Results 1 to 5 of 5
Like Tree7Likes
  • 1 Post By kwfine
  • 1 Post By 5jj
  • 1 Post By SoothingDave
  • 3 Post By emsr2d2
  • 1 Post By BobK

Thread: "How much is it", is this sentence for buying one item?

  1. #1
    kwfine is offline Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • Hong Kong
      • Current Location:
      • Hong Kong
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    129

    Default "How much is it", is this sentence for buying one item?

    Dear teachers,

    I went to a convenient store for some chocolate, potato chips and some soft drinks for the coming weekend party,
    and when I was going to pay for purchased items, a question came across my mind:
    Can I use "How much is it" to ask the shop assistant how much I need to pay for the items?
    Since I bought more than 1 item, I wonder if "How much is it" can be used in this case.
    Or shall I say "How much are they?"

    Please help teachers.

    Thank you

    Kitty
    TheParser likes this.

  2. #2
    5jj's Avatar
    5jj
    5jj is online now Moderator
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • England
      • Current Location:
      • Czech Republic
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    16,982
    Teacher

    Default Re: "How much is it", is this sentence for buying one item?

    'How much is it?' is possible, though 'How much is that?' is more natural, in my opinion.
    TheParser likes this.
    Context is always important; labelling is rarely important.


  3. #3
    SoothingDave is offline Key Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Other
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • United States
      • Current Location:
      • United States
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Posts
    4,706

    Default Re: "How much is it", is this sentence for buying one item?

    "How much is it?" is possible, meaning "How much is the total?"
    TheParser likes this.

  4. #4
    emsr2d2 is online now VIP Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • UK
      • Current Location:
      • UK
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Posts
    9,007
    Teacher

    Default Re: "How much is it", is this sentence for buying one item?

    How much does that come to?
    How much do I owe you?
    How much for that lot?

    To be honest, I wouldn't expect to have to ask a shopkeeper "How much...?" They should simply tell you the total price once they have put everything through the till.
    Raymott, TheParser and Rover_KE like this.

  5. #5
    BobK's Avatar
    BobK is offline Harmless drudge
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • UK
      • Current Location:
      • UK
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Posts
    12,931
    Teacher

    Default Re: "How much is it", is this sentence for buying one item?

    But 'How much is it?' is not unknown. It is the basis for a joke about an author in a signing session in Australia. Someone asks this question (with the appropriate accent for that particular stereotype) and the author writes 'To Emma Chizzit'.

    b
    TheParser likes this.

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 13
    Last Post: 01-Feb-2011, 04:57
  2. Replies: 1
    Last Post: 13-Jun-2009, 16:20
  3. lexical item "if "
    By tayyabazaidi in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 26-Apr-2008, 13:42
  4. Replies: 13
    Last Post: 22-Feb-2008, 08:22
  5. Replies: 6
    Last Post: 29-Jul-2005, 01:58

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0