Hi this is Tutor Nick P and this is Lesson 507. The title of today's lesson is the difference
between how about and what about. Okay. In this video, we will cover certain times where how
about would probably be better and when what about would be better and there are times where they are
interchangeable. Either one could be used. Okay. If somebody wants a screenshot, do it right now.
Okay. Let's get right to it. Now this is a request video. Let's get right into it. How about should
be used when someone wants to make a suggestion or offering the possibility of something happening.
So you're suggesting something or you're saying this this is a possibility that we could do .
What about it's more likely used for possible problems, disagreements, objections or something
that may prevent an action or event. All right. Let's continue. Now we'll give six examples to
kind of cover this idea. All right. Here's the first one. What should we do for dinner ?
How about going to a Thai restaurant ? Well this is very obviously a suggestion. So in this case
how about should be better. Where should we go for vacation ? How about a trip to Hong Kong ? Also a
suggestion. How about we check out the flea market after we take the kids to the park ? It is close
by. All right. Now this is both a possible suggestion and maybe you know, the possibility
of something happening or doing something. Okay. So again how about should be better.
All right number four here. Why don't we go to the gym for a workout ? What about my dentist
appointment ? I don't want to re-schedule. So this is what the B is saying. Now this is an obvious
problem here and maybe also an objection because maybe it's too much trouble to to reschedule
or maybe, maybe they're going there. Maybe she's got a problem maybe she wants to take care of it.
You know, right away. All right. Number five. Why don't we go to see that spy movie ? All right. So
A would probably be saying that and B would be saying what about the kids ? They will be bored
and it is rated R. That's not good for the kids. So again a problem. Also possibly an objection.
Maybe the wife is saying you know, maybe there's a you know , certain material that's not good
for the kids to see. So we shouldn't do this. All right. Number six here. Let's go clothes shopping.
So A says this. This could very possibly be a wife and maybe B would say what about ... What about we
do something else I'm too tired to go in and out of stores all day. Okay. Now on the surface it
sounds like a suggestion, but it's really more like a statement and when when the information
follows you know, that he's really objecting. He doesn't want to do this. When he's saying what
about we do something else. He really he's not really suggesting and he's kind of saying that.
So this is really more of an objection. So what about would probably be better here.
I'm too tired go in and out of stores all day. He's already exhausted. He doesn't
want to do this. It's clear he doesn't want to do this. So this should be what about.
All right. Now this bottom section here. This is where it's definitely interchangeable. Either
one could be used in these situations. All right. Now what about and how about are interchangeable
with the question, you know , either how or what about you ? Okay. So I am against that policy.
What about you ? How about you ? They're both okay in this sort of situation.
Okay. And also how about and what about are also interchangeable if it is followed by
only a noun. Just a noun by itself. Then either one is okay. So here they say how about eating
pizza ? Oh no. What should we have for lunch ? So here you could do either one. How about
pizza ? Remember pizza is just a noun by itself. What about pizza ? Both these are very very common
to hear. Both of these. So this is just a noun by itself. However if we add the word eating,
it changes. So how would be ... how about eating pizza ? Now this is definitely a suggestion. So
how about is fine. What about eating pizza sounds weird. We probably wouldn't say what about eating
pizza. And since you add the word eating it's, it's changed. It's not just a noun anymore. So
you probably wouldn't do that. Okay. Now having said all this because these are the these are
the rules that you're really supposed to follow. I will say that especially in American English
I could hear you know, some of these examples up here that could be kind of interchangeable. I
have heard people say both and there's a lot of Americans even some American teachers will
you know, just from the hearing without doing any research or checking they'd probably say both were
okay. But technically these are the rules. So like up here we say, how about going to a Thai
restaurant I could definitely hear some Americans say what about going to a Thai restaurant
in the same sense. So you will hear this a lot. Now a lot of people say it's technically wrong.
I think in American English it's kind of ... it's it's we almost use it more interchangeable , but
technically we should be saying how about here. Because this is a suggestion. And let's look at
the next one here. How about a trip to Hong Kong ? I could hear an American say what about a trip
to Hong Kong too. So you will hear a lot of that. And you know , some people might even say
I hear that all the time. There's nothing wrong with that, but technically you shouldn't be using
that. Again so with suggestions or things possibly happening, you use how about and what about is
more with problems or objections. Somebody's not happy about something. Those are the basic rules.
Okay. Anyway, I hope you got it. I hope it's clear. I hope it is informative. I hope you
got a better feel of when you should use one or the other one. Thank you for your time. Bye-bye.