How come in English

Question

If I wanted to know about "how come", where would I have to go to know if there is a thread or article about it on Spanishdict?

Anyway, are questions with "how come" acceptable in correct English? Is it true that the structure after it is affirmative or negative?
For example: How come you have so much money?
How come you don't study more?

"How come" is slang in English. - rac1, Jul 6, 2017

Answer 1

Polenta, we use the expression 'how come......? in informal settings as it is generally considered to be colloquial speech by the standards of most native English speakers!

How come = why....? / How is it possible that.....?

Ex 1 Spoken: student: "How come you didn't turn up to school today, Joseph?" (Why didn't you turn up etc...)

Joseph: "I had a job interview so the teacher said I could attend the the interview!

It can be either spoken or written. If it were written down, it would be an example of reported or indirect speech as in a novel (novela) and as Heidi correctly stated it can be used in both positive and negative sentences!

ex2 Written: The young boy turned to his older brother and protested: 'How come you never have to tidy your bedroom?'

It would not be considered good English in a formal context such as a university dissertation (thesis) or a document to present in a court of law!

I hope this helps

Thank you very much for choosing my answer as best answer, Polenta :) - FELIZ77, Jul 6, 2017

welcome - polenta1, Jul 6, 2017

Polenta, we usually say You are welcome lol :) - FELIZ77, Jul 6, 2017

Answer 2

Both negative and affirmative sentences follow how come.

How come you don't call me any more?

Por qué no me llamas ya?

¿Cómo es que ya no me llamas?

funciona igual que "cómo que"

Answer 3

Hello!

This link from 2014 might be pertinent to this subject. Short English lesson - Why? = How come?

Hope this helps.

Regards!

Answer 4

Ah, mira polenta, he metido en la búsqueda "search function" y he encontrado un montón de hilos. Uno del gran jefe

improvements on search function

Answer 5

How come is informal so if you were writing a formal letter I wouldn't use it. However it is increasingly used in speech. I have certainly heard it and used it . It sounds fine in speech but you can usually just use 'why'

Here is the entry in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

OALD

Answer 6

Hola guapa: Mira, justo arriba del todo a la derecha de la página general de "Q&A", ves justo debajo de "Ask a question" un espacio vacío con una lupa, esta es la "search function".

pones "how come" y te sale una tira de hilos con "come" etc.

Este sería uno:

how come

ah, gracias por el dato porque no sabía cómo ir a los artículos - polenta1, Jul 6, 2017

Aunque no lo creas no tengo el espacio vacío con una lupa. - polenta1, Jul 6, 2017

bueno, yo lo llamo lupa...digo que es como una casilla ...vacía, claro, - 006595c6, Jul 6, 2017

sí, yo sé lo de la lupa pero increiblemente no la teng con una casilla para llenar. Bueno, paciencia. - polenta1, Jul 6, 2017