Shopping Vocabulary

Useful Vocabulary

Shop(s) Customer(s) Cashier(s)

Wallet(s) (m)
Scales Till(s)
Purse(s) (f)

Shelf Shelves Barcode(s)

Trolley(s) Lift(s) Bag(s)

Basket(s) Changing Room(s) Escalator(s)

Ways to pay

Cheque(s) Cash Note(s)

 Credit card(s)
Coin(s)
Debit card(s)

Build Up

Where to buy what

Chemist's

Ladies Clothing Shop or Boutique

Mens Clothing Shop or Tailor's

Shoe Shop or Cobbler's

Jeweller's

Electrical Store

Toy Shop or Toy Store

Record Shop

Book Shop
 Newsagent's

Ironmonger's

Optician's

Haberdasher's

All or most of the above Department Store

Butcher's

Fishmonger's

Greengrocer's

Baker's

Delicatessen

Grocer's

Off Licence

Florist's

Post Office
All or most of the above Supermarket

Naturally Speaking

Useful Shopping Phrases

Finding a Shop Opening Hours

Questions
 Can you recommend a good
toy/clothes shop?
 Is there a chemists/supermarket in
the area?
 Where can I get toothpaste/pet
food?
 Where's the nearest shopping
centre?
Answers/Comments
 There's a really good bookshop just
around the corner.
 You can buy that here in the hotel.
 The best toy shop is in the
shopping centre.
 The nearest one is a few miles
away.
Shopping for Clothes
Questions
 Could you help me, please?
 Could you tell me where the
................ department is?
 Excuse me, I'm looking for a
.......... .
 Is there somewhere I can try this
on, please?
 Does it suit me?
 Do you have this in a
(larger/smaller size) (different
colour), please?
 Do you do alterations?
 Do you have a refund policy?
 Is this in the sale?
Answers/Comments
 It's too long / short.
 It's too tight / loose.
 The ladies / gents changing rooms
are over there.
 You can bring it back and
Questions
 What time do you open, please?
 What time do you close, please?
 What are your opening hours?
 Are you open all day?
 Are you open on Sundays?
Answers/Comments
 We're open 24/7. (24 hours a day /
7 days a week)
 We're closed at lunchtime, between
12 and 2pm.
 We're open from 9am till 6pm,
Monday to Friday.
Paying
Questions
 Do you take credit cards?
 Do you give credit?
 Do you have a loyalty card?
 Does it have a warranty?
 Can I pay by cheque?
 Do you offer a cash discount?
 Could I have a VAT receipt,
please?
 Could I leave my bags here and
pick them up later?
Answers/Comments
 We take all the major credit cards.
 We only accept cheques with a
cheque card.
 We are offering 6 months free
credit with no deposit.
 Sorry, no.
 Yes, certainly.
 exchange it or get a refund within 2
weeks if you keep the receipt.

Dialogue
Here we have two conversations. The first is between Mrs Smith and her younger son John at the shops. The
second is between Mrs Smith and a shop assistant.

It's Saturday morning and Mrs. Smith is going shopping.

Mrs S: John, I'm going to the shops. Is there anything you want?
John: Yes please! Can you pick up my magazine from the newsagents?
Mrs S: Of course. Do you want to come with me?
John: No way, I'm going round to Mike's house, sorry.
Mrs S: No problem. I'll be about an hour, be home by 5 o'clock at the latest.
John: O.K. I'll see you later.
A bit later......
Mrs S: John are you home?
John Yes mum, I'm up stairs.
Mrs S: Come down here, I bought you a new Nike T-shirt, I want you to try it on.
John Nike? Great I'm coming!
A few minutes later.....
Mrs S: Well, does it fit?
John I think it's a bit too small.
Mrs S: Let's have a look. Hmmm, I think you've grown again!
John I can't wear it though.
Mrs S: Do you like it?
John Yeah, it's a nice colour.
Mrs S: I'll take it back to the supermarket and see if I can change it.

Mrs Smith had bought a nice new T-shirt for John, but when he tried it on it didn't fit.

