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When asking "how many" or "how much" of a specific thing, use **combien de**.

Just like with *beaucoup de*, use **de** (or **d'** before a vowel) and drop the usual article (*des*, *du*, *de la*).

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### Weights, containers, and portions

At the market, you will often ask for precise amounts. The same **de** rule applies to measurements and containers, such as **un kilo**, **une boîte**, **une douzaine**, or **une tranche**.

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### Asking "How much" with verbs

When asking about overall price or weight, drop the *de* and just use **combien**. You will often pair it with verbs like **peser** (to weigh) or **coûter** (to cost).

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Asking how much or how many (combien, combien de)

adjective

adverb

conjunction

contraction

determiner

interjection

noun

numeral

particle

phrase

prep

preposition

pronoun

sentence

verb

Singular 'to be' and indefinite articles (je suis un...)

Singular definite articles (le, la, l')

Identifying vs. describing (c'est vs. il est)

Feminine adjective agreement (+e)

Plural pronouns and 'to be' (nous sommes, vous êtes)

Formal and informal you (tu vs. vous)

Plural nouns and indefinite articles (des... -s)

Plural definite articles (les)

Plural adjective agreement (+s)

Stressed pronouns (moi, toi, lui)

The verb "to have" singular (j'ai, tu as, il a)

The verb "to have" plural (nous avons, vous avez, ils ont)

There is / there are (il y a)

Basic verbal negation (ne... pas)

Negating "there is" (il n'y a pas de)

Regular -er verbs singular (je parle, tu parles, il parle)

Regular -er verbs plural (nous parlons, vous parlez, ils parlent)

The verb "to be called" (s'appeler)

Yes/no questions with intonation (Tu parles ?)

Yes/no questions with "Est-ce que" (Est-ce que tu parles ?)

Informal questions (qui, que, quoi)

Standard questions (est-ce que)

Singular possessives (mon, ton, son)

Plural possessives (notre, votre, leur)

Demonstrative adjectives (ce, cet, cette, ces)

Adjective placement

Numbers 1 to 20

Numbers 21 to 100

Age and physical states (avoir)

The verb to go (aller)

The preposition to/at (à, au, aux)

Question word for location (où)

Prepositions for cities and countries (à, en, au, aux)

The verb to come (venir)

The preposition from/of (de, du, des)

Question word for origin (d'où)

The verb to do/make (faire)

Days of the week (lundi, mardi)

Telling time (il est... heure)

Question words for time (quand, à quelle heure)

The verb to take or have (prendre)

The verb to drink (boire)

Partitive articles (du, de la, de l')

Zero quantity (pas de)

Expressions of quantity (un peu de, beaucoup de)

Very vs. a lot (très, beaucoup)

The verb to want (vouloir)

Polite requests (je voudrais)

The verb to be able to (pouvoir)

Obligation (devoir)

General obligation (il faut)

Why and because (pourquoi, parce que)

Expressing purpose (pour)

Reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nous, vous)

Daily routine verbs (se lever, s'habiller)

Adverbs of frequency (parfois, rarement)

Never (ne... jamais)

Regular -ir verbs (choisir, finir)

Regular -re verbs (attendre, répondre)

Irregular -ir verbs (sortir, partir, dormir)

Informal 'we' (on)

The imperative mood

Direct object pronouns (le, la, les, l')

The near future (aller + infinitive)

The recent past (venir de + infinitive)

The passé composé with avoir

Irregular past participles (eu, été, fait, pris, vu)

The passé composé with être

The negative passé composé (ne ... pas)

Saying goodbye

Please, sorry and thank you

Which / what (quel)

The indefinite adjective (tout, tous)

Irregular feminine adjectives (-euse, -ve)

Double consonant adjectives (-enne, -ette)

Feminine adjective endings (-ère, -trice)

Irregular plurals (-x)

Plurals ending in -al (-aux)

Present tense stem changes (e to è)

Accent stem changes (é to è)

Double consonant verbs (appeler, jeter)

Verbs ending in -yer (payer, envoyer)

Irregular communication verbs (dire, lire)

Irregular action verbs (écrire, mettre)

Knowing facts vs. familiarity (savoir, connaître)

Question	Answer
how many, how much of	combien de
the box, a can	la boîte
How many boxes of tomatoes are you buying?	Combien de boîtes de tomates est-ce que vous achetez ?
the kilo	le kilo
How many kilos of onions are you taking?	Combien de kilos d'oignons est-ce que tu prends ?
to weigh	peser
How much does this fish weigh?	Combien pèse ce poisson ?
the gram	le gramme
This cheese does not weigh a hundred grams.	Ce fromage ne pèse pas cent grammes.
How many bottles of water are there in this box?	Combien de bouteilles d'eau est-ce qu'il y a dans cette boîte ?
the packet, a package	le paquet
How many packets of pasta are you preparing?	Combien de paquets de pâtes est-ce que tu prépares ?
the dozen	la douzaine
How much does a dozen eggs cost?	Combien coûte une douzaine d'œufs ?
the slice	la tranche
the ham	le jambon
How many slices of ham are you taking?	Combien de tranches de jambon est-ce que vous prenez ?
I am taking a kilo of these potatoes.	Je prends un kilo de ces pommes de terre.
There are three bottles of oil in this box.	Il y a trois bouteilles d'huile dans cette boîte.
He buys a lot of sugar and a little milk.	Il achète beaucoup de sucre et un peu de lait.
How much do these strawberries cost?	Combien coûtent ces fraises ?
How many slices of ham are you taking?	Combien de tranches de jambon est-ce que tu prends ?
the liter	le litre
She is buying a dozen eggs, a packet of coffee and a liter of milk.	Elle achète une douzaine d'œufs, un paquet de café et un litre de lait.
How many grams of salt are you adding?	Combien de grammes de sel est-ce que vous ajoutez ?
How much does a liter of oil cost?	Combien coûte un litre d'huile ?
to count; to rely (on)	compter
The child counts the flowers.	L'enfant compte les fleurs.
I am counting on you.	Je compte sur toi.

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