how did he react

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'how did he react' is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it whenever you want to ask about someone's reaction to a situation or event. For example, you could write: "We were all shocked when we heard the news, so I asked him, 'How did he react?'".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

How did he react?

The New York Times - Magazine

And how did he react?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

How did he react to that?

The Guardian

How did he react when you started getting in trouble?

The New York Times - Magazine

How did he react to the sight of nature?

The New Yorker

What was your first impression of him, and how did he react to you?

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

But how does he react when, for example, one of his hitters has to bat against one of his pitchers?

The New York Times - Sports

So how does he react to the storm of criticism that's greeted his vision for a garden bridge across the Thames?

Independent

How does he react to criticisms that Firefox is slowly becoming bloated?

TechCrunch

How does he react?

WikiHow

How does he react to what his friends are doing?

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When asking "how did he react", ensure the context is clear. Specify the event or situation to which the person is reacting to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "how did he react" without providing sufficient context. It's better to set the scene first to ensure the question is meaningful and easily understood. Instead of saying just "How did he react?", say "After hearing the news, how did he react?"

Linguistic Context

The phrase "how did he react" functions as an interrogative clause. It is used to elicit information about a person's response or behavior in a given situation. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "how did he react" is a grammatically sound and frequently used interrogative phrase, designed to seek information about someone's response to a particular situation. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correct usage and widespread applicability, particularly within news and media contexts. When using this phrase, providing clear context is essential to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "what was his reaction" or "how did he respond" can offer slight variations in emphasis. Understanding its function and usage patterns ensures effective communication. The multiple real-world examples listed above provide more insight into its usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what was his reaction

Focuses on the noun form of reaction rather than the verb react, but maintains the same inquiry about someone's response.

how did he respond

Replaces "react" with "respond", offering a direct synonym with almost identical meaning.

what was his immediate response

Adds emphasis on the immediacy of the reaction.

how did he take it

Uses an idiomatic expression to inquire about someone's emotional reaction.

what did he say

Shifts the focus to the verbal response, implying the reaction was communicated through speech.

how did he behave

Broadens the scope to overall behavior, not just the immediate reaction.

what were his feelings

Explores the underlying emotions driving the reaction.

how did it affect him

Considers the broader impact of the event on the person.

how was he affected

Inquires about the emotional or psychological impact on the person.

what course of action did he take

Focuses on the actions taken as a result of the event.

FAQs

How can I use "how did he react" in a sentence?

You can use "how did he react" to ask about someone's response to a specific event or situation. For example, "When he heard he got the job, how did he react?"

What are some alternatives to "how did he react"?

You can use alternatives like "what was his reaction", "how did he respond", or "how did he take it" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "how did he reacted" instead of "how did he react"?

No, "how did he reacted" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "how did he react" because "did" is an auxiliary verb that already indicates past tense, so the main verb should be in its base form.

What's the difference between "how did he react" and "what was his reaction"?

"How did he react" is a question asking about the manner or way in which someone responded, while "what was his reaction" asks more directly for a description of the response itself. They are largely interchangeable, but the first focuses on the process of reacting, and the second on the result.