It's Saturday evening and Mrs Smith has to return the T-shirt.
Mrs S: Excuse me, can you help me?
Shop
Yes of course, what can I do for you?
Assistant
Mrs S: I bought this T-shirt for my son this afternoon, but it doesn't fit him, it's too small.
Shop
Do you want to change it or get a refund.
Assistant
Mrs S: I'd like to change it for a larger size. Do you have these in large?
Shop
I'll just check. Let's see, yes we have large or extra large, which would you prefer?
Assistant
Mrs S: I think large will be fine, it's for my son.
Shop That's fine, if it doesn't fit just bring it back again. If you take it to the customer
Assistant service desk, they'll sort it all out for you.
Mrs S: Thank you. Just as a matter of interest do you give refunds?
Shop Yes, of course. You can bring any clothing items back up to three weeks after
Assistant purchase, but you must keep the reciept.
Mrs S: I see, thanks again.
Shop
You're welcome.
Assistant:

Games and Tests for this Vocabulary Unit

All these games and tests open in a new window.

Crossword

Dictation and Spelling Test

Reading Comprehension test

Video - Let's go shopping! (may take a long time to load)

Vocabulary test

Interesting Shopping Facts

- See more at: http://www.learnenglish.de/vocabulary/shopping.html#sthash.rSUQXCAQ.dpuf

Other useful vocabulary

to suit = to be in your style, or to compliment your body shape or skin / hair colour
"That dress really suits you!"

to fit = to be the right size

"These jeans don't fit very well."

Clothes can be…

… too big (size "Large" when you are size "Small")
… too small (small size when you are large size)
… too tight (waist measurement 34 when you are waist 38)
… too loose (waist measurement 38 when you are waist 34)
… too long (jeans leg measurement 34 when your leg measurement is 32)
… too short (jeans leg measurement 32 when your leg measurement is 34)

to go well with / to match = to look good with your other clothes

"This jumper goes well with my trousers."
"This colour jumper matches your new trousers."

Trying something on

When you go clothes shopping, you probably want to try something on before you buy it so you
know it's the right size or that it looks good on you!

"I'd like to try this on please. Where are the changing rooms?"
"Can I try this on?"

Example conversation

Can I try this on?

Sure. The changing rooms are over there…

… (later)

Any good?
No, not really. (It's the wrong size / It doesn't really suit me.)
Or, "Yes, I'll take it."

Paying

"Where I can pay?"

"The cash tills are over there."

Useful phrases a shop assistant says

"Can I help you?"

"Are you looking for anything in particular?"
"Do you need any help at all?"
"We don't have any of these left in stock." ( = There is no more of something.)

Useful phrases a customer says

"I'm looking for …"

"I'd like to buy…"

Indicating a piece of clothing

"Do you have this in …"
- medium / large / small / extra large / XL
- blue / black / beige (other colours etc)

Talking about the price

Clothes shops have "sales" when some or all the clothes are discounted.

"Is this in the sales?"

"Is this on sale?"

"There's a discount of 20% on this."

"These jeans are discounted by 20%."

"It's a bargain." (= the low price is a surprise)

"It's cheap." (= doesn't cost much money)
"It's expensive." (= costs a lot of money.)

Types of shops in English

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

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.

Sales vocabulary

December 26 (or Boxing Day) is traditionally the start of the winter sales in the UK, when items
are heavily discounted. In fact, bargain hunters can find some items reduced up to 50% off
their pre-sale price.

An unbeatable offer / prices slashed (= cut) or give-away prices mean very low prices.

Clearance Sale / Everything must go! = signs in shop windows advertising the sales

snap up a bargain = to buy something cheaply

Asking for things

"Do you have any…?"
"I'm looking for…"
"I wonder if you could help me…?"

What the shopkeeper says

"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

"Can I help you?"

"Are you looking for anything in particular?"

Your reply

"I'm just looking, thank you."

"I'm just browsing, thank you."

Asking about things

"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

"Do you have anything smaller?" (If you pay with a large denomination note.)

