Spanish
Grade 9
15 min
Regateando (Bargaining): Prices and Numbers
Practice using numbers and vocabulary related to prices and bargaining.
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Correctly ask for the price of clothing items using '¿Cuánto cuesta?' and '¿Qué precio tiene?'.
Understand and state prices in Spanish up to the thousands (e.g., 2.500 pesos).
Make a polite counter-offer using phrases like 'Le ofrezco...' or '¿Aceptaría...?'.
Use the imperfect subjunctive in conditional clauses to make polite requests for a lower price (e.g., 'Me gustaría que me diera un mejor precio').
Express that a price is too high using 'Es demasiado caro' or 'Está fuera de mi presupuesto'.
Finalize a purchase by saying 'De acuerdo, me lo/la/los/las llevo' or politely decline with 'Gracias, pero voy a pensarlo'.
You've found the perfect handmade leather jac...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
RegatearThe verb for 'to bargain' or 'to haggle'. It's the process of negotiating a price between a buyer and a seller.'En muchos mercados al aire libre, es normal regatear el precio.'
¿Cuánto cuesta(n)?The most common way to ask 'How much does it/do they cost?'. The verb must agree in number with the noun.'¿Cuánto cuesta esa camisa? ¿Y cuánto cuestan los pantalones?'
La oferta / Ofrecer'La oferta' is the offer or counter-offer you make. 'Ofrecer' is the verb 'to offer'.'El precio inicial es cien, pero mi oferta es ochenta. Le ofrezco ochenta.'
Una rebaja / Bajar el precio'Una rebaja' is a discount. 'Bajar el precio' is the action of lowering the price.&...
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Grammar Rules & Patterns
Numbers: Hundreds and Thousands
Hundreds agree in gender with the noun (e.g., doscientos/as, trescientos/as). 'Mil' is invariable for one thousand, but pluralizes for multiples (e.g., dos mil, tres mil).
Use this to correctly state and understand prices. For example, a dress ('un vestido', masculine) costing 200 is 'doscientos', but 200 blouses ('blusas', feminine) are 'doscientas'. A price of 1,500 is 'mil quinientos'.
Polite Requests with the Imperfect Subjunctive
Structure: Conditional verb (gustaría, sería) + 'que' + Imperfect Subjunctive verb (bajara, diera, hiciera).
This advanced structure is much more polite than a direct command. It's used to soften a request, which is crucial for successful...
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Challenging
Consider this dialogue: 1) Comprador: '¿Cuánto cuestan los aretes?' 2) Vendedor: 'Cuestan 1.200 pesos.' 3) Comprador: 'Uf, es demasiado. ¿Aceptaría 800?' 4) Vendedor: 'Es poco. ¿Qué tal 1.000? Es mi precio final.' Which is the most appropriate and logical conclusion for the buyer?
A.Le ofrezco ochocientos cincuenta.
B.De acuerdo, me los llevo por mil.
C.Me gustaría que aceptara novecientos.
D.No, gracias. Su precio es un robo.
Challenging
Which of the following sentences contains a grammatical error according to the rules for polite bargaining requests?
A.Sería fantástico si usted pudiera bajar el precio un poco.
B.Me gustaría que me hiciera un descuento especial.
C.Quisiera saber si me puede ofrecer un mejor precio.
D.Sería bueno que usted me da un mejor precio.
Challenging
You are bargaining for the silver bracelet from the worked example (initial price 800 pesos, final price 700 pesos). Which statement best represents the most effective and polite negotiation tactic the buyer could have used to achieve this result?
A.Le ofrezco 700 pesos. Es mi única oferta.
B.El precio es demasiado alto. Me gustaría que bajara el precio a 500 pesos.
C.Me encanta la pulsera. Le ofrezco 600, y quizás podamos encontrar un precio justo para ambos.
D.Si me diera un precio de 700 pesos, la compraría ahora mismo.
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