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LESSON 10

Lesson At the grocery store

Adjective review
Adjectives describe nouns. They usually come before the noun (five
green apples).
Sometimes, they can come after the noun (grocery stores are boring).
Michael bought five green apples
Mary is using the new shopping cart.
The grocery store will close the spice aisle today.
My father thinks grocery stores are boring.

Exercise 1: Put appropriate adjectives in front of the nouns in the following sentences.

Example:
Cal bought ________ apples, __________ bananas and
__________ carrots.
Cal bought green apples, yellow bananas and big carrots.

He bought ___________ tomatoes, ________ cucumber and ______ ________ onion.

The ________ shopper was shouting at the __________ cashier.

Monika, the deli had a sale on ___________ meat, _________________ cheese and __________
salads.
I need _____________, ____________ and ___________ tomatoes for that dish.

The grocery stores are very _______________ on Saturdays.

I needed to buy these _____________ spices to prepare a curry.

That new jewelry store sells _________ but ___________________ necklaces.

The _______________ and _________________ shop assistant helped me find what I wanted.

This African Art shop is very _________________.

The food at the food court of the shopping mall is __________ but ___________.

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Adjective endings (suffixes)
We can now look at different endings for adjectives. These are called
suffixes.
That grocery store is famous for its homemade pies.
The meat in the deli department is not eatable.
The stockboy is usually very helpful.
Some male shoppers are helpless.

Suffixes are letters added to the end of a word to form a new word. They can change the word
from a noun or verb to an adjective.

In the first sentence, the noun fame becomes the adjective famous by adding –ous.
In the second sentence, the verb eat becomes the adjective eatable by adding –able.
In the third sentence, the verb help becomes the adjective helpful by adding –ful.
In the fourth sentence, the verb help becomes the adjective helpless by adding –less.

Let’s look at some nouns and verbs that can be changed into adjectives by adding a suffix.

noun/ verb suffix adjective

danger, fame -ous dangerous, famous

The neighborhood near the grocery store is quite dangerous.

music, politics, economy -al musical, political,

economical
Shopping at the local market can be economical.

cloud, sun, dirt -y cloudy, sunny, dirty

Look at Bob’s dirty child! He’s walking in aisle 7.

attract, create -ive attractive, creative

The attractive woman is in that grocery store.

enjoy, comfort -able enjoyable, comfortable

Rita spent an enjoyable morning at the grocery store.

care, pain -ful careful, painful

Careful shoppers find the best bargains.

thought, job - less thoughtless, jobless

The thoughtless woman angered many shoppers.

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LESSON 10
Exercise 2: Write two adjectives describing the subject.

Example: the ____________ cashier

The fast cashier
The attractive cashier

the ____________ grocery store the ____________ grocery store

the ___________ shopper the ___________ shopper

the __________________ neighborhood the __________________ neighborhood

the _________________ morning the ________________ morning

the ________________ shop assistant the ________________ shop assistant

Review of count and noncount nouns

Count nouns are nouns that can be counted. They can be singular or plural. An indefinite article
(a, an) can come before a count noun.
We bought five ripe apples.
There are six aisles in that grocery store.
Craig bought a magazine at the grocery store.
How many oranges did Frank buy?

To ask a question about a count noun, begin the sentence with how many.

Now let’s see how we can use count nouns and noncount nouns together.
Jay bought a bag of sugar at the grocery store.
He also bought a bar of soap.
They don’t have any bottles of ketsup at the market.
Henry didn’t need a bunch of bananas.

Noncount nouns include ideas (history, knowledge), emotions or feelings (love), or some activities
(tennis). Noncount nouns also include things you can measure (gasoline, rice) or group together
(furniture). We can give specific amounts of either count or noncount nouns using certain units of
measurement.

Let’s look at these units of measurement.

bag -- sugar, potatoes, potato chips
bar -- candy, hard soap
bottle -- detergent, soda, juice
box -- cereal, detergent
bunch -- bananas, grapes
can -- soup, beans, tuna, soda
carton -- eggs, milk, cigarettes
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cup, tablespoon, teaspoon – liquid and dry recipe ingredients
dozen -- eggs
gallon, pint, quart, liter -- liquids, ice cream
jar -- mayonnaise, jam, mustard
loaf -- bread
package -- potato chips, spaghetti
piece -- cake, pie, meat
pound/kilo -- meat, cheese
roll -- paper towels, toilet paper
stick -- butter
tube -- toothpaste

These units of measurement are followed by of + count/noncount nouns. However, dozen is not
followed by of (a dozen eggs).
Exercise 3: Complete the sentences with units of measurement.

Example: We bought _________________ of milk at the store.

We bought a liter/ a quart/ a pint of milk at the store.

Rosa bought ___________________ of candy, __________________ of chips and

______________________ of chocolate cake.

Maria bought _______________________ eggs.

She bought __________________________ of toothpaste.

My grandmother and I bought ______________________ of butter.

My mother bought _______________________ of ice cream, ____________________ of soup

and __________________________ of toilet paper.

