How is …? or What is … like?

We use How is …? to ask about someone’s general health or about the condition or state of something, or how people experience something:

A:
How’syour mother these days? (How is her general health?)

B:
Oh, she’s fine, thanks.

[talking about an old house]

A:
Howare the walls in the kitchen? (What is the condition/state of the walls?)

B:
Well, they need redecorating really.

A:
How’syour new car?

B:
Wonderful. It’s so much easier to drive than the old one.

We use What is … like? to ask for a description of someone or something (e.g. their appearance, their character, their behaviour):

A:
What’sher new houselike?

B:
It’s a modern one, quite big, with a nice garden.

A:
What’syour new teacherlike?

B:
He’s nice. He’s very good-looking! But he’s quite strict.

Warning:

We don’t use How is … like? to ask for a description of something:

A:
Have you ever had Korean kimchi?

B:
No. What’sitlike?

A:
Well, it’s sort of spicy fermented vegetables, cabbage and things.

Not: How is it like?

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