1. Passenger: Can you tell me why we are waiting?
Stewardess: Yes sir, we will have to wait for half an hour.
No. The passenger has asked for a reason why he is waiting, and the stewardess has told him how long he must wait - which is not what he asked for.
2. Harry: What's up, you guys?
Bill: The coffee. It's in the top shelf.
No. 'What's up?' means 'tell me what is happening'. Harry would think that Bill's 'explanation' is a rather bad joke.
3. Kate: What's up with Mary?
Tony: She's upset because she has lost her purse.
Yes. Kate wanted an explanation for Mary's behaviour. Tony has given her the explanation which she asked for.
4. Debbie: What about a coffee?
Lucy: It's a kind of drink made from beans.
No. Debbie was not asking what coffee is. She was inviting Lucy to drink some coffee with her.
5. Debbie: What is it about coffee that keeps me awake?
Lucy: It's all that caffeine.
Yes. This time Debbie is asking for an explanation, because she has added the words 'is it' between 'what' and 'about'.
6. Mr Brown: Excuse me, isn't that my newspaper you are reading?
Mr Wilson: Oh, um ...
Yes. Mr Brown knows that it is his newspaper. He now expects Mr Wilson to apologise for taking it, and to explain why he took it.
7. Joey: Dad, it's Sally on the phone.
Mr Dawson: What is it?
Yes. Here 'what is it?' means that Mr Dawson wants an explanation of why Sally is telephoning him.
8. Mitch: All you need to do is persuade Janet that it's all right.
Maggie: How?
Yes. Maggie does not need to say anything else, because Mitch will understand that she is asking 'How do I persuade Janet that it is all right?'