I need ________________ of ground beef, ___________ of beans and _______________ _______

of tomato paste.

Can you bring ____________ of spaghetti and _________________ of bread?

My mother forgot to buy ___________ of mayonnaise yesterday.

They didn’t have any ______________ of potatoes at the grocery store, so I didn’t buy anything.

We drink ____________ of milk a day.

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LESSON 10
Participles
The present participle is the simple form of the verb + ing.
The past participle is the simple form of the verb + ed.
Shopping bores Mike.
He feels bored.
It is a confusing supermarket.
They are confused shoppers.

Some participles can be used as adjectives. Examples of these adjectives are:

Present participle Past participle
boring bored
interesting interested
frustrating frustrated
confused confusing
amused amusing
excited exciting
surprised surprising

Let’s look at when they are used. The present participle expresses how the subject affects someone
or something. The first sentence expresses the affect shopping has on Mike. The present participle
conveys an active meaning. The noun it modifies does something. In the third sentence, the noun
supermarket does something. It confuses. Thus, it is described as a confusing supermarket.

The past participle expresses how the subject feels about someone or something. In the second
sentence, what Mike thinks about shopping is expressed. The past participle conveys a passive
meaning. In the fourth sentence, the shoppers are confused by something. They are described as
confused shoppers.

Exercise 4: Fill in the blanks with an appropriate participle.

Example: Luis thinks supermarkets are _________.

Luis thinks supermarkets are boring / exciting / interesting.

The shopper was very ______________. She couldn’t find what she wanted.

My morning at the super market was very ____________! I ran into my old girlfriend.

The shop assistant looked _______________ when the shopper dropped the groceries and ran out.

There are very few customers at the convenience store, so the owner is ______________.

The children are _________________ about going to the toy store.

The rides at the fair last week were very ___________________.

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Barbara was very _________________ to run into her high school friend at the supermarket.

These directions to the mall are so ________________. We will never find it.

Shopping is ____________________ when it is crowded.

Quantitatives or expressions of quantity

Expressions of quantity precede nouns. They tell you how many or how much of something there
is or are.
Andy bought two apples.
He gave both of the apples to his brother.
Neil purchased a few bottles of cola at the grocery store.
He didn’t buy much rice.
Some expressions of quantity are used only with count nouns. Some can be
used with count nouns or noncount nouns.

Here are some expressions of quantity.

Expression of quantity used with count nouns used with noncount nouns

one one peach --------

each each peach ---------
every every peach ---------
both both peaches ---------
a couple of a couple of peaches ---------
a few a few peaches ----------
several several peaches ----------
many many peaches ----------
a little ----------- a little salt
much ----------- much salt
not any not any peaches not any salt
some some peaches some salt
a lot of a lot of peaches a lot of salt
lots of lots of peaches lots of salt
most most peaches most salt
all all peaches all salt

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LESSON 10
Exercise 5: Fill in the blanks with an appropriate quantitative.

Example: Janet bought only ____________ apples. She already

had 3 in the refrigerator.
Janet bought only a couple of / a few apples.

We don’t need _______ water. We have five bottles at home.

Joan needs __________ of eggs. You had better buy 3 dozen.

I only use ___________ salt when I cook.

_______ apple I bought isn’t ripe yet.

Bill has eaten __________ of the oranges. You have to be quick if you want one.

I don’t eat ________ meat. I prefer to eat vegetables.

She threw out __________ strawberry that was bad.

Did you buy ______ vegetables? Yes, I bought ________ sprouts, _________ tomatoes and a

__________ of artichokes.

He likes spicy food. He always puts a _______ of spices on his food.

I try to stay healthy so I eat a piece of fruit after _________ meal.

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Reading
Read the story and answer the questions.

Can You Top(s) Joe’s?

W Joe’s Corner Store. When he wants to buy paper

hen Tom Pratt needs some milk he usually goes to

towels, he goes to Tops. This situation is the norm for most

Americans and is one that is putting a lot of small grocery stores out of business.
Many years ago, there was a small grocery store on most corners in American neighbor-
hoods. However, with the advent (beginning) of grocery store chains (e.g. Tops) this type of
business has become an "endangered species" in all but a few locales. For most small time
entrepreneurs, these large food chains are viewed as creatures with an insatiable appetite,
devouring everything in their path.
Whether the American shopper chooses to shop at Joe’s or at Tops, he or she can find
benefits at both. There is nothing more relaxing than "shooting the breeze" sitting outside
the local corner store. One can learn through this sometimes mindless chatter where Hal
and Beth had been seen parking or who was going to win the Dairy Queen crown that
year. God knows how many politicians have lost because of what Fred and Stu had to say
outside the corner store!
Small store shoppers can also get faster service, shorter lines and products more suited to
their own tastes. If Clem wants his Genesee beer at 50 F., there is a much better chance
that he would be able to get it at Joe’s rather than at Tops. In other words, small town
stores cater to their customers. They will do anything to keep their clients happy.
Big food chains are able to offer cheaper prices and a better variety of products because
of their size and the volume of products they sell. Why would Tom want to spend a dollar
for one roll of the quicker-picker-upper at Joe’s when he can buy a pack of six for $3.99 at
Tops? Why buy a box of Corn Flakes from Joe’s when, at Tops, Tom can buy Crusty
Sparkle Pops or Count Chocula Horror Bits?
Hopefully, some Americans will continue to shop at the corner store and say no to the
big food chains. These stores are part of the continuing saga of Americana. After all, what
would you rather be greeted by- the toothless smile of old, happy Joe or the endless parade
of bargain banners welcoming you to Tops?

