Shopping amounts and needs
When you buy food, use quantity phrases like , , . These are very useful at the market.
Italian often uses and for “I need”. Use singular with one thing: . Use plural with more than one thing: .
Another useful chunk is . It means “it is necessary to ...” or “you have to ...” in a general way: .
For prices, say or / Keep the forms simple and practical.
| Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| a kilo of | ||
| a kilo of | ||
| half a kilo of | ||
| half a kilo of | ||
| I need | ||
| I need | ||
| I need | ||
| I need | ||
| it is necessary to / you have to | ||
| it is necessary to / you have to | ||
Vorrei un chilo di patate.I’d like a kilo of potatoes.
Mi serve una bottiglia di latte.I need a bottle of milk.
Mi servono due biglietti.I need two tickets.
Bisogna pagare adesso.You have to pay now.
Quanto costa il pesce?How much does the fish cost?
Quanto costano due biglietti?How much do two tickets cost?
Per la cena mi serve il formaggio.For dinner I need the cheese.
Per il viaggio ci servono acqua e panini.For the trip we need water and rolls.
Practice 1/6 · Finding words
Notice the useful pattern
Tap the form practised in this unit.
.
I’d like a kilo of potatoes.
.
I need a bottle of milk.
.
I need two tickets.
.
You have to pay now.
Practice 2/6 · The right form
Choose the form
Use the English meaning and the pattern in this unit.
Vorrei patate.
I’d like a kilo of potatoes.
Mi una bottiglia di latte.
I need a bottle of milk.
Mi due biglietti.
I need two tickets.
pagare adesso.
You have to pay now.
Quanto il pesce?
How much does the fish cost?
Quanto due biglietti?
How much do two tickets cost?
Per la cena mi il formaggio.
For dinner I need the cheese.
Per il viaggio ci acqua e panini.
For the trip we need water and rolls.
Practice 3/6 · Fill the gaps
Complete the messages
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
Mi due biglietti.
I need two tickets.
pagare adesso.
You have to pay now.
Quanto il pesce?
How much does the fish cost?
Quanto due biglietti?
How much do two tickets cost?
Per la cena mi il formaggio.
For dinner I need the cheese.
Per il viaggio ci acqua e panini.
For the trip we need water and rolls.
Practice 4/6 · Building sentences
Build a sentence
Put the words in order.
I’d like a kilo of potatoes.
I need a bottle of milk.
I need two tickets.
You have to pay now.
How much does the fish cost?
How much do two tickets cost?
Practice 5/6 · In situations
What would you say?
Choose the right words for the situation.
I’d like a kilo of potatoes.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
I’d like a kilo of potatoes.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
I need a bottle of milk.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
I need a bottle of milk.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
I need two tickets.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
I need two tickets.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
You have to pay now.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
You have to pay now.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
Practice 6/6 · Matching
Connect messages and meanings
Match the pairs.
Unit complete
