A0 Questions 15 min read Easy

How Much? — Asking for the Price

How much? is your essential phrase to confidently ask for prices of anything.
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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.
How much + 🏷️ (is/are) + 📦 (item) + ?

Overview

Learn to ask for prices. This helps you in a shop. Say 'How much?' to ask about money.

Learning 'How much?' helps you buy things with your money.

This is very important for new learners. It helps you buy food. You will not have money mistakes.

How This Grammar Works

Using 'How much' for things you cannot count.
Use 'much' for things you cannot count one by one. For example: water or sugar. In English, money works this way too.
Do not say 'one money' or 'two money.' Say 'one dollar.' Use 'much' for the total price.
This rule is for many things. Say 'How much water?' Do not say 'How many water?'
Using the words 'is' and 'are.'
Use 'is' or 'are' after 'How much.' Use 'is' for one thing. Use 'are' for two or more things.
  • Use is when referring to a single item or an uncountable item.
  • How much is this book? (one book)
  • How much is the milk? (milk is uncountable)
  • Use are when referring to multiple items (plural nouns).
  • How much are these shoes? (two shoes)
Using words like 'it', 'they', 'this', and 'that'.
Point at an item. Use 'this' or 'that.' You do not need to say the item name.
  • it (singular pronoun): Used when referring to one item already known or visible.
  • (Pointing at a hat) How much is it?
  • they (plural pronoun): Used when referring to multiple items already known or visible.
  • (Holding two shirts) How much are they?
  • this (singular demonstrative, near): Used for one item close to you.
  • How much is this? (referring to a phone in your hand)
  • that (singular demonstrative, far): Used for one item distant from you.
  • How much is that? (referring to a picture on the wall)
  • these (plural demonstrative, near): Used for multiple items close to you.
  • How much are these? (referring to cookies on the counter)
  • those (plural demonstrative, far): Used for multiple items distant from you.
  • How much are those? (referring to some bags across the room)

Formation Pattern

1
First say 'How much.' Then use 'is' or 'are.' Then say the name of the thing.
2
Basic Formulas:
3
For one thing or things like milk:
4
How much + is + [the item/it/this/that]?
5
For plural items:
6
How much + are + [the items/they/these/those]?
7
Detailed Application with Examples:
8
| Item | How to ask | Example | Meaning | What you want |
9
|----------------------|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
10
| One item | How much is + the [thing]? | How much is the coffee? | Ask about one coffee. | You want the price for one coffee. |
11
| Things like sugar | How much is + the [thing]? | How much is the sugar? | Ask about the price of all the sugar. | You want the price of the sugar. |
12
| Use 'it' | How much is it? | (Point at it) How much is it? | The item is right there. | You want the price of that one thing. |
13
| Near you | How much is this? | (Hold a pen) How much is this? | One thing is in your hand. | You want the price of this pen. |
14
| Far from you | How much is that? | (Look at a picture) How much is that? | One thing is over there. | You want the price of that picture. |
15
| Many items | How much are + the [things]? | How much are the tickets? | Ask about many tickets. | You want the price for all the tickets. |
16
| Use 'they' | How much are they? | (See books) How much are they? | The items are right there. | You want the price of those things. |
17
| Many items near | How much are these? | (Touch clothes) How much are these? | Many things are in your hands. | You want the price of these clothes. |
18
| Many items far | How much are those? | (Point at fruit) How much are those? | Many things are over there. | You want the price of those fruits. |
19
Key Points on Word Order:
20
Always start your price question with 'How much.'
21
Put the word 'is' or 'are' after 'How much.'
22
Put the name of the thing after 'is' or 'are'.
23
Use 'the' for the thing we know. Use 'a' for any thing.

