Portuguese · CEFR Band 1 (A1) · Chapter 22
PreçosPrices
How much is it? Price vocabulary: quanto, custar, caro, barato, pouco, mais, menos, grátis, o desconto, o cartão. Key point: the verb "custar" agrees with the item: one → custa, several → custam. "Quanto CUSTA o pão?" but "Quanto CUSTAM as frutas?". English speakers always use the singular ("Quanto custa as frutas?" ✗). "Caro/barato" agree in gender and number (cara, caros).
Dialogue
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custa / custam
- LucasMike, você quer estas frutas?Mike, do you want this fruit?
- MikeSim. Quanto custa as frutas?Yes. How much is the fruit? (slip: plural subject needs "custam")
- Lucas"Quanto custam?" — com plural, custam."Quanto custam?" — with a plural, custam.
- MikeAh, quanto custam as frutas?Ah, how much is the fruit?
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Na loja— At the Shop
- VendedoraBom dia. O que deseja?Good morning. What would you like?
- BiaQuanto custa esta fruta?How much is this fruit?
- VendedoraCusta três reais. É muito boa.It costs three reais. It is very good.
- BiaÉ barata. Posso pagar com cartão?It's cheap. Can I pay by card?
Vocabulary
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- quanto
interrog.how much / how many
- custar
verbto cost (custa/custam)
- caro
adjectiveexpensive
- barato
adjectivecheap
- pouco
adj./adv.little, few
- mais
adverbmore
- menos
adverbless
- grátis
adjectivefree (no cost)
- desconto
n.m.discount (m)
- cartão
n.m.card (m)
Grammar
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Quanto custa / custam?
Explanation
To ask the price: "Quanto custa?" (one thing) or "Quanto custam?" (several). The verb "custar" agrees with the THING, not the person: o pão CUSTA, as frutas CUSTAM. It is used only in the 3rd person: custa, custam. English speakers always use the singular: "Quanto custa as frutas?" ✗ → "Quanto custam as frutas?" ✓. Compare: "mais caro", "mais barato", "menos caro". "Caro/barato" agree: caro, cara, caros, caras. When paying: "Posso pagar com cartão?" (Can I pay by card?) — in Brazil, card and Pix are very common. Asking for a discount at the feira is normal: "Tem desconto?".
Examples
- Quanto custa o pão? — Custa dois reais.How much is the bread? — It costs two reais.
- Quanto custam as frutas? — Custam três reais.How much is the fruit? — It costs three reais.
- É muito caro. Quero algo mais barato.It's very expensive. I want something cheaper.
- Posso pagar com cartão? — Pode, sim.Can I pay by card? — Yes, you can.
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