Paying – what you say

"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?"

Ready to check your understanding? Try our quiz on what to say in a shop!
More help with shopping vocabulary and phrases

Here are some useful speaking exercises to help you when you go shopping. You can listen to
the conversation, record your sentences, then compare your recording with the original.

Replying to a sales assistant

Asking questions in a shop

Buying presents

Asking for directions

"How do I get to your office?"

"Can you tell me the best way of getting to your office?"

"What's the quickest way of getting to your office?"

"Where are you exactly?"

Getting information

"Will you be coming by car or by train?"

"It's much easier if you take the train."

"Which hotel are you staying at?"

General information in English

"We're not far from…" or "We're quite close to…"

"It's about a mile / kilometre / two blocks from…"

"We're opposite / next to / in front of / across the road from / round the corner from the
supermarket."

Giving directions in English

"Come off the motorway / highway at Junction / Exit 12."

"It's signposted 'Manchester'."

"Follow the signs to …"

"There's a one-way system in the centre of town."

"Take the 'A12' to 'Chelmsford'."

"Go straight on / left / right at the lights / at the roundabout /at the junction of … and …"

"Go past the supermarket."

"You'll come to / see …"

"It's the first turning on the right after the bank."

Use landmarks to help

"You'll see a large sign / roundabout."

"On your left you'll see an industrial centre / a hospital / the police station."

"Just after the level crossing / shopping centre (or mall)."

"Go past the petrol station / the garage."

Final tips

If you're giving directions over the phone, remember to speak slowly to allow the other person to
write things down.

Check that the other person has understood.

If you're speaking face-to-face with someone, use your hands to show left, right, or straight on.

Use "please" when you ask someone to give you directions. It's polite, and will normally get you
what you want!

How to make a booking in English

Making a booking in English does not have to be complicated. In fact, if you keep the
information concise, you will find it easy!

Starting the conversation

I'd like to…..

…. book a double room (for two nights from Monday 2 August to…)
…. book a table (for two at 9 pm tomorrow night)

…. book a flight (from London to Paris on Tuesday 10 November)

…. book seats (tonight for "Phantom of the Opera")

You can also reserve a room, a table or seats.

Responding to questions

How many people is the booking for?

… It's for two people.

How would you like to pay?

… Can I pay by credit card?

Can you spell your surname?

… Yes, it's B – R – O – W – N.

Can you give me your credit card number and expiry date?
…Yes, it's …….

Travel bookings

What time do you want to leave / arrive / check-out?

… I'd like to arrive in London by 6 pm.

Would you like to take advantage of our special insurance / extra facilities?

… No thank you / Could you give me extra information?

Asking for more information

Does this price include all taxes? (for hotels and flights)

Is there a booking fee? (for flights, theatre tickets)

How much is the baggage allowance? (for flights)

Could you confirm my booking?

What time should I arrive? (for theatres, restaurants)

What time do I have to check in / do I have to check out? (for flights, hotels)
Is there an ensuite bathroom? (for hotels)

Tips

Remember the essential information:

- how many nights (at a hotel)
- how many people (at a restaurant or the theatre)
- what time (for a flight or at a restaurant)
- how much does it cost (for a flight, theatre tickets or a hotel room)

Research the vocabulary you need before you make a call:

- what type of theatre seat you need
- what type of hotel room you want
- where you want to sit on the plane

Remember to pronounce numbers and letters clearly.

When you spell something or give a number, speak slowly and emphasise the important
information.

Restaurant English
Here's how to ask about the menu and more.

Describing the menu

"The dish of the day" / "daily special" = what the restaurant is featuring.

"What's the dish of the day?"

"It's the chef's omelette."

"set menu" = a menu where the starter, main course and dessert are chosen by the restaurant.

"a la carte" = where you choose what you want to eat from the menu.

Asking for a description of the

ood

"What is 'fisherman's pie' exactly?"

"Is this dish vegetarian?"
"What's in spaghetti vongole?"
"Does this dish come with any vegetables?"
"Can you tell me how this dish is prepared?"
Describing food

"It's a meat dish, garnished with parsley."