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LESSON 10
1).What is the title of this passage?

2). How many paragraphs are there?

3). What is the topic of the passage?

4). What is the topic sentence?

5). What does advent mean? (paragraph 2, line 2)

6). What is an example of a grocery store chain? (paragraph 2, line 2)

7). What does "shooting the breeze" probably mean?

8). Who does he or she refer to? (paragraph 3, line 1)

9). What word in paragraph 6 means story?

10). Where would you prefer to shop? Why?

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ANSWER KEY Lesson 10

Exercise 1: Put appropriate adjectives in front of the nouns in the following sentences. Your
answers might be different.

He bought two tomatoes, one cucumber and one red onion.

The angry shopper was shouting at the unfriendly cashier.
Monika, the deli had a sale on red meat, French cheese and delicious salads.
I need fresh, ripe and red tomatoes for that dish.
The grocery stores are very crowded on Saturdays.
I needed to buy these Indian spices to prepare a curry.
That new jewelry store sells nice but expensive necklaces.
The friendly and helpful shop assistant helped me find what I wanted.
This African Art shop is very interesting.
The food at the food court of the shopping mall is delicious but pricy.

Exercise 2: Write two adjectives describing the subject. Your adjectives might be different.

the famous grocery store the dirty grocery store

the careful shopper the creative shopper
the dangerous neighborhood the festive neighborhood
the cloudy morning the sunny morning
the helpful shop assistant the attractive shop assistant

Exercise 3: Complete the sentences with units of measurement.

Rosa bought a bar of candy, a bag of chips and a piece of chocolate cake.
Maria bought a dozen eggs.
She bought a tube of toothpaste.
My grandmother and I bought a stick of butter.
My mother bought a pint/ quart/ liter of ice cream, a can of soup and a roll of toilet paper.
I need a pound/ kilo of ground beef, a can of beans and a cup/ tablespoon/ teaspoon of tomato paste.
Can you bring a package of spaghetti and a loaf of bread?
My mother forgot to buy a jar of mayonnaise yesterday.
They didn’t have any bags of potatoes at the grocery store, so I didn’t buy anything.
We drink a carton/liter of milk a day.

Exercise 4: Fill in the blanks with an appropriate participle.

The shopper was very confused. She couldn’t find what she wanted.
My morning at the supermarket was very surprising/ interesting! I ran into an old girlfriend.
The shop assistant looked confused when the shopper dropped the groceries and ran out.
There are very few customers at the convenience store, so the owner is bored/ frustrated.
The children are excited about going to the toy store.
The rides at the fair last week were very amusing.
Barbara was very surprised to run into her high school friend at the supermarket.
These directions to the mall are so confusing. We will never find it.
Shopping is frustrating/ annoying when it is crowded.

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Exercise 5: Fill in the blanks with an appropriate quantitative.

We don’t need any water. We have five bottles at home.

Joan needs a lot of eggs. You had better buy 3 dozen.
I only use a little salt when I cook.
Each apple I bought isn’t ripe yet.
Bill has eaten most of the oranges. You have to be quick if you want one.
I don’t eat much meat. I prefer to eat vegetables.
She threw out every strawberry that was bad.
Did you buy any vegetables? Yes, I bought some sprouts, some tomatoes and a couple of artichokes.
He likes spicy food. He always puts a lot of spices on his food.
I try to stay healthy so I eat a piece of fruit after each meal.

Reading
1). The title of this passage is Can You Top(s) Joe’s?
2). There are 6 paragraphs.
3). The topic of this passage is the benefits of shopping at two types of stores.
4). The topic sentence is, "This situation is the norm for most Americans and one that is putting a
lot of small grocery stores out of business."
5). Advent means beginning.
6). Tops is an example of a grocery store chain.
7). "Shooting the breeze" probably means chatting.
8). He or she refers to American shopper.
9). Saga means story.
10). Your answer according to preference. For example:
I prefer to shop at a little market because it is close. Also, I like the owner. The vegetables are
always fresh and it is easy to buy a few things.

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vocabulary list
NOUNS VERBS ADJECTIVES ADVERBS PREPOSITIONS
aisle add creative finally at
asparagus convey fascinating quickly by
bakery describe frustrated secondly for
cashier precede naughty usually in
cinnamon purchase r,pe in front of
grocery store slippery of
ingredients to
mustard with
parsley
recipe

CONJUNCTIONS QUESTION WORDS

because how many
or what
who
why

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