¿Cuánto? — Preguntar el precio
How much? es tu herramienta mágica para ir de compras y preguntar el precio de cualquier cosa: shopping, prices, money.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'How much' to ask for the price of anything, whether it is one item or many items.
- Use 'How much is...' for one item, like 'How much is the apple?'
- Use 'How much are...' for multiple items, like 'How much are the shoes?'
- You can simply point and say 'How much is this?' to be understood anywhere.
Overview
latte, estás en un mercado de antigüedades viendo un disco de vinilo, o simplemente quieres saber cuánto cuesta el viaje en taxi al aeropuerto. En todas estas situaciones, la herramienta lingüística que necesitas es la frase How much?.¿Cuánto cuesta?, ¿A cuánto está?o simplemente
¿Cuánto es?. En inglés, la estructura reina para estas transacciones es How much is...? o How much are...?.much y no many para el dinero te ahorrará muchísimos errores comunes en el futuro. En esta guía, vamos a desglosar paso a paso cómo funciona esta pregunta, cómo se construye y cómo evitar los tropiezos típicos que cometemos cuando pensamos en español y hablamos en inglés.How much?, primero debemos hacer un pequeño viaje mental a la lógica del idioma inglés. Hay tres componentes clave que debes conocer: la diferencia entre lo que se puede contar y lo que no, el uso del verbo to be, y cómo señalamos los objetos.Muchone apple, two apples) y cosas que se consideran una masa o un concepto abstracto (como water, sugar o information). A estas últimas las llamamos uncountable nouns (sustantivos incontables).money), como concepto general, es incontable en inglés. Tú no dices tengo tres dineros, dices tengo mucho dinero o especificas la moneda: tengo tres dólares.
How much (que significa cuánto) y nunca How many (que significa cuántos/as).To Be (is y are)¿A cuánto las manzanas?), en inglés la pregunta casi siempre requiere una forma del verbo
to be. Este verbo actúa como el puente entre la pregunta de cantidad y el objeto.- Usamos
ispara objetos singulares (uno solo) o cosas incontables (coffee,tea,milk). - Usamos
arepara objetos plurales (dos o más).
¿Cuánto es este libro?o
¿Cuánto son estos zapatos?. La lógica es idéntica a nuestra estructura con el verbo ser.
it: Para referirte a una sola cosa que ya mencionaste.they: Para referirte a varias cosas.this/that: Paraesto(cerca) oeso(lejos).these/those: Paraestos(cerca) oesos(lejos).
How much | Cuánto | Siempre para preguntar el precio total. |is | es | Para un solo objeto. |are | son | Para varios objetos. |this | este/esta | Objeto que tienes cerca o en la mano. |those | esos/esas | Objetos que están lejos (en un estante alto, por ejemplo). |How much + is + objeto / pronombre + ?How much is the bread?(¿Cuánto cuesta el pan?)How much is it?(¿Cuánto es? - refiriéndose a algo ya mencionado)How much is this shirt?(¿Cuánto cuesta esta camisa?)
How much + are + objetos / pronombre + ?How much are the bananas?(¿Cuánto cuestan los plátanos?)How much are they?(¿Cuánto cuestan? - refiriéndose a ellos)How much are these sunglasses?(¿Cuánto cuestan estas gafas de sol?)
to be (is/are) siempre va antes del objeto. Es un error muy común de nosotros los hispanohablantes decir How much the coffee is? porque en español decimos ¿Cuánto el café es?. Recuerda: primero el verbo, luego el objeto.
How much is the... | How much is the sandwich? | Pidiendo el almuerzo en un deli. |How much is the... | How much is the orange juice? | Preguntando por una bebida. |How much is this? | How much is this? | Tocando una bufanda en una tienda. |How much is that? | How much is that bag? | Señalando un bolso detrás del mostrador. |How much are the... | How much are the tickets? | En la taquilla del cine o teatro. |How much are they? | How much are they? | Preguntando por un par de zapatos. |How much? va mucho más allá de las etiquetas de precio en un supermercado. Se utiliza en casi cualquier intercambio de valor en la vida cotidiana.How much is this jacket?(¿Cuánto cuesta esta chaqueta?)How much are these apples?(¿A cuánto están estas manzanas?)
How much is a taxi to the station?(¿Cuánto cuesta un taxi a la estación?)How much is a haircut?(¿Cuánto cuesta un corte de pelo?)How much is the WiFi in the hotel?(¿Cuánto cuesta el WiFi en el hotel?)
How much is the Netflix subscription?(¿Cuánto cuesta la suscripción de Netflix?)How much is the gym membership?(¿Cuánto cuesta la cuota del gimnasio?)
is/are por el pasado was/were.How much was your phone?(¿Cuánto te costó tu teléfono?)How much were the flights?(¿Cuánto costaron los vuelos?)
