What is " 'd"? Is it an abbreviation?
Native speaker’s answer
Rebecca
This is not an abbreviation but rather a contracted form of "how did" we know that it is "how did" because the rest of the sentence is in past tense. However, please note, that "how'd" can also be the contracted form of "how do" and "how would". Ex. A: Most Americans now own a car. B: How'd you know? = How do you know? because A's statement is present tense. Ex. A: I'll break up with my girlfriend if she cheats on me. B: How'd you know? = How would you know? because B's sentence is a future condition. Fortunately the spoken form of these are pronounced slightly different they are written the same.
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