 etc.)提问。如:
He'll come back in two hours.(他两小时后回来。)→
How soon will he come back?(他要到什么时候回来?)
二、how often
表示“多长时间一次,是否经常”的意义,通常用来对sometimes,usually,never,seldom,often,always,every day,everytwo weeks等表示频度的副词或词组提问,如:
He writes to his mother once a month.(他一个月给他妈妈写一封信。) →
How often does he writeto his mother? (他多长时间给他妈妈写一封信?)
三、how long
表示“多长时间”的意义,用来对句中带有for,unit(till),since,all the morning,from…to… 等表示一段时间的状语提问,对某些动词(take,spend等)后面表示时段的名词提问时也用how long,如:
Mr.Black has lived in Shanghai for over twoyears.(Black先生在上海住了2年多了。)
→How long has Mr.Black lived in Shanghai? (Black先生在上海住了多长时间了?)