How much is it? es gramaticalmente correcto, sonarás mucho más natural y educado si añades un saludo o un please.Excuse me, how much is this, please?(Disculpe, ¿cuánto cuesta esto, por favor?)Hello, how much are the tickets?(Hola, ¿cuánto cuestan las entradas?)
garage sales) o cuando pides servicios personalizados, preguntar el precio es parte esencial de la interacción social.trampas debido a la influencia de nuestro idioma materno. ¡Vamos a desactivarlas!Much con Many¿Cuántos pesos? o ¿Cuántos dólares?, y nuestra mente traduce automáticamente a
many porque vemos el plural.- Incorrecto:
How many is this?oHow many money? - Correcto:
How much is this? - Por qué sucede: Porque confundimos el concepto de
dinero(incontable) con lasmonedas/billetes(contables). Recuerda: para preguntar el precio, siempre, siempre esmuch.
To Be¿Cuánto el café?. Si traduces eso literal al inglés, el resultado no es correcto.
- Incorrecto:
How much the coffee? - Correcto:
How much IS the coffee? - Por qué sucede: En español el verbo a veces se sobreentiende, pero en inglés el verbo es el motor de la frase. Sin
isoare, la pregunta está incompleta.
How much costs?¿Cuánto cuesta? literalmente.- Incorrecto:
How much costs? - Correcto:
How much is it?oHow much does it cost? - Por qué sucede: Aunque
How much does it cost?es correcto, requiere el uso de un auxiliar (does), lo cual es un nivel más avanzado. Para un nivel A0, lo más natural, sencillo y seguro es usarHow much is it?. Evita decirHow much costsporque suena muy forzado y gramaticalmente pobre.
- Incorrecto:
How much is these shoes? - Correcto:
How much are these shoes? - Por qué sucede: En español, a veces usamos
¿Cuánto es?para todo (ej.¿Cuánto es por las camisas?
). Pero en inglés, si el objeto es plural, el verbo debe serareobligatoriamente.
How much con otras formas de preguntar cantidades o precios. Aquí tienes una comparativa para que no te líes.How much is/are... | Preguntar el precio (A0 - Recomendado) | How much is the beer? |How much does it cost? | Preguntar el precio (Más formal/avanzado) | How much does it cost? |How many... | Preguntar cantidad de cosas contables | How many apples do you want? |How much... (sin verbo be) | Preguntar cantidad de algo incontable | How much sugar do you need? |How much frente a How many?- Si quieres saber el precio de las naranjas:
How much are the oranges?(¿Cuánto cuestan?) - Si quieres decir cuántas naranjas quieres comprar:
I want five oranges.(Aquí usas números). - Si preguntas por la cantidad:
How many oranges?(¿Cuántas naranjas?).
How much? sin nada más?How much?. Sin embargo, para sonar más profesional y educado, lo ideal es decir How much is this? o How much is it?.How much for...??How much for the blue one? (¿Cuánto por el azul?). Es correcto en contextos informales de compras, pero la estructura con is/are es la base que debes dominar primero.It is ten dollars.(Son diez dólares).They are five euros.(Son cinco euros).
How much para cosas que no son dinero?How much time do we have? (¿Cuánto tiempo tenemos?) o How much water is in the bottle? (¿Cuánta agua hay en la botella?). Pero en el contexto de una tienda, el 99% de las veces se referirá al precio.Using 'How Much' with the Verb 'To Be'
| Quantity | Question Start | Verb | Example Item |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Singular
|
How much
|
is
|
the bread?
|
|
Plural
|
How much
|
are
|
the eggs?
|
|
Uncountable
|
How much
|
is
|
the juice?
|
|
Pronoun (Near)
|
How much
|
is
|
this?
|
|
Pronoun (Far)
|
How much
|
is
|
that?
|
|
Pronouns (Plural)
|
How much
|
are
|
these/those?
|
Common Contractions
| Full Form | Contraction | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
|
How much is it?
|
How much is it?
|
Rarely contracted in writing, but 'is' can sound like 's' in fast speech.
|
|
How much is that?
|
How much is that?
|
Standard form.
|
Meanings
The standard way to inquire about the cost or monetary value of an object or service in English.
Singular Inquiry
Asking the price of a single object or an uncountable mass.
“How much is this book?”
“How much is the milk?”
Plural Inquiry
Asking the price of multiple objects.
“How much are these oranges?”
“How much are the tickets?”
General/Abstract Cost
Asking about the total cost of a service or a situation.
“How much is the rent?”
