Learn English – How + adverbs and adjectives

adverbs

here I am again.

I do know about How + adverbs or adjectives (e.g.: How tall is he?, how handsome is he?, how deep is the river?..); however, I'd like to know three little things,

First: What is this rule's name? If there is one. (The grammar topic which talks about it);

Second: Is "How + adverbs or adjectives" always complements of the verb? E.g.: How deep is the river? – It is 100 feet deep100 feet deep is the complement of the verb Is, since it's a linking verb; therefore, How deep" means = "100 feet deep" which is the complement, so, is it the complement being placed in the beginning?

Thirdy: Could I say: Is it how deep? If not, why? What rule talks about placing the adverb in the beginning of the sentence?

Best Answer

All these sentences (How tall is he?, how handsome is he?, how deep is the river?) are example of interrogative sentences. The word order is: how (question word) + adv/adj + verb + subject. These same sentences can be made exclamatory sentences by changing the pattern: how + adv/adj + subject + verb.

The verb 'is'( verb be ) is a linking verb and the adjectives 'tall', 'handsome' and 'deep' are subject complements. There are no verb complements, so there are no adverbs here.

'How deep is the river?' - 'It (the river) is 100 feet deep'. The phrase '100 feet' modifies the adjective 'deep' and thus becomes an adverbial. But still the phrase '100 feet deep' complements the subject 'the river'.

"Is it how deep?" is meaningless and grammatically wrong. It should be either Is it deep? or How deep is it?, if an interrogative sentence is intended; or, How deep it is!, if an exclamation sentence is intended.