A garnish is something that is served with the food, not mixed in.

"It's topped with cheese."

Topped is something that goes on top of the food.

"It's served with a side salad."

Side salad is salad served in a bowl or separate plate.

Sauces can be cheesy (made with cheese), savoury (not sweet), creamy (smooth), spicy (made
with chilli peppers) or delicate (a subtle, rather than strong taste).

Desserts can be rich (very filling with a strong taste, like chocolate gateau), light (not heavy in
taste or texture, like a sorbet), tangy (with a sharp taste of lemon or orange, like a lemon pie), or
fruity (made with fruit, like trifle).

Ordering in a restaurant – things waiters say

"Are you ready to order yet?"

"Have you decided what you are having?"
"Would you like anything to drink with your meal?"
"Can I recommend the chef's special?"

Ordering in a restaurant – things customers say

"We'd like a little longer, please."

"Could you give us a couple more minutes?"
"We really can't decide. Can you advise us?"

* See also Food Vocab in the Vocabulary section.

Booking a hotel room in English

Here is some useful vocabulary to describe hotel rooms and facilities, and phrases to book a
hotel room.

Types of room

double room = room with a double bed (for two people)

twin room = room with two beds
single room = room with one bed (for one person)
suite = more than one room (e.g. bedroom and living room
cot = a bed for a baby
Availability

fully-booked = no rooms available

Other facilities

ensuite bathroom = a bathroom attached to the bedroom

a safe = a box with a key where you put valuables (passport, jewellery, money etc)
a minibar = a small fridge with drinks inside such as coke, water, juice, wine
tea and coffee making facilities = a kettle (to boil water), cups, coffee, milk, sugar and tea
sachets
(24-hour) room service = meals delivered to your room
laundry / dry cleaning service = your clothes can be washed for you
bar and restaurant = the hotel has a bar and a restaurant for drinks and meals
wifi = internet connection (pronounced wai – fai)
full English breakfast = big breakfast with toast, eggs, bacon, cereal, etc
continental breakfast = small breakfast with croissant, coffee, juice
a wake-up call = when the telephone rings to wake you up

Making the booking

Here are some phrases you can use on the phone to make a booking in English.

I'd like to book a (single / double / twin) room for two nights, please.
I'd like to make a reservation for a (single / double / twin) room for the night of (date), please.
(a reservation = a booking)

Do you have any double rooms left for the weekend?

Do you have any double rooms available this weekend?
(left = available)

How much is… a single room / a double room / a suite?

What time is check-in? (check-in = when you arrive and give your passport information)
What time is check-out? (when you leave and pay)
What time is breakfast?

Are all your rooms ensuite? (= with bathroom)

Is there wifi in the room?
Is there a lift? (life / elevator)

For more information, see our page, How to make a booking in English.

Practise your speaking and pronunciation

Now you have the chance to practise your speaking in these conversations.
First, listen to the conversation. Then click "next" to listen to the second person again.
Click "next" again and you can practise speaking the phrase. Click "playback" to hear your voice
in the conversation

Conversation 1

Learn how to buy tickets in English

These phrases will help you get around using public transport if you're travelling in an English-
speaking country.

Buying a ticket

I'd like (+ noun / + infinitive)

I'd like a return ticket…
I'd like to buy a return ticket…

Or you can use a "Can I" question:

Can I have a ….. (single / return to Bath) please?

On the bus, when you need to be quick, the question can be short:

A single to London Bridge, please.

See our page on transport vocabulary for words and phrases to describe transport and travel.

Asking for information

How much is … (a one day travel card)

How much does a one day travel card cost?

(See our page on asking questions for more explanation and help asking questions.)

Tips for understanding native English speakers

It isn't always easy to understand native speakers at train stations or on the bus. This is because
people are often in a hurry – you need to ask a question quickly on the bus, for example.

1. Prepare your question before you speak. What do you need to know? Information about the
bus route, for example? Or do you want the bus driver to tell you when to get off the bus?