“How much is a haircut?”
Reference Table
| Categoría | Estructura | Ejemplo de pregunta | Respuesta típica |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Objeto singular
|
How much is...?
|
How much is this book?
|
It's fifteen dollars.
|
|
Objeto plural
|
How much are...?
|
How much are these shoes?
|
They're seventy euros.
|
|
Servicio
|
How much is...?
|
How much is a haircut?
|
It's twenty-five pounds.
|
|
Incontable (General)
|
How much is...?
|
How much is the coffee?
|
It's four dollars.
|
|
Objeto implícito (singular)
|
How much is it?
|
(Señalando un pastel) How much is it?
|
It's ten pesos.
|
|
Objeto implícito (plural)
|
How much are they?
|
(Con dos camisas) How much are they?
|
They're thirty dollars each.
|
Espectro de formalidad
Could you please inform me of the price of this garment? (Clothing store)
How much is this shirt? (Clothing store)
How much for this? (Clothing store)
What's the damage on this one? (Clothing store)
Preguntar el precio: 'How Much?'
Objetos Singulares
- Libro How much is the book?
- Café How much is a coffee?
- Eso How much is it?
Objetos Plurales
- Zapatos How much are the shoes?
- Entradas How much are the tickets?
- Ellos How much are they?
Servicios
- Corte de pelo How much is a haircut?
- Envío How much is delivery?
'How Much?' vs. 'How Many?'
Cómo formar preguntas de precio
¿Quieres saber el precio?
¿Es un objeto singular o incontable?
¿Es un objeto plural (más de uno)?
¿Sabes el nombre del objeto?
Pregunta Final
Dónde preguntarás 'How Much?'
Compras
- • Supermercado
- • Tienda de ropa
- • Tienda online
Comida y Bebida
- • Cafetería
- • Restaurante
- • Delivery
Servicios
- • Peluquería
- • Taxi
- • Lavado de autos
Experiencias
- • Conciertos
- • Museos
- • Tours de viaje
Ejemplos por nivel
How much is the water?
How much is the water?
How much are the apples?
How much are the apples?
How much is this?
How much is this?
How much is the bus ticket?
How much is the bus ticket?
How much does this shirt cost?
How much does this shirt cost?
How much are these blue shoes?
How much are these blue shoes?
How much is a night in this hotel?
How much is a night in this hotel?
How much do the sandwiches cost?
How much do the sandwiches cost?
Do you know how much the repair will be?
Do you know how much the repair will be?
How much tax is included in the price?
How much tax is included in the price?
I wonder how much they charge for delivery.
I wonder how much they charge for delivery.
How much is the deposit for the apartment?
How much is the deposit for the apartment?
How much of a discount can you offer me?
How much of a discount can you offer me?
It's not about how much it costs, but the quality.
It's not about how much it costs, but the quality.
How much are we looking at for the total budget?
How much are we looking at for the total budget?
Could you clarify how much is owed on the account?
Could you clarify how much is owed on the account?
How much of the blame lies with the manufacturer?
How much of the blame lies with the manufacturer?
I was taken aback by how much the prices had fluctuated.
I was taken aback by how much the prices had fluctuated.
How much does the current political climate affect sales?
How much does the current political climate affect sales?
It remains to be seen how much of an impact this will have.
It remains to be seen how much of an impact this will have.
How much more of this insolence must I endure?
How much more of this insolence must I endure?
The question is not how much we gain, but what we lose in the process.
The question is not how much we gain, but what we lose in the process.
How much soever he tried, the cost remained prohibitive.
How much soever he tried, the cost remained prohibitive.
One must consider how much of our identity is tied to our wealth.
One must consider how much of our identity is tied to our wealth.
Fácil de confundir
Learners often use 'How many' for price because they think of counting coins.
Learners might say 'How much price?' which is a redundant combination.
Using 'are' for things that come in pairs but are one item (like a suit).
Errores comunes
How many is the bread?
How much is the bread?
How much the coffee?
How much is the coffee?
How much are the apple?
How much is the apple?
How much money is it?
How much is it?
How much is the shoes?
How much are the shoes?
How much cost this?
How much does this cost?
How much are the milk?
How much is the milk?
Can you tell me how much is it?
Can you tell me how much it is?
How much price is it?
What is the price?
How much does it costs?
How much does it cost?
How much of a price increase is acceptable?
What level of price increase is acceptable?
Patrones de oraciones
How much is ___?
How much are ___?
How much does ___ cost?
How much for ___?
Real World Usage
How much are these handmade bags?
Excuse me, how much is this silk scarf?
How much was my share of the pizza?
How much is the starting salary for this position?
How much is the delivery fee?
