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English · CEFR Band 1 (A1) · Chapter 22

Prices and paying

is or are?

  1. Emma Minsu, do you want to buy these bags?
  2. Minsu Yes. How much is these bags?
  3. Emma "These bags" is plural — use "are": How much are these bags?
  4. Minsu How much are these bags?

At the shop

  1. Minsu Hello. How much is this bag?
  2. Assistant It's fifteen dollars.
  3. Minsu That's cheap. I want to pay by card.
  4. Assistant Sure. Here you are.
汉字PinyinPOSMeaning
price n. price
dollar n. dollar
cent n. cent
expensive adj. expensive
cheap adj. cheap
how much phr. how much
pay v. pay
cash n. cash
card n. card
free adj. free

"How much is …?" and "How much are …?" "How much is …?" and "How much are …?"

To ask a price, say "How much" + is / are + the thing. Use IS for one thing: How much is this bag? — It's ten dollars. Use ARE for two or more: How much are these apples? — They're four dollars. The verb must match: one → is, many → are. It is the same rule as "this is / these are". To answer, use a price with "dollars": It's five dollars. To say how you pay: I want to pay by card / with cash. Korean keeps one form of the verb for any number, so watch the plural — with "these bags" you must say ARE, not is.

To ask a price, say "How much" + is / are + the thing. Use IS for one thing: How much is this bag? — It's ten dollars. Use ARE for two or more: How much are these apples? — They're four dollars. The verb must match: one → is, many → are. It is the same rule as "this is / these are". To answer, use a price with "dollars": It's five dollars. To say how you pay: I want to pay by card / with cash. Korean keeps one form of the verb for any number, so watch the plural — with "these bags" you must say ARE, not is.

  • How much is this? — It's ten dollars. How much is this? — It's ten dollars.
  • How much are these apples? — They're four dollars. How much are these apples? — They're four dollars.
  • This bag is expensive. These bags are cheap. This bag is expensive. These bags are cheap.
  • I want to pay by card. I want to pay by card.

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