change a 50-dollar bill

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ostap77

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"If I were paying for goods to the cashier in a small store and wanted to ask if he would accept a 50-dollar bill and give me change, would it be OK to ask "Do you change a 50-dollar bill?"
 

Route21

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Hi ostap77

If it were me, I'd just give him the $50 bill and he would soon tell me if he couldn't change it himself. He might then ask me if I had anything smaller or offer to change it, himself, via a nearby shop/bank (as he wants to achieve a sale). But then, that's just me!

With regards to the "English" part of your query, I would have probably asked: "Can you change a 50-dollar bill?" (i.e. "Are you able to change ....").

Hope this helps.
Best regards
R21
 

ostap77

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Hi ostap77

If it were me, I'd just give him the $50 bill and he would soon tell me if he couldn't change it himself. He might then ask me if I had anything smaller or offer to change it, himself, via a nearby shop/bank (as he wants to achieve a sale). But then, that's just me!

With regards to the "English" part of your query, I would have probably asked: "Can you change a 50-dollar bill?" (i.e. "Are you able to change ....").

Hope this helps.
Best regards
R21

I remember one time I wanted to pay for goods in a supermarket in Palermo, Sicily. It was 11 o'clock in the morning. I took a 50-Euro bill out of my wallet and was going to give it to the cashier when I heard that he didn't have change and I was supposed either to pay in smaller bills or come by later.:-D
 

Ouisch

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In the US, by law any business that cannot provide change for large denomination currency bills must post a sign stating their policy (for example, "No Bills over $20 Accepted.") If no such sign is posted, then there should be no need to ask if they can change a $50; you should be able to pay for a $1.99 purchase with a fifty dollar bill and expect change. That's the law. The reality is different - if it's a small shop, the cashier might not have that much cash in the drawer at any given time. So it is very common to ask the cashier when purchasing a small amount of merchandise with a large bill - "Can you change a fifty?" or "All I have is a fifty, do you have change?" :-D
 
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