How much is the monthly payment?
¡La cortesía abre puertas!
Excuse me, how much is this?
No confundas much y many
How much is the water?
Señala y pregunta
How much is it?
¿Regatear o no regatear?
How much is the discount?
Atento a la respuesta
Smart Tips
Use 'How much for the lot?' to ask for the price of everything together.
Add 'Excuse me' or 'Could you tell me...' to the start of your question.
Ask for an estimate using 'about how much'.
Always use 'are' for pants, trousers, glasses, and scissors.
Pronunciación
Linking 'Much' and 'Is'
The 'ch' sound in 'much' often links directly to the 'i' in 'is', sounding like 'mu-chis'.
Stress on 'Much'
The word 'much' usually receives the primary stress in the question.
Falling Intonation
How much is it? ↘
Standard information-seeking question.
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
Think of the 'M' in Much as 'Money'. Much = Money.
Asociación visual
Imagine a giant price tag hanging off a single apple (How much is...?) and then a single price tag hanging off a bunch of bananas (How much are...?).
Rhyme
One thing is 'is', many are 'are', asking for the price will take you far!
Story
A traveler enters a shop. He points to a hat and asks 'How much is this?'. The shopkeeper says '$10'. He points to two shirts and asks 'How much are these?'. The shopkeeper says '$20'. He learns that 'is' is for one and 'are' is for two.
Word Web
Desafío
Go to an online store (like Amazon) and find 3 items. Write down the question 'How much is...' for each one.
Notas culturales
In most shops, prices are fixed. Asking 'How much' is just for information. Haggling is rare except at flea markets or for big purchases like cars.
In many cultures, 'How much' is the start of a negotiation. The seller might give a high price, and you are expected to counter-offer.
Informal settings often use 'How much for...' followed by the item, skipping the verb 'is' entirely.
'Much' comes from the Old English 'mycel', meaning great or large. 'How' comes from 'hu'.
Inicios de conversación
How much is a cup of coffee in your city?
How much are movie tickets these days?
How much does a new iPhone cost in your country?
If you had to guess, how much is the most expensive house in your town?
Temas para diario
Errores comunes
Test Yourself
How ___ is this book?
Elige la opción gramaticalmente correcta:
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Score: /3
Ejercicios de practica
8 exercisesHow much ___ the bananas?
How ___ is the coffee?
Find and fix the mistake:
How many is the ticket?
is / much / how / that / watch / ?
Match singular and plural forms.
Customer: Excuse me, ___ the apples? Seller: They are $2 a bag.
We use 'How many' to ask for the price of plural items.
___ ___ ___ ___ ___?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesExcuse me, how ___ are these bananas?
How much ___ a haircut usually cost?
How many is this t-shirt?
Tell me how much the shoes is.
Elige la oración correcta:
Elige la pregunta más educada:
Traduce al inglés: '¿Cuánto cuestan las entradas?'
Traduce al inglés: '¿Podrías decirme cuánto cuesta una noche en este hotel?'
Ordena las palabras:
Ordena las palabras:
Une el objeto con el inicio de pregunta correcto:
Une el objeto/servicio con la forma correcta de preguntar:
Score: /12
Preguntas frecuentes (8)
Yes, if you are pointing at an item, saying `How much?` is perfectly natural and understood in casual shopping.
In English grammar, 'money' is an uncountable noun. You count 'dollars' or 'coins', but you don't count 'moneys'. Therefore, we use `How much`.
Yes, because 'shoes' is a plural noun, you must use `are`. If you said 'How much is the pair of shoes?', you would use `is`.
There is no difference in meaning. `How much is it?` is more common and simpler for beginners. `How much does it cost?` is slightly more formal.
Yes, you use it for any uncountable quantity, like `How much water?` or `How much time?` but price is the most common use for beginners.
You can say `It is [price]` or just the price itself, like `$5`. For plural items, say `They are [price]`.
Yes, this is a very common informal way to ask for a price, especially at markets or when texting.
It's better to say `What is the price?` or `How much is it?`. Combining them as `How much is the price?` sounds a bit repetitive to native speakers.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
¿Cuánto cuesta?
English distinguishes between countable and uncountable with different words (much/many).
Combien ça coûte ?
French 'combien' is universal; English 'how much' is specific to uncountable/price.
Wie viel kostet das?
Very similar structure, making it easy for German speakers.
いくらですか (Ikura desu ka?)
Japanese uses a dedicated word for price, whereas English uses a general quantity word.
بكم هذا؟ (Bikam hadha?)
Arabic uses a prepositional structure (with how much).
多少钱? (Duōshǎo qián?)
Chinese explicitly includes the word for 'money', which English usually omits.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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