How Come vs Why: Difference and Comparison

People communicate by asking a series of questions and answering them the same. These questions are asked in the form of wh formed word questions.

Key Takeaways

  1. โ€œHow comeโ€ is used informally, while โ€œwhyโ€ is used in formal and informal contexts.
  2. โ€œHow comeโ€ is used to ask a question about something surprising or unexpected, while โ€œwhyโ€ is used to ask for the reason or cause of something.
  3. โ€œHow comeโ€ is more colloquial and is used mostly in spoken English, while โ€œwhyโ€ is more formal and can be used in both spoken and written English.

How Come vs. Why

โ€œHowโ€ is an adverb that is used to ask about the manner, method, or process by which something is done or accomplished. It can also be used to ask about the condition, quality, or extent of something. โ€œWhyโ€ is an adverb that is used to ask about the reason, purpose, or cause of something. It can also be used to express surprise or disbelief.

How Come vs Why

The word โ€˜how comeโ€™ is used when someone wants to know how some circumstance had occurred in a sentence. This word is used as an interrogative form in a sentence.

The word โ€˜whyโ€™ is used in a sentence to know why something occurred to someone or something at a particular time by a person.

/10

Language Quiz

Language quiz helps us to increase our language skills

1 / 10

Choose the word that means the same as "to misplace":

2 / 10

Fill in the blank. โ€œBad weather can ________ peopleโ€™s ability to work.โ€

3 / 10

What is the term for a word that is spelled and pronounced the same way but has a different meaning?

4 / 10

Choose the word that is a synonym for "resilient":

5 / 10

Choose the correct word: I think it's time to take a __________ from work.

6 / 10

What is the term used to describe a language that has evolved from a common ancestor?

7 / 10

What is the term used to describe the way words are put together to form sentences?

8 / 10

Choose the word that is a synonym for "hasten":

9 / 10

Which phrase is erroneous?

10 / 10

What is the term used to describe a language that has no written form?

Your score is

0%

Comparison Table

Parameters of ComparisonHow ComeWhy
MeaningThe word โ€˜how comeโ€™ is used in a sentence to know how something happened.The word โ€˜whyโ€™ is used in a sentence to know the purpose of something that happened.
UsageThe word โ€˜How comeโ€™ can only be used in an Interrogative way.The word โ€˜whyโ€™ can be used as an interrogative word as well as an adverb.
InversionInversion of a sentenceโ€™s subject and verb does not occur when the word โ€˜how comeโ€™ is used.Inversion of subject and verb does occur when the word โ€˜whyโ€™ is used in a Sentence.
Type of communicationThe word โ€˜how comeโ€™ is often used in informal communication.The word โ€˜whyโ€™ is commonly used informal communication.
UseThe word โ€˜how comeโ€™ cannot be used in accenting or making suggestions.The word โ€˜whyโ€™ can be used in accepting or making suggestions.

What is How Come?

The word โ€˜how comeโ€™ is used when someone wants to know how some circumstance had occurred in a sentence. This word is used as an interrogative form in a sentence.

This word is observed to be used in informal communication. There is no need to invert the subject and the verb in a sentence where the word โ€˜how comeโ€™ is used.

Following are some examples where the word โ€˜How Comeโ€™ is used in a sentence-

  1. How come you are late today?
  2. How come they didnโ€™t attend the party yesterday?
  3. How come she left the part that day?
  4. Why were you at the same place where the incident occurred that day?

What is Why?

The word โ€˜whyโ€™ is used in a sentence to know why something occurred to someone or something at a particular time by a person. This word can also be used as an adverb in a sentence referencing something or someone.

This word may also be used in a sentence to express a feeling of arrogance or annoyance to someone in particular circumstances. Sometimes, this word is also used for making suggestions or agreeing with someone elseโ€™s recommendations in a sentence.

Following are some examples where the word โ€˜Whyโ€™ is used in a sentence-

  1. Why canโ€™t you sit down quietly?
  2. Why canโ€™t we take this route while traveling?
  3. Why is there so much fog ahead?
  4. Why is this class so dull?
  5. This is why I hate her.
why

Main Differences Between How Come and Why

  1. The word โ€˜how comeโ€™ is often used in informal communication; however, the word โ€˜whyโ€™ is commonly used in everyday communication.
  2. The word โ€˜how comeโ€™ cannot be used in accenting or making suggestions; on the other hand, the word โ€˜whyโ€™ can be used to accept or make suggestions.
References
  1. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/01621459.1955.10501299
  2. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ444312

One request?

Iโ€™ve put so much effort writing this blog post to provide value to you. Itโ€™ll be very helpful for me, if you consider sharing it on social media or with your friends/family. SHARING IS โ™ฅ๏ธ

Want to save this article for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own articles box!

Ads Blocker Image Powered by Code Help Pro

Ads Blocker Detected!!!

We have detected that you are using extensions to block ads. Please support us by disabling these ads blocker.