怎么不 · 怎么没
how come…? why (not)…? (surprised)
Structure
主语 + 怎么 + （不／没） + 动词 ？
What it means
怎么 + 不／没 + verb asks “how come …?”: you expected something else and are surprised. 你怎么没来上课？ “How come you didn’t come to class?”
How it is built
Subject + 怎么 + 不／没 + verb？: 他怎么还不起床？ (How come he still isn’t up?). 怎么不 for now, habits and plans; 怎么没 for something that did not happen.
When to use it
为什么 asks for a reason calmly; 怎么 sounds surprised, sometimes a little annoyed. Without 不 or 没, 怎么 + verb usually asks “how”: 怎么走？ (h1-12).
Watch out
Pick 不 or 没 by time: 你怎么不进来？ (now) but 你怎么没穿球鞋？ (it didn’t happen). Don’t read 怎么不去 as “how not to go”: it means “how come you don’t go?”.
Examples
你怎么没来上课？
How come you didn’t come to class?
你怎么不吃了？
Why have you stopped eating?
他怎么还不起床？
How come he still isn’t up?
Learn this in HSK 2 · Lesson 10: 你打得真好 (Sport)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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