Market prices: indirect questions (B1)

At the market I stopped at a stall and asked the vendor, "Can you tell me how much these oranges cost?" He smiled and asked whether I wanted a full bag or just a few. I said I was not sure how many I needed for the recipe I planned.

He pointed to a scale and asked if I knew whether the price changed on weekends. I admitted that I did not know what the weekday rate was, so he explained how much each kilo was. I asked whether discounts applied when customers bought more than three kilos.

Nearby a shopper asked me whether I knew where the cheese stall was. I suggested she ask the coordinator whether a map was available at the entrance. She thanked me and repeated her question to a volunteer: "Can you tell me where the dairy section is?"

At the cheese stall I asked whether the aged cheddar was locally made. The seller asked what dish I was preparing, because he wanted to know whether a milder variety might suit it better. I told him I was not sure what flavour the soup required, and he offered a sample.

While I tasted, another customer asked if he could tell her how much the goat cheese cost per hundred grams. The seller answered and asked whether she needed wrapping for travel. She wondered whether the cheese would stay fresh until evening, and he advised her to ask whether her hotel had a fridge.

At the bread stand I asked whether sourdough loaves were still warm. The baker asked if I knew what time the next batch would be ready. I said I had no idea when baking finished, and he promised to tell me whether extra loaves appeared within twenty minutes.

Before paying, I asked whether the market accepted card payments everywhere. The coordinator explained where terminals were located and asked whether I needed cash for smaller stalls. I checked my wallet and asked what the nearest cash machine charged for withdrawals.

At the information desk a tourist asked whether someone could tell her how much a guided tour cost. The clerk asked if she knew whether tours ran in her language. She replied that she was not sure what languages were offered, and she asked whether she could book online.

I overheard a child ask his mother whether they could buy honey. She asked him what he would do with it, and he wondered whether bears would visit their garden if he spilled some. She laughed and asked the vendor whether small jars were available for children.

When I finally paid, the vendor asked whether I needed a receipt. I said I wanted to know if the total included a bag fee, and he confirmed that it did. I left wondering how many daily purchases begin with polite requests to tell us how much things cost, where items are, and whether options fit our plans.

Using indirect question order made every exchange feel respectful even when crowds pressed around the stalls.

Can You Tell Me How Much This Costs

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