UNIT 1:

SHOPPING

Objective: in this unit, you will learn how to

interact with others in communicative situations
generated in a commercial transaction using
appropriate linguistic and discursive
components.
 Warm up
Watch the following video. Then answer and discuss the questions with
a partner.
What kind
of store is What are
it? some of the
characteristics
of the clothes?

What clothes
does the
customer What size
want to buy? is the
customer?
Did the clothes
fit?
 PRACTICAL VOCABULARY:
To go shopping in an english speaking country you need to
know specific expressions and vocabulary about shopping and
descriptions. Here are some examples:

1. Expressions:

How much is it? I don’t like it

I love it
How much are they?
It is too cheap
Do you have it/them in blue or black?
They are too expensive
Do you have it/them in S/M/L/XL size?
It’s a bargain
How many products are there in stock? It’s a sale off

Can I get a discount?

Can i try it on? Where is the atm?

Can i try them on? Where are the cashiers?

Do you have change? Which one is better?

Can i pay with checks? You have no credit

Where can I find ………..? I have no cash

Where are the electronics? Let’s go to another store

I like/love/hate the blue ones I need to buy groceries

 ACTIVITY :
Drag and drop the following expresions to organize a coherent
conversation:

Salesperson: __________________.
Can I help you?

Do you have it in purple or blue?

Customer: I’d like to buy a nice blouse,____________________________.

Yes, We do. What size do you want?

Salesperson: ____________________________.

Customer: Small please.

Just 25 dollars
Salesperson: _____________________.

It’s cheap!
Customer:__________________.

Credit card or cash?

Salesperson: Yes madam. _________________________

Customer: Credit card.

 DESCRIBING OBJECTS IN A STORE:

As we know, there is a group of words called adjectives. these words are

used to describe, quantify or modify things in oral or written ideas. It is
important to mention that adjectives are usually positioned before or
after the words, topics or ideas:

I love this laptop. It’s cheap and has a beautiful That shirt is very nice. It’s black and made of silk.
design.

This pair of jeans is too tight. I need a bigger size. These headphones are fantastic.
Their sound is terrific.
Describing That dress is beautiful

This bed is nice and comfortable.

My friend’s cell phone is large and new.

Quantifying There are two clients in the store.

My store has many clothes.

Modifying She has a small sweater.

My sister is buying an expensive car.

OPPOSITE ADJECTIVES
 ACTIVITY : MATCHING.
WRITE THE NUMBERS IN COLUMN A IN THE BLANK SPACES IN
COLUMN B.
COLUMN A COLUMN B

1.It’s quite empty for a concert. Very A. How much is it?_____

strange.
2. Yes, I love it.
3. It’s 2 dollars sir.
4. Here is your shirt, sir.
5. There are plenty of products in
stock, madam.
6. They are too expensive, I’ll give
you 80 dollars.
7. I guess they’re too small for me.
Let’s try another size.
8. Yes, sir. but only 10%.
B. Can I get a discount?_____
C. Too big. Do you have it in M
size?_____
D. How many products are there in
stock?_____
E. They are 100 dollars, sir._____
F. Do you like the camera,
madam?______
G. What’s your opinion about this pair
of jeans sir?______
H. I don’t’ see any people around here.
______
 COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES:

Watch the video and think about 2 questions with comparative and 2
questions with superlative adjectives and ask them to a classmate.
 Think about this:

1. What is better for you? Vacations in the

beach or the mountains?
2. Which animal is faster? A cheetah or a Zebra?
3. Is Chile bigger than Brazil?
4. Are apartments more comfortable than houses?
5. Is the country safer than the city?
6. What’s more delicious? A slice of chocolate cake or a fruit
salad?
 COMPARING

In english, we can make comparisons about any object, person,

situations, etc.
There are different structures to make comparisons. In case of words
to describe
or adjectives, there are some patterns to follow:
 Let’s see how to complete the sentences
using comparative adjectives according to
the context.

1. This sofa is more comfortable (comfortable) than your sofa.

2. The new printer is faster (fast) than the old one.
3. Sheila is smarter than (smart) bob.
4. A Camaro is more stylish (stylish) than a Suzuki.
5. Alex is taller than (tall) Simon.
6. My new camera isn’t better (good) than my old one.
 Reading activity: comparing products

After finishing classes at the university, Lisa and her boyfriend are
planning to go to a shop to buy new shoes and a new laptop. In the
shop, Lisa asks the salesman to give some more details about the
products. Read the two conversations and notice the comparative forms
in context highlighted in red. Think of more examples of comparative
phrases and write them down in your notebook.

Salesman Lisa
Boyfriend Salesman
CONVERSATION 1:

1. Lisa: Hi, can you help me? I am looking for a laptop. I want one which
may be fast and light.
Salesman: Well, look … this HP is as good as this Acer one. Both are
excellent. The Acer is less expensive than the HP though. 5 dollars
cheaper.
Boyfriend: Cool. Acers are great Lisa, and also more stylish.
Lisa: I don’t think so dear. Look at this HP. It’s nicer than this one.
Salesman: And it’s only 2 dollars more expensive! and it’s almost so nice
as Apple ones!

