How Did It Go?
How did it go?
Many of my students often take tests, give presentations, and apply for jobs. After their exams, speeches, or interviews, I often ask them, "How did it go?". Many times, they are unfamiliar with this expression. However, in English, we often use "How did it go?" when we ask someone about the results of something.
It means:
How did it turn out?
What were the results?
What was the outcome?
How did it proceed?
Of course, the "it" above is the subject I am asking them about: the exam, or speech, or interview:
How did (your interview) turn out?
What were the results (of your test)?
What was the outcome (of your speech)?
How did (the doctor's examination) proceed?
However, we usually use "How did it go?" instead of the expressions above. Also, because it's a commonly-used expression, we often ask this quickly:
How'd it go?
In Japanese, you might ask something like:
どうでしたか？
いかがでしたか？
どうだった？
どんな具合だった？
うまくいった？
どうやった？
So, it's often used after someone has just finished some activity or project and we want to ask them about the result (or their opinion of the future result if they don't know yet):
A: Hey, how did your speech go？
B: I guess it went okay, but I was a little nervous.
A: Exams are finally over!.
B: How'd they go?
A: I think they went pretty well, thanks. I won't get the results for a few weeks.
A: I went to the hospital for the checkup results.
B: How did it go?
A: They said I'm perfectly healthy!
A: How did the operation go? Are you feeling better?
B: I'm still a little under the weather. (= I'm not feeling 100% better yet)
A: How did your interview go?
B: Ahh, terrible! I blew it. (= I failed)
A: How'd your plan go?
B: It all went off without a hitch! ( = smoothly)
How's it going?
Sometimes, we use the same "go" (自動詞）in a more general way. We are not asking about any results, but just asking about how a person's life is proceeding:
How's it going?
How are things going?
How goes it？
Here, the "it" or "things" means your life in general:
How is (your life) going?
Again, because this is a commonly-used expression, it is usually spoken quickly:
How's it goin'?
This almost sounds like one word when spoken. Notice that we pronounce with a "z" and that the final "g" is dropped:
howzitgoin
Sometimes, this is a casual greeting (挨拶）and sometimes this is a real question. If it is spoken flat it is just a greeting and if there is a rising tone at the end, it is a question:
A: How's it goin'.
B: Hey.
A: How's it going for you recently?
B: Pretty good. Work has been super busy, though.
In Japanese, this might be something like:
いかがお過ごしですか
おげんきですか
元気
最近どう
So, the next time someone asks you "How'd it go?" about something you did, please tell them the results (or what you think the results might be). If they ask "How's it goin'?", please tell them about how you've been recently.
投稿者：管理者 日時：07月17日 12：49 ｜パーマリンク
