“Any update on how uncle Harry is doing?”

English Lesson: Any update on how uncle Harry is doing?

Your uncle went to the hospital last week. You call your mother to ask about his condition.

Any update on how uncle Harry is doing?

Want Video and Sound? Follow us on YouTube

(Do you have) any update on (something)

An "update" is new information about something. For example, if your uncle is in the hospital for surgery, you can call another family member to get an "update" on his condition. Or if you've hired a realtor to help you sell your house, you might e-mail him to ask for an update if he hasn't contacted you for a few days.

To ask someone for an update, use the question:

Do you have any update on ___?

Or use the shortened version:

Any update on ___?

For example,

Any update on how uncle Harry is doing?

Do you have any update on whether you'll be attending the trade show yet?

how (someone) is doing

In English, you can say

How are you?

How is she?

or

How are you doing?

How are they doing?

...for various situations.

It something important or unfortunate happens, it’s a little more common to use “How is (someone) doing?” This might be because “doing” suggests that the situation is temporary and that it might change. Also, we say “How are you?” or “How is (someone)?” so often that the question not as meaningful. Many people answer “good” or “fine” even if it’s not true.

So if your friend Ruthie got into a bad car accident, you can call her family and ask:

I heard about Ruthie-- how is she doing?

Uncle/Aunt (name)

When you talk about your uncles or aunts (your parents' brothers and sisters, or the brothers and sisters' wives or husbands), you can name them like this:

I talked to Uncle Remy last weekend.

We went over to Aunt Jean's house for dinner.

If the person who you're talking to doesn't know your aunt or uncle, say "my Uncle ___" or "my Aunt ___":

My Aunt Joni is the president of a big furniture manufacturing company.