Use simple grammar to help you make the question. Here are two questions using the present
simple tense:
Does this bus stop at …… (name of place)
Does this bus stop at London Bridge?

Do you stop anywhere near ….. (name of place)

Do you stop anywhere near London Bridge?

Here is a question asking the bus driver to help you:

Can you tell me where to get off for …. (name of place)

Can you tell me where to get off for the shopping centre?

2. Listen for the information words. These words are stressed in a sentence, while the grammar
words (articles, prepositions etc usually are unstressed.)

For example:
Do you stop anywhere near London Bridge?
'Yeah, on the 'other 'side of the 'road.

Practise your speaking and pronunciation!

Now you have the chance to practise your speaking in these conversations.

First, listen to the conversation. Then click "next" to listen to the second person again.
Click "next" again and you can practise speaking the phrase. Click "playback" to hear your voice
in the conversation.

Conversation 1:

Conversation 2:

Conversation 3:

Conversation 4:

Back to the main English Course page

English conversations for tourists

Here is English vocabulary for some typical places of interest for tourists to a city, town, or the
countryside.

Famous tourist attractions

There are many types of museum:

Local history museum / Town museum = where there are displays of objects found in the local
area, or which are important to the local area.

Art gallery = where you can see paintings, photographs and sculptures, as well as exhibitions of
particular artists.

In London (for example) there are many other types of museum, such as:

Natural History museum = a museum where you can see everything related to Earth and to the
history and development of Earth, such as dinosaur skeletons, fossils, etc.

Science Museum = a museum where you can see scientific and technological developments and
discoveries. Often these museums have interactive displays.

Others are Madame Tussauds (a waxworks museum), the London Dungeons (a museum which
recreates historical events), a Maritime museum, the Imperial War museum and the Tower of
London (an old prison which also contains the Crown Jewels).

Famous attractions

Tourists often visit churches and cathedrals, as well as other historic buildings.

Other attractions include historical sites of interest (such as Roman ruins and famous battle or
burial sites), as well as parks, gardens, and stately homes (= big house owned by aristocrats) and
castles.

Some palaces (= house for the royal family) or parliament buildings are also open to visitors.

Things to do

You can go and see an exhibition (in a museum or art gallery).

You can also go to a festival (such as a music or arts festival) or a fair (often an annual event
with various stalls to raise money for a charity or a town).

You can also go to hear live music (a concert of classical music or a "gig" of rock or folk
music).

Other cultural attractions are the opera, plays (with actors) and the ballet.
In some towns you can also go to the funfair (where you pay to go on rides) and theme parks,
such as Disneyland, for example.

Local attractions

These might be areas of natural beauty, such as mountains, lakes and the coastline. (See our page
on Scenery vocabulary for useful words and phrases to describe the countryside.)

For towns on the sea, other places to enjoy can be a promenade (walking area next to the sea), a
pier (a long walking area built out over the sea) and a lighthouse (tall building where a light
shines to show ships where the dangerous areas of the sea are). The harbour (area where ships
come in) can also be a popular area for restaurants and shops.

English speaking: Information for tourists and visitors

In the Tourist Information office you can ask about the opening hours (or opening times) for
parks, museums and galleries, etc.

You can also ask if there is an entrance fee or admission cost. For many attractions there is a
car park nearby (but not always free parking). Some parks, gardens and historical buildings are
open to the public only at some times of the year.

You can also ask if there is a gift shop (or souvenir shop) or refreshments (a bar or cafe that
serves drinks, snacks or light meals).

Many tourist attractions arrange tours for visitors (guided tours or audio tours) and you can
find information in brochures and leaflets (a one-page brochure folded vertically into two, three
or four pages), or on posters and flyers (very small leaflet often left on cars, for example).

Practise your speaking and pronunciation

Now you have the chance to practise your speaking in three conversations at the Tourist
Information office.

