[Idiom] what ... like v.s. how

[sitifan]

1. They also realized that motorists would like to be able to obtain some information about the best roads to take and what the surface was like on the way. (Yang Jinfang)

2. They also realized that motorists would like to be able to obtain some information about the best roads to take and how the surface was on the way. (My sentence)

#1 is supposed to be correct. Is #2 also correct?

 

[tedmc]

There are both correct but unnatural. Just say road conditions.

 

[emsr2d2]

Do you mean the temporary state of the road (icy, wet, dry) or the permanent condition (paved, unpaved, full of potholes)?

 

[sitifan]

In 1900 there were fewer than 3,000 motor cars on the roads in France. Motorists bought their petrol at the grocer’s. The Michelin brothers, who made tyres, decided that some sort of guidance ought to be made available to those motorists when motoring away from home, so they would know where to go to buy petrol, to get their cars repaired, to stay the night or to make a telephone call and so on. They also realized that motorists would like to be able to obtain some information about the best roads to take and _____on the way. So one of the brothers compiled the first Guide. It was rather smaller than the present edition.

(A) what was the surface like
(B) what the surface was like
(C) how was the surface
(D) how the surface was

(Cloze Tests, by Yang Jinfang)

The answer to the above question is option B. I don't know why option D is wrong. Can anyone help me?

 

[emsr2d2]

It would have been helpful if you'd given us the full question and all the choices in post #1. We didn't know it was a "choose the best option" exercise. That's why I was inclined to reword it completely!

D isn't impossible but B is more natural. When we want to get a description of something, we're more likely to use "What's it like?" than "How is it?" They elicit different responses.

The two dialogues below are possible and natural:

Helen: You've just been on holiday to New York, haven't you?
Sarah: Yes, I have.
Helen: What's it like?
Sarah: It's great. I really like it. It's big and noisy but there are some amazing sights. (The response describes the place.)

Helen: You've just been on holiday to New York, haven't you?
Sarah: Yes, I have.
Helen: How was it?
Sarah: It was amazing. I had a great time and met some lovely people. (The response describes the holiday.)

The following dialogue is not natural or likely:

Helen: You've just been on holiday to New York, haven't you?
Sarah: Yes, I have.
Helen: How is it? (Very unlikely question.)