When you go shopping, you point at things constantly: "How much is this? Can I see those?" Four little words, organized by near/far and one/many:
(aici)
(acolo)
✏️ Practice – Fill in this / that / these / those
The hints tell you: 🫴 near or 👉 far, one or many.
Remember countable and uncountable from Lesson 14? Here they come again:
| Question | Use with | Example | Romanian |
|---|---|---|---|
| How many…? | countable plurals | How many apples do you want? | Câte mere vrei? |
| How much…? | uncountables | How much milk do we need? | Cât lapte ne trebuie? |
| How much is/are…? | PRICES — always! | How much is this T-shirt? | Cât costă acest tricou? |
💡 The Price Rule
For prices, it is always "how much" — even for countable things!
✅ "How much are these shoes?" (price) · ✅ "How many shoes do you have?" (number)
And remember: money is uncountable → "How much money do you have?" — never "how many money"!
✏️ Practice – Much or Many?
Click to flip, 🔊 to listen. These words all appear in the dialogue and role-play!
In English, £5.50 is said "five pounds fifty" — the word "pence" usually disappears. Listen to each price and type it as digits (e.g. 5.50 or 29).
Listen to a shopper buying a shirt. Click 🔊 on any line, or play it all. Then read the shopper role aloud.
✏️ Complete the dialogue from memory
🗣️ What do you say when…?
On Saturday morning, Ana went to the central market in Cluj. She loves market day — the colours, the noise, the small dramas over prices.
"How much are these tomatoes?" she asked an old man with an enormous moustache. "Eight lei a kilo," he said. "But for you — seven." Ana smiled. He says that to everybody.
At the next stall, she saw some beautiful strawberries. "Those strawberries look perfect. How much?" — "Twelve lei." — "And this honey?" — "Twenty-five." It was her neighbour's honey — small world!
She bought tomatoes, strawberries, honey, and those little cheese pastries that disappear before you get home. Total: fifty-two lei. "This market," Ana thought, "is more dangerous for my wallet than any shopping centre."
Comprehension Questions – Answer in English
2. Seven lei a kilo (normally eight).
3. It was her neighbour's honey.
4. Tomatoes, strawberries, honey and cheese pastries — fifty-two lei in total.
5. Because it is dangerous for her wallet — she always spends money there!
Translation – English → Romanian
Watch out for number 5 — it's a trap from Part 2!
2. Those shoes are expensive.
3. Can I try on this T-shirt? / Can I try this T-shirt on?
4. How many apples do you want?
5. I don't have much money on me. (money = uncountable → much!)
6. I'll take it.
7. Can I pay by card?
Topic: Write a complete shop conversation
You are buying something you really want — shoes, a jacket, a phone case, anything. Write the whole dialogue (you and the shop assistant), at least 80 words. Start each line with A: or S:. Then read it aloud with your teacher — twice, swapping roles!
Time to shop for real. Your teacher is the shop assistant — no reading from the page!
- Ask the price of two different jackets (this one / that one)
- Ask about sizes and colours
- Ask if you can return it if it doesn't fit
- Decide, pay by card, ask for a gift receipt
- Explain the problem — use Past Simple: "I bought…", "I found…"
- Show the receipt
- Ask for your money back or a new shirt
- Stay polite but firm
Lesson Complete!
Here is your final score for the graded exercises:
correct answers