The phrase "How do you think?" is used to ask about the way or manner in which someone thinks about a particular issue or problem—essentially, asking "in what way" or "to what extent" they think something. It invites explanation of the thought process or approach used. On the other hand, "What do you think?" asks for someone's opinion or feelings about something and is more commonly used to solicit a straightforward opinion. To elaborate:
- "What do you think?" is used to ask for an opinion or feeling about a subject, as in "What do you think about horror movies?" It is equivalent to asking "What is your opinion about this?"
- "How do you think?" asks how someone thinks about something, focusing on the method or way of thinking rather than just the opinion. For example, "How do you think COVID-19 will end?" asks for the way someone envisions the outcome happening.
In daily English, "What do you think?" is the standard phrase for requesting opinions, while "How do you think?" can be used when interested in the process or manner in which someone arrives at their thoughts or conclusions, but is less common in casual conversation.
Additionally, "How do you think?" literally asks about the method of thinking (e.g., "With my brain"), which makes it less suitable for asking opinions directly. Alternatives for asking opinions without saying "What do you think?" include "How do you feel about it?", "What are your thoughts on this?", or "Can I get your perspective on this?".
Regarding how people think in general, individuals have unique thinking processes involving sorting concepts, recalling information, and verbalizing thoughts. Thinking often involves quickly organizing memories and concepts, sometimes without internal narration or a "voice in the head," and can include pre-planning conversational exchanges.
Thus, "How do you think?" can refer broadly to a person's cognitive process, while "What do you think?" is a request for opinion. If the question concerns "how do you think" as a cognitive process, it involves observing, organizing information, pre-planning, and retrieving organized memories, often without internal verbal narration but rather concept-based cognition.
Let me know if the focus should be more on the phrase usage or on the cognitive process itself.
