Combien ? — Demander le prix
How much? est ta phrase magique pour demander le prix de n'importe quoi avec confiance.
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
How much? est l'outil principal pour exprimer cette requête. En français, nous utilisons Combien coûte...? ou simplement "C'est combien ?".How much est omniprésente. Ce point de grammaire est crucial au niveau A0 (débutant) car il permet d'interagir immédiatement dans des situations quotidiennes : au café, au marché, ou lors d'un voyage. ou Combien de pommes ?". En anglais, la distinction est plus rigide : on utilise much pour ce qui ne se compte pas (les concepts abstraits, l'argent en général) et many pour ce qui se compte.le prix est une notion abstraite et indénombrable, on utilise toujours How much. Cette structure est très proche de notre Combien français, mais elle impose une règle d'accord avec le verbe to be (être) que nous ne retrouvons pas de la même manière dans "C'est combien ?". Maîtriser cette question, c'est s'assurer de ne pas être perdu lors de tes achats, ce qui est essentiel pour ton autonomie.muchmuch dans How much? est liée au concept de uncountable nouns (noms indénombrables). Ce sont des choses qu'on ne peut pas compter une par une, comme l'eau, le sucre ou, dans ce cas, l'argent (money). En français, nous avons combien de pour tout.combien se divise : How much pour l'indénombrable et How many pour le dénombrable. Comme le prix représente une valeur monétaire globale, on considère cela comme une quantité indénombrable. On ne dit jamais How many money? car l'argent est un concept massif en anglais.to beis. S'il y a plusieurs objets, on utilise are. C'est l'application directe de la règle du subject-verb agreement (accord sujet-verbe).How much is this book?(le livre est singulier).How much are these books?(les livres sont pluriels).
It remplace un objet singulier, they remplace un pluriel. Les démonstratifs this/that (proche/loin) pour le singulier, et these/those (proche/loin) pour le pluriel, ajoutent une précision spatiale que le français simplifie souvent avec celui-ci ou celui-là.How much + verbe + sujet.How much is + sujet | How much is the coffee? | is (singulier)How much are + sujet | How much are the tickets? | are (pluriel)How much is + it/this | How much is this? | is (neutre)- 1Au magasin : Pour demander le prix d'un article spécifique.
How much is this shirt?
- 2Au café ou restaurant : Pour demander le prix d'un service ou d'une consommation.
How much is a croissant?
- 3Services : Pour les transports ou abonnements.
How much is the bus ticket?
- 4Passé : Si tu veux demander le prix d'un objet déjà acheté, tu changes juste le verbe
to beau passé (was/were).How much was the hotel?
please à la fin. How much is this, please?est bien plus naturel et respectueux que de poser la question sèchement.
- 1L'oubli de l'accord : Les Français disent souvent *
How much are this?
* car ils oublient quethisest singulier. C'est une interférence car en français, "c'est" est invariable. En anglais, le verbe doit suivre le nombre de l'objet. - 2Confusion
muchvsmany: Certains élèves demandent *How many is this?
*. Pourquoi ? Parce qu'en français, on utilisecombienpour tout. Le cerveau cherche une traduction littérale, mais en anglais,manyest réservé aux objets dénombrables (ex:How many apples?). - 3L'utilisation de
cost: Les débutants disent souvent *How much cost this?
*. C'est une erreur classique de traduction deCombien coûte ceci ?
. En anglais, le verbecostne s'utilise pas ainsi dans une question simple. On utiliseisouare.
many car les pommes se comptent.to be.is pour l'argent ?money est un nom indénombrable. On considère la somme comme un tout.How much does it cost?
How much is it? est beaucoup plus simple et suffisant.this et that ?This est pour ce qui est proche de toi (dans ta main), that est pour ce qui est un peu plus loin.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
| Catégorie d'article | Structure de la question | Exemple de question | Réponse typique |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Article singulier
|
How much is...?
|
How much is this book?
|
It's fifteen dollars.
|
|
Articles pluriels
|
How much are...?
|
How much are these shoes?
|
They're seventy euros.
|
|
Service
|
How much is...?
|
How much is a haircut?
|
It's twenty-five pounds.
|
|
Article inquantifiable (général)
|
How much is...?
|
How much is the coffee?
|
It's four dollars.
|
|
Article implicite (singulier)
|
How much is it?
|
(En pointant un gâteau) How much is it?
|
It's ten pesos.
|
|
Article implicite (pluriel)
|
How much are they?
|
(En tenant deux chemises) How much are they?
|
They're thirty dollars each.
|
Spectre de formalité
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)
Demander le prix : 'How Much?'
Articles singuliers
- Book How much is the book?
- Coffee How much is a coffee?
- It How much is it?
Articles pluriels
- Shoes How much are the shoes?
- Tickets How much are the tickets?
- They How much are they?
Services
- Haircut How much is a haircut?
- Delivery How much is delivery?
'How Much?' vs. 'How Many?'
Former des questions de prix
Veux-tu connaître le prix ?
L'article est-il singulier (un) ou inquantifiable (comme l'eau/l'argent) ?
L'article est-il pluriel (plus d'un) ?
Connais-tu le nom de l'article ?
Question finale
Où tu demanderas 'How Much?'
Shopping
- • Supermarché
- • Magasin de vêtements
- • Boutique en ligne
Nourriture et Boissons
- • Café
- • Restaurant
- • Livraison de repas
Services
- • Coiffeur
- • Course en taxi
- • Lavage de voiture
Expériences
- • Billet de concert
- • Entrée de musée
- • Visite touristique
Exemples par niveau
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.
Facile à confondre
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).
Erreurs courantes
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?
Structures de phrases
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?
Sois toujours poli(e) !
Excuse me, how much is this, please?
Ne confonds pas much/many
How much water? vs How many books?Pointe et demande 'it'
How much is it?
Négocier ? Connais ta culture !
How much for this?
Écoute 'It's' ou 'They're'
ou They're twenty euros."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.
Prononciation
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.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of the 'M' in Much as 'Money'. Much = Money.
Association visuelle
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
Défi
Go to an online store (like Amazon) and find 3 items. Write down the question 'How much is...' for each one.
Notes culturelles
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'.
Amorces de conversation
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?
Sujets d'écriture
Erreurs courantes
Test Yourself
How ___ is this book?
Choisis la phrase correcte :
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Score: /3
Exercices pratiques
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.
Choisis la phrase correcte :
Choisis la question la plus polie :
Traduis en anglais : '¿Cuánto cuestan las entradas?'
Traduis en anglais : '¿Podrías decirme cuánto cuesta una noche en este hotel?'
Arrange ces mots pour former une phrase :
Arrange ces mots pour former une phrase :
Associe l'article avec le début de question correct :
Associe les articles/services suivants à la forme de question correcte :
Score: /12
FAQ (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
Vidéos associées
Related Grammar Rules
Où est... ? — Demander des lieux
### Overview Apprendre à demander où se trouvent des personnes, des lieux ou des objets est une compétence de survie fo...
Qu'est-ce que c'est ? — Demander des choses
### Overview Apprendre à identifier les objets qui nous entourent est l'une des étapes les plus fondamentales et gratif...
