Breakdown of Ça ne coûte pas du tout cher.
Questions & Answers about Ça ne coûte pas du tout cher.
Why does this sentence use coûte when the English translation says "is"?
In French, it is very common to use the verb coûter (to cost) together with cher (expensive). So, you are literally saying "That doesn't cost expensive." You could also say Ça n'est pas cher (That is not expensive), but using coûter sounds very natural. What does du tout do in this sentence?
The phrase du tout means "at all". When you place it right after the negative word pas, it emphasizes the negative. So, while ne coûte pas means "does not cost", ne coûte pas du tout means "does not cost at all". Could I start this sentence with C' instead of Ça?
No, because C' is almost always used before the verb être (to be), like in the phrase C'est. For other verbs like coûte, you need to use Ça to mean "it" or "that". If I am talking about a feminine object, does cher change to chère?
Not here! Normally, adjectives change to match the noun's gender. However, when paired with the verb coûter to describe how much something costs, cher describes the action of the verb rather than the object itself. Because of this, it never changes its spelling. Learn Ça ne coûte pas du tout cher and more in French
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