First, listen to the conversation. Then click "next" to listen to the second person again.
Click "next" again and you can practise speaking the phrase. Click "playback" to hear your voice
in the conversation

Conversation 1

Conversation 2

Conversation 3
Back to the main English Course page

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English conversations: In a restaurant

Booking
"I booked a table for two for … (8pm).
"It's under the name of …"
"A table for two please."

What the restaurant staff say:

"Of course. Please come this way."

Or…

"Your table isn't quite ready yet."

"Would you like to wait in the bar?"
"We're fully booked at the moment. Could you come back a bit later?"

Asking about the menu

These are phrases you can ask the waiter if you aren't sure of something on the menu.

"What's … exactly?"
"Is this served with … (salad)?"
"Does this have any … (seafood) in it?"
"What do you recommend?"

Ordering

What the waiter says:

"Are you ready to order?"

"Can I take your order?"
"Anything to drink?"
"Would you like … (chips) with that?"

What the customer says:

"I'll have…"
"I'd like…"
"Can I have …"
"We'd like to order …"

If there are problems with the order, the waiter can say:

"I don't think we have any more … (lobster) left. I'll check with the kitchen."
"I'm sorry, but the king prawn soup is finished."

Dealing with problems

The customer can say:

"Excuse me, but I didn't order this."

"I'm sorry, but this is cold."
"Can I change my order please?"

The waiter can say:

"I'm so sorry about that…"

"Let me take it back for you." (take it back = return it to the kitchen)
"Let me change it for you."

Getting the bill

"Can we have the bill please?"

"Could we get the bill?"
"Could we pay please?"

("bill" in British English; "check" in American English.)

Practise your speaking and pronunciation

Now you have the chance to practise your speaking in three conversations at the Tourist
Information office.

First, listen to the conversation. Then click "next" to listen to the second person again.
Click "next" again and you can practise speaking the phrase. Click "playback" to hear your voice
in the conversation

English Speaking: Offering food

How can you offer (and accept / not accept) food and drink? Here are some useful speaking
phrases and grammar rules to help you.

Offering, accepting and refusing food and drink

Would you like some more?

Would you like another (potato)?
Can I get you some more wine?
Have you got enough (meat)?

Examples for accepting

Would you like some more salad?

Oh yes, please!
Can I get you some more wine?
Just a small glass, please.

Would you like another potato?

That would be great, thanks.

Examples for refusing

Can I get you some more wine?

No, not for me, thanks.

Would you like some more meat?

No thank you. I've got enough.

Have you got enough gravy?

Yes, that's fine thanks.

More potatoes?
No, I'm good thanks.

Would you like some dessert?

Oh no thanks. I'm full.

(full = my stomach is full)

Do you have room for seconds?

I'm sorry, but I can't eat any more.

(room for = space in your stomach)

(seconds = another plate of food)

Using enough

enough = the right quantity

"Do you have enough money for the bus journey?"

"Yes, I've got £2, but it only costs £1.50."

"Enough" comes before a plural countable noun, or an uncountable noun.

"She hasn't got enough vegetables on her plate."
"He hasn't got enough time."

You don't always need the noun:

Have you got enough?
(Yes, I have / No, I haven't.)
You can also follow it with a verb:
"He earns enough (money) to have expensive holidays."

Using too

We use "too", "too much" and "too many" to say the quantity is big – we don't need it all.

"I've got too much meat here. I can't eat it all!"

"Please, no more potatoes! I've got too many here!"

We use "too" before an adjective:

"I'm too tired to go swimming."
"She's too angry to speak to you."

We use "too much" before an uncountable noun:

"There's too much salt in this soup."

We use "too many" before a plural countable noun:

"There are too many people in this restaurant."

Using some and any

See our page on some and any for a quick review.

Would you like some more wine?

Yes, please. I'd like some (more).

Would you like any more wine?

Yes please. I'd like some (more).
No thank you. I don't want any (more).

In questions we can use some and any when we offer something. (With "some" the quantity is
more restricted than with "any", but there isn't a big difference.)

If we accept, we can use "some" in the reply, but if we refuse, we can use "any" in the reply (or
just say "no thank you".)

