张爱红

how long主要用来提问动作延续了多长时间，答语通常用“for + 一段时间”、 “since + 时间点”或since引导的时间状语从句。问句和答语中的谓语动词通常为延续性动词。例如：

—How long can I keep this book？ 这本书我能借多长时间？

—For two weeks. 两周。

how long也可以用来询问长度。例如：

—How long is the bridge？ 这座桥有多长？

—About 1，000 metres. 大约1，000米。

how often用来提问动作发生的频率，即“多久一次”，答语通常为表示频率的词语。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/经常/有时。

how soon用来询问“过多久”动作才发生，谓语动词常为终止性动词，时态多为将来时，答语通常为“in + 一段时间”。例如：

—How soon will you get here？ 你还有多大一会能到这里？

—In five minutes. 五分钟以后。

how far用来询问两地之间的距离“有多远”。例如：

—How far is it from your home to your factory？ 你家离你的工厂有多远？

—About twenty minutes walk. 步行大约20分钟。

［跟踪练习］ 从A，B，C，D中选择正确答案。

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