Shopping

1. Quanto costa questo?

   How much does this cost?

   Usage

   The most natural way to ask the price of something

   Grammar Note

   "Costa" is third person of costare. "Questo" is masculine; "questa" is feminine

2. Sto solo guardando, grazie

   I'm just looking, thank you

   Usage

   Tell a shop assistant you are just browsing

   Grammar Note

   "Stare + gerundio" forms the progressive tense. Gerund of guardare: guardando

3. Ha una taglia più grande?

   Do you have a larger size?

   Usage

   Ask for a larger size when shopping for clothes

   Grammar Note

   "Più + adjective" forms the comparative. Apply: più piccolo/a (smaller)

4. Lo prendo

   I'll take it

   Usage

   Say when you have decided to buy an item

   Grammar Note

   "Lo" is the masculine direct object pronoun. For feminine items, use "La prendo"

5. Accettate carte di credito?

   Do you accept credit cards?

   Usage

   Ask whether card payment is accepted

   Grammar Note

   "Accettate" is second person plural of accettare. "Carte" is the plural of carta

6. Posso provarlo?

   May I try it on?

   Usage

   Ask to try on a garment in a clothing shop

   Grammar Note

   "Provarlo" = provare (to try) + lo (it, masculine). For feminine items: "provarla"

7. Dove sono i camerini?

   Where are the fitting rooms?

   Usage

   Find the fitting rooms in a clothing store

   Grammar Note

   "Camerino" uses the diminutive -ino on "camera" (room): little room / changing room

8. Ha qualcosa di meno costoso?

   Do you have something less expensive?

   Usage

   Ask for a more affordable alternative

   Grammar Note

   "Qualcosa di + adjective" means "something (adj.)." "Meno + adjective" forms the inferior comparative

9. Può fare un pacchetto regalo?

   Could you gift wrap it?

   Usage

   Ask for gift wrapping when buying a present

   Grammar Note

   "Pacchetto" is the diminutive of pacco (package). "Regalo" means gift/present

10. È possibile fare un reso?

    Is it possible to make a return?

    Usage

    Ask whether returns are accepted at a shop

    Grammar Note

    "Reso" derives from rendere (to return/give back). "Fare un reso" is the idiomatic phrase for making a return

11. Non mi serve lo scontrino.

    I don't need a receipt

    Usage

    Decline the printed slip at the till

    Grammar Note

    "Servire" means "to be needed (by someone)"; the person who needs it is the indirect object ("mi") and the thing needed is the subject, so the verb is third-person singular. "Scontrino" starts with s + consonant, so the article is "lo". A "ricevuta" is an acknowledgement of a payment or service, distinct from the slip printed at the till

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