Salesman
Lisa Boyfriend
CONVERSATION 2:
Lisa: Hey, May I ask you a question?
Salesperson: Sure, how can I help you?

Lisa: I need to buy more comfortable and nicer shoes for work.

Salesperson: What size are you?

Lisa: My size is 6, bigger than the normal women.

Salesperson: Don’t worry, our store is better than other ones, we got
everything and nicer than anywhere.
 HOW TO TALK ABOUT PRICES

In english there are some words that are useful to ask for the money
you need to pay for something or how many products are available.
These words are denominated quantifiers.

Much A great deal of

A little/little/very little A large amount of
A bit (of) A large quantity of
 QUESTIONS WITH QUANTIFIERS
ASK FOR AMOUNT EXAMPLES

Much A: How much is this sweater?

(used with uncountable nouns) B: It is 10 dollars.

A: How much does this scarf

cost?
B: It is cheap. Just 2 dollars.

ASK FOR QUANTITY EXAMPLES

Many A: How many sweaters do you

(used with countable nous) have?
B: I have 2 sweaters.
 ACTIVITY : “LISTENING EXERCISE”
LISTEN TO THIS CONVERSATION AND CHOOSE THE BEST
ALTERNATIVE:

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

1. What is the girl shopping for? 4. About how much does the girl have to spend?
a. A present for her mother.
a. $5.00
b. A present for a friend.
c. A present for her father. b. $10.00
c. $13.00
2. How much is the black wallet?
a. $49.95 5. What does the girl decide to buy?
b. $40.95
a. A black wallet.
c. $44.95
b. A brown belt.
3. Why doesn't the girl like the brown wallet? c. A tie.
a. There isn't a place to put pictures.
b. It's too big and heavy.
c. She doesn't like the color.
 ADVERBS

In english there are other words, similar to adjectives, called adverbs.

These words are used to modify the verbs, adjectives, nouns, phrases and
even other adverbs. There are different types of adverbs. In this
opportunitiy will study the use of TOO and ENOUGH. For example:

Enough Too

Enough before nouns Too before adjectives

I don’t have enough money These jeans are too big for me!

Enough after adjectives

This food isn’t good enough for me!
 Check out these questions. Notice the use of TOO and
ENOUGH. Ask the questions to a partner and take notes of the
answers in your notebook:

- Have you ever eaten too much food?

- What age is old enough to serve in the military?
- What age is old enough to buy cigarettes and alcohol? Is the Korean
government’s age limits too low or too high?
- Have you ever felt like you were not smart enough to do something?
- Have you ever felt like you were too smart to do something?
- How much is too much money? Is it possible to have too much money?
- Do you think designer brand name products are too expensive? (Gucci, Armani,
LV, etc.)
- Have you ever been too afraid to do something?
 USE OF ADVERBS:

1. Adverbs with verbs:

Here the adverbs are in bold and the verbs are in italics. Here the adverbs
give us more information about the verb.
'She slowly entered the room.'
'He carefully drove through the city.‘

2. Adverbs with adjectives:

Here the adverbs are in bold and the adjectives are in italics. Here the
adverbs give us more information about the adjective.
'The test was extremely difficult.'
'I'm incredibly sorry about what I did.'
3. Adverbs with adverbs:
Here both adverbs are in bold. The first adverb gives us more information
about the second.

'The cheetah runs incredibly quickly.'

'He talks exceptionally loudly.‘

4. Adverbs before sentences:

Adverbs can be used to change the entire meaning of a sentence. The
adverbs are in bold.

'Unfortunately, I will be out of the office for the next 3 days'.

'Surprisingly, the team was beaten in the final.'
 ACTIVITY: READ THE SENTENCES AND CHOOSE THE RIGHT ADVERB.

1. Hurry up! You always walk so_______. 4. The service in the hotel was ____ good.

a) slow a) extremely
b) fast b) fastly
c) slowly c) Badly
d) fastly d) Well

2. You play the guitar very __________. 5. _______ I don´t think this is a good idea.

a) nice a)Tomorrow
b) good b)Exceptionally
c) well c)Personally
d) goodly d)Carefully

3. I have been ________ married for 5 years.

a) quickly
b) slightly
c) very
d) happily
 TALKING ABOUT CLOTHING AND ACCESORIES:
We use the verb «wear» when talking about any piece of clothing,
accesories or anything which is on our bodies. That includes beard,
moustache, hair, tatooes, piercings, or anything alike. We can describe
or give more information about all of this with adjectives. E.g.:

 Sheila is wearing long hair now.

 Shawn wears large tatooes all over his body.
 Nico is going to wear an eccentric beard next week for the party.