When To Use It

Ask 'How much?' for prices. Use it for things and work.
  • Shopping for Goods: This is the most common application. When you wish to purchase a tangible item, How much? allows you to ascertain its cost. This applies to both individual items and groups of items.
  • How much is this apple? (A single fruit at a market stall).
  • How much are these trousers? (Referring to a pair of pants in a clothing store).
  • How much is the whole meal? (Asking for the total cost of a food order).
  • Paying for Services: Services, which are intangible actions performed for you, also have a monetary value. Using How much? helps you understand these costs before committing.
  • How much is a taxi to the airport? (Inquiring about transportation costs).
  • How much is a haircut? (Asking about the cost of personal grooming).
  • How much is a ticket to the concert? (Discovering the price of entertainment).
  • Inquiring about Fees, Subscriptions, and General Costs: Many aspects of modern life involve recurring payments or one-off fees. How much? is used to clarify these financial obligations.
  • How much is the monthly subscription for this app? (Understanding recurring digital service costs).
  • How much is delivery for online orders? (Ascertaining shipping fees for goods).
  • How much is the rent for an apartment in this area? (Gauging living expenses in a new location).
  • Referring to Past Transactions: When discussing completed purchases or services, the past tense of to be (was for singular, were for plural) is used in conjunction with How much? to inquire about previous costs.
  • How much was the dinner last night? (Asking about a meal that has already occurred).
  • How much were the books we bought? (Inquiring about the cost of multiple books previously acquired).
  • Expressing Politeness: In most social and commercial interactions, it is customary to preface How much is/are...? with a polite opening. Phrases like Excuse me, or Pardon me, demonstrate respect and courtesy. Adding please further enhances politeness.
  • Excuse me, how much is this, please? (A polite request in a shop).
  • Pardon me, how much are those? (A respectful inquiry about items at a distance).
Some shops do not show prices. You must ask 'How much?' politely.
Big shops show prices. Ask if you do not see a price.

Common Mistakes

Students make mistakes with prices. Knowing these mistakes helps you.
  • Confusing How much with How many: This is the most frequent error for A0 learners. The distinction between uncountable and countable nouns is crucial. How much is used for uncountable nouns and general quantities (like money as a concept). How many is used for countable nouns (things you can count individually: apples, chairs, people).
  • Incorrect: How many is the milk? (Milk is an uncountable liquid).
  • Correct: How much is the milk?
  • Incorrect: How many money do you have? (Money, in general, is uncountable).
  • Correct: How much money do you have?
  • Explanation: While you count individual units of currency (e.g., dollars, euros), the overarching concept of money itself is treated as a mass noun. Therefore, to ask about the total value or amount, much is necessary. If you were asking about the number of units, you would specify: How many dollars are in your wallet?
  • Omitting the Verb is or are: English question structure typically requires a verb, often an auxiliary verb like to be. Leaving it out results in an incomplete and grammatically incorrect question that sounds abrupt or informal.
  • Incorrect: How much this? (Missing the verb).
  • Correct: How much is this?
  • Explanation: The verb to be (is or are) forms a complete thought, linking the inquiry about quantity (How much) to the subject (this or the item). Without it, the sentence lacks proper grammatical structure.
  • Incorrect Subject-Verb Agreement: Mismatching is with plural subjects or are with singular subjects. This indicates a misunderstanding of how verbs agree with their subjects in number.
  • Incorrect: How much is these apples? (Apples is plural, requires are).
  • Correct: How much are these apples?
  • Incorrect: How much are the sugar? (Sugar is uncountable and treated as singular, requires is).
  • Correct: How much is the sugar?
  • Explanation: The verb form must correspond to the singularity or plurality of the noun or pronoun it refers to. A plural noun (e.g., apples) needs a plural verb (are), and a singular or uncountable noun (e.g., sugar, it) needs a singular verb (is).
  • Lack of Politeness Markers: While not a grammatical error, failing to use polite phrases like Excuse me or please can make your questions seem demanding or rude in certain contexts.
  • Less polite: How much is that?
  • More polite: Excuse me, how much is that, please?
  • Explanation: English culture values politeness in social interactions. Adding these simple words can significantly soften your request and ensure a more positive response.

Real Conversations

Observing How much? in authentic contexts provides practical insight into its usage and expected responses. These scenarios demonstrate the natural flow of communication involving price inquiries.

S

Scenario 1

At a local market stall

- You: Excuse me, how much is this bread? (Pointing to a loaf)

- Seller: That bread is four dollars.

- You: Okay. And how much are these small cakes? (Indicating several pastries)

- Seller: Those are two dollars each, or five dollars for three.

- You: I’ll take three cakes, please.

S

Scenario 2

Ordering food at a cafe

- You: Hi, I’d like a large coffee, please.

- Barista: Certainly. Anything else?

- You: Yes, how much is a croissant?

- Barista: A croissant is three dollars. Your total is eight dollars.

- You: Thank you.

S

Scenario 3

With a friend after a shared experience

- Friend: The movie was really good!

- You: It was! How much were the tickets again? I forgot.

- Friend: They were twelve dollars each. So, twenty-four dollars for both.

- You: Alright, I owe you twelve dollars then.

S

Scenario 4

Online shopping via message

- Customer: Hello, I'm interested in the blue handbag in your post. How much is it?

- Seller: Hi! The blue handbag is $55.00. Are you located in the city?

- Customer: Yes, I am. How much is local delivery?