Giving someone a choice

Would you like some ice-cream or some cake?

Either please!

(= It doesn't matter to me.)

Would you like some ice-cream or some cake?

Both please!
(= I'd like ice-cream and cake.)

"Either…or" is a choice:
Would you like either ice-cream or cake?
Oh, the ice-cream please.

Other polite phrases at dinner

That was lovely, thanks.

This is wonderful!

How did you make this?

What did you put in … (the sauce)?

Essential English utensils vocabulary

plate = what you eat meat, etc off

bowl = where you put (liquid) soup, cereal, etc
knife = what you use to cut food (pronounced "n-eye-f")
fork = what you hold in your left hand to carry food to your mouth
spoon = what you use to eat soup or dessert
glass = what you drink wine or water from
cup = what you drink coffee or tea from
teaspoon = small spoon for sugar

napkin / serviette = small piece of material you put on your knees

tablecloth = material to cover the table

Offering food quiz

Click the Start button below to begin the exercise. For each question, select the missing word
from the choices. Then click the arrow on the right to go to the next question.

Useful English phrases for giving directions

If you're in a new town or city and you want to know where a place or building is, these are
useful phrases to ask for (and get) directions.

How you can ask

Say "Excuse me" before you ask a person. To make it sound like a question, make your voice go
up on "me".
"Excuse me. How do I get to (the railway station) please?"

"Excuse me. Where's the nearest (post office) please?"

"Excuse me. I'm looking for the Number 6 bus stop."

Giving directions

The person who helps you often says how near or far the place is:

"It's about five minutes from here."

"It's about a ten-minute walk."
"It's easier if I can show you on the map…"

Specific instructions

Here are some useful words and phrases for giving street instructions.

"Turn left / right."

"Go straight on at the lights / when you come to the crossroads." (Lights = traffic lights;
crossroads = where two roads cross)

"Go across the roundabout." (Roundabout = where all the cars go round a circle in the middle of
the road)

"Take the first turning / road / street on your left / right." (Turning = road that goes left or right)

"You'll see / You'll come to a (bank). Then …"

"Don't take the first road."

"Go on for about (2 minutes / 100 metres)."

Landmarks

We often make reference to landmarks when we give directions to help the other person. These
can be places in a town, such as cinema, bank, bus stop, etc. They can also be parts of the road
system. Here are some common terms:

taxi rank = a place where taxis queue for passengers

level crossing = where the road and railway meet. There are barriers that go up and down to
signal when a train is coming
underpass = a walkway that goes under a busy road so pedestrians can get to the other side
safely

overpass / flyover = a road that goes over another road (or railway)

zebra crossing = black and white markings in the road for pedestrians to cross the road (the
markings look like a zebra's stripes)

pedestrian crossing = a place in the road where pedestrians can cross. Often there are traffic
lights.

tunnel = a road under (or through) mountains

crossroads = where two roads cross each other

junction = where one road meets another, and you can either go left or right

fork in the road = where the road divides, and you decide to go left or right

turning = a road off to your left or right

main road = a big road where there is lots of traffic

lane = a small road, or a part of a road (the left-hand lane / the right-hand lane; the bus lane)

Use prepositions of direction

Go past = continue past something so that is is now behind you

Go across = cross something, like a road or crossroads

Go along = continue down a road

Go straight on = don't turn left or right

Go up = walk / drive up a hill

Go down = walk or drive down a hill or a road

Go through = pass through something, such as a tunnel or a town

Go out of = exit (i.e. a railway station)

It's in front of you = you can see it facing you

It's opposite the bank = it faces the bank

It's on the corner = it's where two roads meet at a 90° angle

Typical English conversation

"Excuse me. I'm looking for the post office."

"OK. Go straight on, then turn left at the crossroads. It's about 100 metres on your left.
You can't miss it!"

"Thanks!"

"You're welcome."

Giving directions

The person who helps you often says how near or far the place is:

"It's about five minutes from here."

"It's about a ten-minute walk."
"It's easier if I can show you on the map…"

Specific instructions

Here are some useful words and phrases for giving street instructions.