1. Cap 9. Hat
2. Tie 10. Sneakers
3. Belt 11. Jacket
4. Trousers 12. Jeans
5. Scarf 13. Swimsuit
6.Pants 14. Shirt
(underwear) 15. T-shirt
7. Bra
(underwear)
8. Dress
 INTERACTIVE ACTIVITY 4: READ THE TEXT AND CHOOSE THE RIGHT
ALTERNATIVE ACCORDING TO IT.
Shopping is a necessary part of life which very few people can avoid. It is a daily routine
for some people. Some people shop for pleasure while other people go shopping just to
buy the necessary items in order to survive.
The weekend is usually a good time to go shopping because people have free time from
work. At this time the shops are usually very busy because people try to get the best
items for the lowest price before the item runs out of stock. Some people go shopping
more regularly than other people to browse products in shops even when they do not
have much money. This is known as window shopping and allows people to plan ahead
and save for the things they want to buy in the future or wait for the items to drop in
price. Some people spend a lot of time looking for bargains while others do not think of
the price and are happy to spend a lot.
Some people believe that the more expensive the item, the better the quality, but this is
not always true. It is sensible to buy items which are affordable, but some people use a
credit card or borrow money from the bank so that they can buy the items they really
want rather than wait for it.

Text taken from:

http://www.excellentesl4u.com/esl-shopping-reading.html
Sometimes shopping can be stressful when choosing a gift to buy other people for a
special occasion. It is common to buy a gift voucher so that a friend or loved one can go
shopping themselves at their own convenience.
Shopping online is often popular with people who have a busy lifestyle. People are able to
order their necessary and luxury items from the comfort of their own home, or even on
the move. Delivery is usually free and items are often cheaper than in shops on the high
street. The only real problem is that the item description and quality may be different
than what they hoped for. This could mean the customer may become disappointed with
the item they receive and will need to return it at their own cost.
People who go to shops to do their shopping often use self-service payment machines.
This usually saves time as the shopper does not need to join a long queue. However, it can
be frustrating when the machine has a problem and the sales assistant is not always
available to help.
 READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS THAT GO WITH THE ABOVE
READING PASSAGE:

1) Why is the weekend a good time to go 4) When can shopping be stressful?

shopping?
a) It is very busy on the weekend.
b) People are free from work.
c) Things are usually cheaper.
d) The shops are closed.
a) When shops are about to close.
b) When it is very busy.
c) When buying a gift for someone.
d) On the weekend.

2) What are people doing when they go 5) Is there sometimes a problem with online
shopping just to have a look and not to buy? shopping?
a) Bargain hunting. a) No, the shops are open 24 hours a day.
b) Window shopping. b) Yes, with the quality and description of
c) They do not have much money. the item.
d) Looking for the best quality. c) Yes, there are too many queues.
d) No, there are no problems.
3) What do some people usually think about
items of better quality?
a) They are cheaper.
b) They are harder to find.
c) They are more expensive.
d) They are on sale.
ANSWER KEYS
 ACTIVITY : “LISTENING EXERCISE”
LISTEN TO THIS CONVERSATION AND CHOOSE THE BEST
ALTERNATIVE:

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

1. What is the girl shopping for? 4. About how much does the girl have to spend?
a. A present for her mother.
a. $5.00
b. A present for a friend.
c. A present for her father. b. $10.00
c. $13.00
2. How much is the black wallet?
a. $49.95 5. What does the girl decide to buy?
b. $40.95
a. A black wallet.
c. $44.95
b. A brown belt.
3. Why doesn't the girl like the brown wallet? c. A tie.
a. There isn't a place to put pictures.
b. It's too big and heavy.
c. She doesn't like the color.
 ACTIVITY: READ THE SENTENCES AND CHOOSE THE RIGHT ADVERB.

1. Hurry up! You always walk so_______. 4. The service in the hotel was ____ good.

a) slow a) extremely
b) fast b) fastly
c) slowly c) Badly
d) fastly d) Well

2. You play the guitar very __________. 5. _______ I don´t think this is a good idea.

a) nice a)Tomorrow
b) good b)Exceptionally
c) well c)Personally
d) goodly d)Carefully

3. I have been ________ married for 5 years.

a) quickly
b) slightly
c) very
d) happily
 READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS THAT GO WITH THE ABOVE
READING PASSAGE:

1) Why is the weekend a good time to go 4) When can shopping be stressful?

shopping?
a) It is very busy on the weekend.
b) People are free from work.
c) Things are usually cheaper.
d) The shops are closed.
a) When shops are about to close.
b) When it is very busy.
c) When buying a gift for someone.
d) On the weekend.

2) What are people doing when they go 5) Is there sometimes a problem with online
shopping just to have a look and not to buy? shopping?
a) Bargain hunting. a) No, the shops are open 24 hours a day.
b) Window shopping. b) Yes, with the quality and description of
c) They do not have much money. the item.
d) Looking for the best quality. c) Yes, there are too many queues.
d) No, there are no problems.
3) What do some people usually think about
items of better quality?
a) They are cheaper.
b) They are harder to find.
c) They are more expensive.
d) They are on sale.