- Seller: Local delivery is $5.00 extra.

S

Scenario 5

Comparing services

- You: I need to send a package to my family abroad. How much is international shipping?

- Postal Worker: It depends on the weight and destination. How much does your package weigh?

- You: It weighs about two kilograms.

These dialogues illustrate how How much? functions in context, alongside polite greetings, follow-up questions, and different forms of to be (present and past tense).

Quick FAQ

This part answers common questions. It helps you understand more.
  • Q: Can I just say Price? when I'm pointing at something?
  • A: While a native speaker might understand your intent from context and gestures, saying just Price? is grammatically incorrect and often considered impolite or abrupt. It sounds like you are issuing a command rather than asking a question. Always use the full phrase, How much is this? or How much is it?, as it is grammatically correct and shows respect.
  • Q: Why do we use is for it but are for they?
  • A: This is due to subject-verb agreement. In English, the verb form changes depending on whether the subject is singular or plural. It is a singular pronoun, so it takes the singular form of the verb to be, which is is. They is a plural pronoun, so it takes the plural form are. This rule applies to all verbs in English, not just to be.
  • Q: What is the main difference between How much and How many?
  • A: The distinction is critical: How much is used for uncountable nouns (things you cannot count individually, like water, sugar, information, money in general). How many is used for countable nouns (things you can count individually, like apples, books, chairs). Since price refers to a total amount of money (an uncountable concept), you always use How much to inquire about it.
  • Q: What if I don't know the name of the item I want to ask about?
  • A: This is a very common situation. You can simply point to the item and use a demonstrative pronoun: How much is this? (for one item close to you), How much is that? (for one item farther away), How much are these? (for multiple items close to you), or How much are those? (for multiple items farther away). Body language, specifically pointing, clarifies your question.
  • Q: Can How much? be used to ask about the cost of services, not just physical items?
  • A: Absolutely. Services, such as a haircut, a taxi ride, or a concert ticket, all have a monetary cost associated with them. Since cost is an uncountable concept in this context, How much? is the appropriate question to ask for the price of these services. For example: How much is a ticket? or How much is the car wash?
  • Q: Is there a polite way to ask for the price?
  • A: Yes, politeness is highly valued. Always start your question with Excuse me, or Pardon me, to get someone's attention respectfully. Adding please at the end of the question also enhances politeness. For example: Excuse me, how much is this coffee, please? This phrasing makes your request much more courteous.
  • Q: What are the common answers I might hear when asking How much?
  • A: You will typically hear responses like It's [price] for a singular item or uncountable noun, and They're [price] for plural items. For example: It's five dollars. or They're ten euros. Sometimes you might hear That will be [price] or The total is [price]. Always pay attention to the currency mentioned (e.g., dollars, euros, pounds).
  • Q: Can I use How much was...? instead of How much is...??
  • A: Yes, you can. Use How much was...? (or How much were...? for plural items) when you are asking about the price of something that was purchased or took place in the past. For example: How much was your lunch yesterday? This uses the past tense of the verb to be correctly.

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.

1

Singular Inquiry

Asking the price of a single object or an uncountable mass.

“How much is this book?”

“How much is the milk?”

2

Plural Inquiry

Asking the price of multiple objects.

“How much are these oranges?”

“How much are the tickets?”

3

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

Reference table for How Much? — Asking for the Price
Form Structure Example
Singular Question
How much + is + [singular noun]
How much is the milk?
Plural Question
How much + are + [plural noun]
How much are the grapes?
Using 'Cost' (Singular)
How much + does + [noun] + cost?
How much does the book cost?
Using 'Cost' (Plural)
How much + do + [nouns] + cost?
How much do the books cost?
Short Answer (Price)
It is + [price]
It is five dollars.
Short Answer (Plural)
They are + [price]
They are ten pounds.
Informal/Elliptical
How much for + [noun]?
How much for the hat?

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Could you please inform me of the price of this garment?

Could you please inform me of the price of this garment? (Clothing store)

Neutral
How much is this shirt?

How much is this shirt? (Clothing store)

Informal
How much for this?

How much for this? (Clothing store)

Slang
What's the damage on this one?

What's the damage on this one? (Clothing store)

Shopping with 'How Much'

How Much?

Singular

  • is How much is the apple?

Plural

  • are How much are the apples?

Much vs Many

How Much
Price $5.00
Uncountable Water/Milk
How Many
Quantity 5 items
Countable Apples/Books

Choosing Is or Are

1

Is it one item?

YES
Use 'How much is...'
NO
Go to next step
2

Is it multiple items?

