Differences in meaning: 'what about...?' vs. 'how about...?'

[Sweetpumpkin]

Hi,
Both of the phrases are used for some kind of suggestion or asking the other's opinion on a certain situation, aren't they? What I want to know is that there are ANY slight differnces between them except that each one uses a different interrogative.

I'm looking forward to your answers.. thanks in advance.

[Alan]

Hi Sweetpumpkin,

There is a slight difference that I could illustrate. 'How about?' is often used with an action as in: How about going for a walk? This suggests: What do you think about going for a walk?

'What about?' is often used when someone is asking for a response to a choice as in: What about the blue one? That looks attractive. This suggests you are asking for an opinion for one thing from a number of different things.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
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[Sweetpumpkin]

Thank you so much, Alan. This forum is like my savior. I can count on here whenever I have some English problem! Thank you again!