Answers
Apr 30, 2014 - 07:28 AM
I'm sure you would be understood using the singular form. My understanding is that you are saying "you", meaning not the clerk or waiter, but "you" the broader concept of the store or restaurant. More like "you all". I actually got to use that at an enoteca in Rome (Avete un menu?) and this was not only readily understood but also sparked up a conversation about how I learned Italian (thanks again Fluenz!).
Apr 30, 2014 - 10:03 AM
This is an interesting question because in English, there is no grammatical way to differentiate You (singular) from You (plural). Personally, when I ask at a store, “Do you have ‘such and such’,,,”, I’m always thinking of You (plural). My reasoning is that the sales clerk doesn’t personally own whatever it is I’m looking for; it belongs to the business owners. Therefore, the plural seems to be the correct usage. (Although, there’s no way the sales clerk knows what I’m thinking.)
In Italian, however, there is a grammatical difference between the singular and the plural. So, “avete” feels correct to me. I agree with Kristin that the sales clerk will understand what you want either way so it’s probably no big deal, but personally, I’ll go with the plural - avete. It feels right.
In Italian, however, there is a grammatical difference between the singular and the plural. So, “avete” feels correct to me. I agree with Kristin that the sales clerk will understand what you want either way so it’s probably no big deal, but personally, I’ll go with the plural - avete. It feels right.
May 02, 2014 - 03:29 PM
Not just feels right, but is more correct. Hai is very informal and would only be used with friends or relatives. Ha is singular and could be considered since it is more formal, but avete is considered appropriate because it is the more formal way to address a stranger.
May 26, 2014 - 12:35 PM
Hi Scusi
As Riff251 and Dennis pointed out we are using the plural you here as we are thinking about you (the store) not the person and hence we use:
Avete questo in un altro colore?
Do you(p) have this in another colour?
It's quite tough because in English we just have you. But if you think about it, as Riff251 and Kristin said, when we ask: "Do you have this in another colour?" in a shop we usually want to know if they - the store - have the item we want rather than the sales assistant we are speaking with.
It would, however, be ok to ask:
Ha questo in un altro colore?
Do you (formal - meaning the sales assistant) have this in another colour?
Or if the sales assistant is clearly a lot younger or a friend of yours than you could even ask:
Hai questo in un altro colore?
Do you (informal) have this in another colour?
But to avoid any embarrassment with the formal or informal person, we do recommend to stick to "avete..."
By the way, Kristin, we are super excited that we were able to help you out on your trip to Italy!!
As Riff251 and Dennis pointed out we are using the plural you here as we are thinking about you (the store) not the person and hence we use:
Avete questo in un altro colore?
Do you(p) have this in another colour?
It's quite tough because in English we just have you. But if you think about it, as Riff251 and Kristin said, when we ask: "Do you have this in another colour?" in a shop we usually want to know if they - the store - have the item we want rather than the sales assistant we are speaking with.
It would, however, be ok to ask:
Ha questo in un altro colore?
Do you (formal - meaning the sales assistant) have this in another colour?
Or if the sales assistant is clearly a lot younger or a friend of yours than you could even ask:
Hai questo in un altro colore?
Do you (informal) have this in another colour?
But to avoid any embarrassment with the formal or informal person, we do recommend to stick to "avete..."
By the way, Kristin, we are super excited that we were able to help you out on your trip to Italy!!