YES
Use 'How much are...'
NO
Use 'How much is' for uncountable

Common Price Items

🍎

Food

  • • Bread
  • • Milk
  • • Apples
🎫

Travel

  • • Ticket
  • • Taxi
  • • Hotel
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Examples by Level

1

How much is the water?

2

How much are the apples?

3

How much is this?

4

How much is the bus ticket?

1

How much does this shirt cost?

2

How much are these blue shoes?

3

How much is a night in this hotel?

4

How much do the sandwiches cost?

1

Do you know how much the repair will be?

2

How much tax is included in the price?

3

I wonder how much they charge for delivery.

4

How much is the deposit for the apartment?

1

How much of a discount can you offer me?

2

It's not about how much it costs, but the quality.

3

How much are we looking at for the total budget?

4

Could you clarify how much is owed on the account?

1

How much of the blame lies with the manufacturer?

2

I was taken aback by how much the prices had fluctuated.

3

How much does the current political climate affect sales?

4

It remains to be seen how much of an impact this will have.

1

How much more of this insolence must I endure?

2

The question is not how much we gain, but what we lose in the process.

3

How much soever he tried, the cost remained prohibitive.

4

One must consider how much of our identity is tied to our wealth.

Easily Confused

How Much? — Asking for the Price vs How Much vs. How Many

Learners often use 'How many' for price because they think of counting coins.

How Much? — Asking for the Price vs How Much vs. What Price

Learners might say 'How much price?' which is a redundant combination.

How Much? — Asking for the Price vs Is vs. Are with collective nouns

Using 'are' for things that come in pairs but are one item (like a suit).

Common Mistakes

✗

How many is the bread?

✓

How much is the bread?

We use 'much' for price/money, not 'many'.
✗

How much the coffee?

✓

How much is the coffee?

You must include the verb 'is'.
✗

How much are the apple?

✓

How much is the apple?

Use 'is' for one item.
✗

How much money is it?

✓

How much is it?

While not grammatically 'wrong', adding 'money' is redundant and sounds unnatural.
✗

How much is the shoes?

✓

How much are the shoes?

Shoes are plural, so use 'are'.
✗

How much cost this?

✓

How much does this cost?

When using the verb 'cost', you need the helper verb 'does'.
✗

How much are the milk?

✓

How much is the milk?

Milk is uncountable, so it takes the singular verb 'is'.
✗

Can you tell me how much is it?

✓

Can you tell me how much it is?

In indirect questions, the word order changes back to subject + verb.
✗

How much price is it?

✓

What is the price?

Don't combine 'how much' and 'price' in this way.
✗

How much does it costs?

✓

How much does it cost?

After 'does', the main verb loses the 's'.
✗

How much of a price increase is acceptable?

✓

What level of price increase is acceptable?

While 'how much' works, 'what level' or 'what degree' is more precise for C1 academic writing.

Sentence Patterns

How much is ___?

How much are ___?

How much does ___ cost?

How much for ___?

Real World Usage

Street Market very common

How much are these handmade bags?

High-end Boutique common

Excuse me, how much is this silk scarf?

Texting a friend about a split bill very common

How much was my share of the pizza?

Job Interview occasional

How much is the starting salary for this position?

Ordering Food App constant

How much is the delivery fee?

Car Dealership occasional

How much is the monthly payment?

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💡

The 'This/That' Trick

If you forget the name of the item, just point and say 'How much is this?' It works for 99% of shopping situations.
⚠️

Don't say 'How many money'

This is a very common mistake. Money is uncountable in English grammar. Always use 'How much'.
🎯

Polite Inquiry

In the UK or formal shops, start with 'Excuse me' before asking 'How much is...'. It makes you sound much more fluent.
💬

Tipping

When you ask 'How much is it?' in a US restaurant, remember the answer doesn't include the tip (usually 15-20% extra).

Smart Tips

Use 'How much for the lot?' to ask for the price of everything together.

How much is this and this and this? → How much for the lot?

Add 'Excuse me' or 'Could you tell me...' to the start of your question.

How much is this? → Excuse me, how much is this?

Ask for an estimate using 'about how much'.

How much is the taxi? → About how much will the taxi be?

Always use 'are' for pants, trousers, glasses, and scissors.

How much is the pants? → How much are the pants?

Pronunciation

/haʊ mʌtʃɪz/

Linking 'Much' and 'Is'

The 'ch' sound in 'much' often links directly to the 'i' in 'is', sounding like 'mu-chis'.

How MUCH is it?