"Turn left / right."

"Go straight on at the lights / when you come to the crossroads." (Lights = traffic lights;
crossroads = where two roads cross)

"Go across the roundabout." (Roundabout = where all the cars go round a circle in the middle of
the road)

"Take the first turning / road / street on your left / right." (Turning = road that goes left or right)

"You'll see / You'll come to a (bank). Then …"

"Don't take the first road."

"Go on for about (2 minutes / 100 metres)."

Landmarks

We often make reference to landmarks when we give directions to help the other person. These
can be places in a town, such as cinema, bank, bus stop, etc. They can also be parts of the road
system. Here are some common terms:
taxi rank = a place where taxis queue for passengers

level crossing = where the road and railway meet. There are barriers that go up and down to
signal when a train is coming

underpass = a walkway that goes under a busy road so pedestrians can get to the other side
safely

overpass / flyover = a road that goes over another road (or railway)

zebra crossing = black and white markings in the road for pedestrians to cross the road (the
markings look like a zebra's stripes)

pedestrian crossing = a place in the road where pedestrians can cross. Often there are traffic
lights.

tunnel = a road under (or through) mountains

crossroads = where two roads cross each other

junction = where one road meets another, and you can either go left or right

fork in the road = where the road divides, and you decide to go left or right

turning = a road off to your left or right

main road = a big road where there is lots of traffic

lane = a small road, or a part of a road (the left-hand lane / the right-hand lane; the bus lane)

Use prepositions of direction

Go past = continue past something so that is is now behind you

Go across = cross something, like a road or crossroads

Go along = continue down a road

Go straight on = don't turn left or right

Go up = walk / drive up a hill

Go down = walk or drive down a hill or a road

Go through = pass through something, such as a tunnel or a town

Go out of = exit (i.e. a railway station)

It's in front of you = you can see it facing you

It's opposite the bank = it faces the bank

It's on the corner = it's where two roads meet at a 90° angle

Typical English conversation

"Excuse me. I'm looking for the post office."

"OK. Go straight on, then turn left at the crossroads. It's about 100 metres on your left.
You can't miss it!"

"Thanks!"

"You're welcome."

At a restaurant

"What would you like to eat?" That's what a waiter might ask in an English-speaking country. You
actually know what you would like to eat but how to order it in English?

The following example sentences show you what a waiter might say and what possibly to reply. Not only
guests-to-be but also waiters-to-be can practise here for communicative situatioins at a restaurant.

Phrases
What the waiter could say or ask
What can I do for you?

Have you booked a table?

Would you like to see the menu?

Could I take your order, sir/madam?

What would you like to start with?

What would you like to drink? /Anything to drink?

What would you like for main course/ for dessert?

Is everything alright?

Enjoy your meal!

What the guest could say or ask

I’ll have…/ I am having…

As an entrée I'll have a salad and for main course I'd like the roast beef.

Could I have chips instead of potatoes, please?

Is there anything you would recommend?

Could you recommend a wine?

Could I have the bill (Ammerikanisches Englisch: check), please?

No, please. This is on me.

At a restaurant
"What would you like to eat?" That's what a waiter might ask in an English-speaking country. You
actually know what you would like to eat but how to order it in English?

The following example sentences show you what a waiter might say and what possibly to reply. Not only
guests-to-be but also waiters-to-be can practise here for communicative situatioins at a restaurant.

Phrases
What the waiter could say or ask

What can I do for you?

Have you booked a table?

Would you like to see the menu?

Could I take your order, sir/madam?

What would you like to start with?

What would you like to drink? /Anything to drink?

What would you like for main course/ for dessert?

Is everything alright?

Enjoy your meal!

What the guest could say or ask

I’ll have…/ I am having…

As an entrée I'll have a salad and for main course I'd like the roast beef.
Could I have chips instead of potatoes, please?

Is there anything you would recommend?

Could you recommend a wine?

Could I have the bill (Ammerikanisches Englisch: check), please?

No, please. This is on me.