Types of shops in English
Tipos de lugares para comprar en Ingles
department store – a shop that sells many different items in different departments. Harrods is probably the world's best known department store.
supermarket – a large shop that sells mostly food and household items.
grocer (UK) / grocery store (US) – a shop that sells food.
greengrocer – sells fresh fruit and vegetables.
butcher - sells fresh meat.
baker – sells fresh bread and cakes.
fishmonger – sells fresh fish.
chemist (UK) / drugstore (US) – sells medicines and toiletries.
pharmacy (US) – sells medicines.
newsagent - sells newspapers and magazines.
stationer – sells paper goods.
optician – sells glasses / contact lenses.
DIY store – sells things for home improvement.
hardware shop / hardware store / ironmonger – hard goods, such as nails and screws.
corner shop (UK) – a shop on the corner of your street, selling a range of basic goods – food, newspapers, sweets, bread, etc.
delicatessen (deli) – sells specialist food not normally found in supermarkets. For example, an Italian deli, an Asian deli.
bookshop / bookstore – books.
market – market traders (people who work on a market) have stalls that sell fruit and vegetables, clothes, household items and so on.
petshop - for pets and pet food.
flea market – a group of stalls selling old furniture or clothes.
tea shop (UK) – like a cafe, but sells tea and cakes.
petrol station (UK) / gas station (US) sells petrol, car products and sometimes food.
Using 's
Usos
When we talk about shops, we often put an 's on the end. For example, "I'm going to the chemist's / greengrocer's / butcher's / baker's / newsagent's / fishmonger's/ optician's."
We don't use an 's with these shops: supermarket, hardware store, petrol station, department store.
Asking for things
Preguntar por cosas
"Do you have any…?"
"I'm looking for…"
"I wonder if you could help me…?"
What the shopkeeper says
Lo que responde el dueño del negocio
"I'm sorry, we're out of stock."
"I'm sorry, that's the last one."
"I'm sorry, that's all we have left."
What a sales person says
Lo que dice un vendedor
"Can I help you?"
"Are you looking for anything in particular?"
Your reply
Vos respondes
"I'm just looking, thank you."
"I'm just browsing, thank you."
Asking about things
Preguntando acerca de cosas
"Do you have this in another size?"
"Do you have this in another colour?"
"Is this made of leather / silk / plastic…?"
"Does this come with a guarantee?"
"Is this fully refundable?"
"Can I bring this back if it's not the right size?"
"Can I bring this back if it doesn't fit?"
Paying – what the shopkeeper says
Pagando - Lo que el dueño del local dice
"Do you have anything smaller?" (If you pay with a large denomination note.)
Paying – what you say
Pagando - Lo que vos decis
"I'm sorry, I don't have any small change."
"I don't have anything smaller."
"Would you have change for this?"
"Can I have the receipt, please?'
"Can I pay by credit card?"
"Can I pay in cash?"
"Is this on sale?"
---------------------- otro texto complementario en ingles
Lesson Plan: At the Grocery Store
Unless you eat out in restaurants every day of the week, you will find yourself at a grocery store at some time to load up on goodies. As most people know, large supermarkets sell more than just food. They can sell everything from aspirin to zippers. There are several vocabulary terms that are commonly used with food and food containers. Look at these examples.
Items
cans- of tuna, peaches packages- of sausage, gravy mix
bottles- of milk, soda box- of cereal, cake mix
jars- of jelly, olives cartons- of milk, eggs
bags- of chips, cookies tubes- of toothpaste
tubs- of butter
Amounts
pound- of hamburger, potatoes bunch- of grapes, bananas
head- of lettuce, cabbage gallon- (quart/pint/liter) of milk
loaf of- bread
Sections in a grocery store
check out line
produce- vegetables, fruit
bakery- bread, pastry, rolls,
canned goods- beans, tomato sauce, tuna fish
dairy- milk, cheese, yogurt
meat/fish/poultry- steaks, salmon, chicken
frozen foods- ice cream, pizza, TV dinners
health and beauty aides- shampoo, toothpaste, lip stick
dry goods- toilet paper, paper napkins, laundry soap
English Dialogue
Students should work together in pairs and read the following dialogue, one student reading one part, the other student reading the other. Note the expressions used in the dialogue and the progression of the conversation. The dialogue can be used as a model to have similar conversations.
Husband: Do you have the shopping list?
Wife: Me? I thought you brought it?
Husband: No. I thought you did. Oh, well, we'll have to rely on our memories.
Wife: We need some refried beans for tostados. I think it's on aisle 3.
Husband: Here it is. Oh look, do you want to get some jalapeño's?
Wife: Are you nuts? Those things will set my mouth on fire. Let's go to the produce section, we need fruit for the
kids’ lunches.
Husband: How about these apples?
Wife: I don't think they want apples. Last time we bought them they were mealy, and they refused to eat them.
These grapes look good. How many should I get?
Husband: Get two bunches, no three. I'll eat some for a snack.
Wife: OK, on to the meat section. You wanted some hamburger, right?
Husband: Yes, get about three pounds. Be sure it's lean. Do we still have plenty of bacon and sausage for
breakfast.
Wife: Yes, but that reminds me, we have no eggs. We should get 2 cartons.
Husband: What size carton- a dozen, a dozen and a half, or two dozen?
Wife: The two dozen carton. We need milk, right?
Husband: Yes, on to the dairy section. Here's the milk. What kind should we get- whole, 2%, or skim? And how
much?
Wife: Get 2%, the kids won't drink skim milk. Get a gallon jug.
Husband: Do we need any cheese?
Wife: Yes, we'll need some for the pizza on Tuesday. Get two large packages. Do we have everything?
Husband: We had better get Kool-Aid; if we don't the kids will have a fit.
Wife: You’re right. I think Kool-Aid is on aisle 7. What flavor- cherry, orange, or grape?
Husband: Get all three. I need some shaving cream and razor blades. Which way to the health and beauty
section?
Wife: It's to the right, three aisles down. We also need deodorant.
Husband: Right, spray or roll on?
Wife: Roll on.
Husband: I just thought of something else. We need some bread and pastry.
Wife: The bakery is that way. How many loaves should we get?
Husband: One loaf of whole wheat and one loaf of sour dough. And a dozen croissants.
Wife: That's everything. Let's go to the checkout.
Husband: Oops. I only have five dollars. Did you bring your checkbook?
Wife: No, but there's an ATM near the front door. You go get the cash and I'll get in line at the check out counter.
After reading, close your book and tell your partner a summary of the dialogue. Then switch and have your partner tell his or her summary. Start like this: This dialogue is about a husband and wife at a grocery store. They bought ...This may seem silly, since you both already know what the dialogue is about, but the purpose is to practice using your English, not to give information or test your reading skills.
Conversation Activities
1. Pair work- discussion
Do you go to the grocery store often? Tell your partner about it usingsome of the ideas for discussion below.
Your partner should ask questions to get more information.
2. Pair work- role play
The situation: At a grocery store
Working with a partner, role play the situation, using the information below
The roles: A husband and wife or two roommates
laundry soap corn chips eggs
can of tomatoes salt pepper
oranges face soap bacon
onion garlic bell pepper
cereal rice chicken
12 pack of beer milk salsap; salsa
bread tissue cooking oil
flour brown sugar honey
grape jelly toilet paper Q-tips
basil leaves water melon can of pork and beans
blue berry yogurt kitchen cleanser canned apricots
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