comment

How with Comment

Level 1

Comment is the French word for 'how'. It is used to ask about the manner of an action (how you do something), a state (how you are), or to ask someone to repeat what they said.

How It Works

The word comment is a fundamental 'Wh-word' in French. Its usage depends on the context and the level of formality:

  • Manner and Means: It asks for the method used to achieve something.
    Example: Comment est-ce qu'on dit 'apple' en français ? (How do you say 'apple' in French?)
  • State or Condition: It is the standard way to ask how someone is feeling or doing.
    Example: Comment ça va ? (How is it going?) or Comment allez-vous ? (How are you?)
  • Repetition and Surprise: If you didn't hear someone, saying Comment ? is a standard way to ask them to repeat. For a more formal or polite request, use Pardon ?. It can also show surprise (e.g., Comment ! Déjà ?).

Pronunciation Note: The final -t is almost always silent, even when the next word starts with a vowel (e.g., Comment est-il ?). The phrase Comment allez-vous ? is a rare exception where a liaison occurs and the -t is heard. Unlike some short words ending in vowels, comment never drops its final letters before a vowel sound.

Examples (6)

  1. Comment tu t'appelles ?

    What is your name? (Literally: How do you call yourself?)

    Word by Word: How you yourself call?

    In French, we use 'comment' to ask for a name, unlike English which uses 'what'.

  2. Comment est-ce qu'on fait ça ?

    How do we do that?

    Word by Word: How is it that one does that?

    This uses the neutral est-ce que structure to ask about the manner of an action.

  3. Comment allez-vous aujourd'hui ?

    How are you doing today?

    Word by Word: How go you today?

    This uses formal inversion to ask about someone's state of being.

  4. Comment ? Je n'ai pas entendu.

    What? I didn't hear.

    Word by Word: How? I not have heard.

    Here, 'comment' is used as a standalone question to ask for repetition.

  5. Comment ! Tu n'as pas encore fini ?

    What! You haven't finished yet?

    Word by Word: How! You not have yet finished?

    In this context, 'comment' acts as an exclamation to express surprise or disbelief.

  6. On va au cinéma comment ?

    How are we getting to the cinema?

    Word by Word: One goes to the cinema how?

    In casual spoken French, 'comment' often moves to the end of the sentence.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'comment' for 'how + adjective' (e.g., How old, How big).

    Comment vieux es-tu ?
    Quel âge as-tu ?

    French does not use 'comment' to modify adjectives. For age, use 'quel âge'; for degree, use 'à quel point' or 'combien'.

  • Confusing 'comment' (manner) with 'combien' (quantity).

    Comment ça coûte ?
    Combien ça coûte ?

    Use 'combien' when asking about price or quantity, and 'comment' only for the way something is done.

  • Using 'quel' to ask for a name because of English 'what'.

    Quel est ton nom ?
    Comment t'appelles-tu ?

    While 'Quel est ton nom ?' is grammatically possible, it is much less natural than using the verb 's'appeler' with 'comment'.

How It Connects

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commentLevel 1How with Comment

Learn This First

To use 'comment' effectively, you need to understand basic French sentence structure and the various ways questions are formed, including intonation and inversion.

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