Learn English – “How to know” vs. “How to know”

sentence-meaning

For example,

How would I know her age without asking?

How can I know her age without asking?

Are these sentences both correct grammatically ? If so, do they have same meaning? If so, which one is more common?

Best Answer

Both are correct, but the meaning is quite different.

How would I know her age without asking?

which is saying you can't determine (in your mind) her age; to know you would have to ask her. It regards an intuitive ability.

How can I know her age without asking?

which is like saying "How can I (find out) know her age without asking? This is more of a technical question; what process can I follow. It is a how-to question.

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