Learn French: Je voudrais payer maintenant, est-ce que c'est possible ?

Je voudrais translates to "I would like". It is a much more polite way to ask for something than Je veux (I want), which can sound rude or demanding to a cashier or waiter.

Why is the verb payer in its dictionary form instead of being conjugated?

In French, when you have two verbs together like "would like to pay", only the first verb (voudrais) is conjugated to match the subject (Je). The second verb (payer) stays in its unconjugated dictionary form (the infinitive).

What exactly does the phrase est-ce que do in this sentence?

Est-ce que literally means "is it that". It is a very common "question word" used to turn a regular sentence into a yes-or-no question. By putting it in front of c'est possible (it is possible), it creates the question "is it possible?".

Why is it written as c'est rather than ce est?

When the word ce (meaning "it" or "this") comes right before a word starting with a vowel, like the verb est (is), the letter "e" is dropped and replaced with an apostrophe. This helps the words flow smoothly together when spoken.