Stress on 'Much'

The word 'much' usually receives the primary stress in the question.

Falling Intonation

How much is it? ↘

Standard information-seeking question.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of the 'M' in Much as 'Money'. Much = Money.

Visual Association

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

PriceCostMoneyDollarEuroPoundBuySell

Challenge

Go to an online store (like Amazon) and find 3 items. Write down the question 'How much is...' for each one.

Cultural Notes

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'.

Conversation Starters

“

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?

Journal Prompts

Write about your last shopping trip. What did you buy and how much was each item?
Compare the prices of two different supermarkets. Which one is cheaper?
Describe a time you bought something very expensive. Was it a good decision?
Discuss the impact of inflation. How much have prices changed in the last year?

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Choose the correct verb for the sentence. Multiple Choice

How much ___ the bananas?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: are
Bananas are plural, so we use 'are'.
Fill in the missing word.

How ___ is the coffee?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: much
We use 'much' to ask for the price.
Find the mistake in the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

How many is the ticket?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: many
It should be 'How much' for a price.
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: How much is that watch?
The standard order is How much + verb + subject.
Match the question to the item. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: How much is... -> the hat
Singular matches 'is', plural matches 'are'.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

Customer: Excuse me, ___ the apples? Seller: They are $2 a bag.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: how much are
Apples are plural, and we are asking for a price.
Is this rule correct? True False Rule

We use 'How many' to ask for the price of plural items.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
We use 'How much' for price regardless of whether the item is singular or plural.
Build a question for the price of 'the milk'. Sentence Building

___ ___ ___ ___ ___?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: How much is the milk?
Milk is uncountable, so use 'is'.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Choose the correct verb for the sentence. Multiple Choice

How much ___ the bananas?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: are
Bananas are plural, so we use 'are'.
Fill in the missing word.

How ___ is the coffee?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: much
We use 'much' to ask for the price.
Find the mistake in the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

How many is the ticket?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: many
It should be 'How much' for a price.
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Reorder

is / much / how / that / watch / ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: How much is that watch?
The standard order is How much + verb + subject.
Match the question to the item. Match Pairs

Match singular and plural forms.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: How much is... -> the hat
Singular matches 'is', plural matches 'are'.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

Customer: Excuse me, ___ the apples? Seller: They are $2 a bag.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: how much are
Apples are plural, and we are asking for a price.
Is this rule correct? True False Rule

We use 'How many' to ask for the price of plural items.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
We use 'How much' for price regardless of whether the item is singular or plural.
Build a question for the price of 'the milk'. Sentence Building

___ ___ ___ ___ ___?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: How much is the milk?
Milk is uncountable, so use 'is'.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

12 exercises
Choose the correct word Fill in the Blank

Excuse me, how ___ are these bananas?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: much
Choose the correct form Fill in the Blank

How much ___ a haircut usually cost?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: does
Find and fix the mistake Error Correction

How many is this t-shirt?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: How much is this t-shirt?
Find and fix the mistake Error Correction

Tell me how much the shoes is.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tell me how much the shoes are.
Which sentence is correct? Multiple Choice

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: How much is the water?
Which question is most polite? Multiple Choice

Choose the most polite question:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Excuse me, how much is this, please?
Type the correct English sentence Translation

Translate into English: '¿Cuánto cuestan las entradas?'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["How much are the tickets?"]
Type the correct English sentence Translation

Translate into English: '¿Podrías decirme cuánto cuesta una noche en este hotel?'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["Could you tell me how much a night at this hotel costs?","Could you tell me how much a night in this hotel costs?"]
Put the words in order Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: How much is a pizza?
Put the words in order Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: How much is this phone screen repair?
Match each item type with the correct 'How much' question part. Match Pairs

Match the item with the correct question opener:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
Match the item/service with the best way to ask its price. Match Pairs

Match the following items/services with the correct question form:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched

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

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

¿Cuánto cuesta?

English distinguishes between countable and uncountable with different words (much/many).

French moderate

Combien ça coûte ?

French 'combien' is universal; English 'how much' is specific to uncountable/price.

German high

Wie viel kostet das?

Very similar structure, making it easy for German speakers.

Japanese partial

いくらですか (Ikura desu ka?)

Japanese uses a dedicated word for price, whereas English uses a general quantity word.

Arabic low

بكم هذا؟ (Bikam hadha?)

Arabic uses a prepositional structure (with how much).

Chinese moderate

多少钱? (Duōshǎo qián?)

Chinese explicitly includes the word for 'money', which English usually omits.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Next
`I'd Like...` — Ordering & Polite Requests

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