ｈｏｗ　ｌｏｎｇ，ｈｏｗ　ｏｆｔｅｎ，ｈｏｗ　ｓｏｏｎ與ｈｏｗ　ｆａｒ

張愛紅

how long主要用來提問動作延續了多長時間，答語通常用“for + 一段時間”、 “since + 時間點”或since引導的時間狀語從句。問句和答語中的謂語動詞通常為延續性動詞。例如：

—How long can I keep this book？ 這本書我能借多長時間？

—For two weeks. 兩周。

how long也可以用來詢問長度。例如：

—How long is the bridge？ 這座橋有多長？

—About 1，000 metres. 大約1，000米。

how often用來提問動作發生的頻率，即“多久一次”，答語通常為表示頻率的詞語。例如：

—How often do you go back home？ 你多久回家一次？

—Once a week/Often/Sometimes. 一周一次/經常/有時。

how soon用來詢問“過多久”動作才發生，謂語動詞常為終止性動詞，時態多為將來時，答語通常為“in + 一段時間”。例如：

—How soon will you get here？ 你還有多大一會能到這里？

—In five minutes. 五分鐘以后。

how far用來詢問兩地之間的距離“有多遠”。例如：

—How far is it from your home to your factory？ 你家離你的工廠有多遠？

—About twenty minutes walk. 步行大約20分鐘。

［跟蹤練習］ 從A，B，C，D中選擇正確答案。

1. —______ does your brother go to the cinema？

—Twice a month.

A. How many times B. How soon

C. When D. How often

2. —______ will the shirt be ready？

—In about two days.

A. How soon B. How many

C. How often D. How long

3. —______ do I have to take the medicine？

—Every six hours.

A. How many hours B. How often

C. How soon D. How long

4. —______ will they come back from Shanghai？

—In three days.

A. How long B. How soon

C. How often D. How far

5. —______ did he stay there？

—Five days.

A. How many B. How long C. When D. What time

6. —______ has Tom lived in Dalian？

—Since 1999.

A. How soon B. How often

C. How much D. How long

7. —______ is this road？

—About 3，000 metres.

A. How long B. How much C. How many D. How often

8. —______ is it from Beijing to Zhengzhou？

—Its about 5 hours train now.

A. How long B. How many C. How often D. How far

Key： 1-5 DABBB6-8 DAD