Unidade 8 - Aprofundamento

Clothes
Personal qualities
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Fazendo compras: shopping in English

When we go abroad to a country where a different language is spoken, there’s that little a bit of
fun going shopping, of trying to make ourselves understood whether it is for the piece of local
jewellery that has caught our eye, or as we look in the supermarket for the sugar.

But when we live fully in a country, but are still learning the language, the fun wears of quickly,
and shopping can become a big hassle. When we learn English online, we can take our time
absorbing the important vocabulary we need to know, and also the phrases that we are likely to
hear, or will want to use.

This article will help you to gain the understanding and language you need to go shopping in
English with confidence.

Types of Shops in English

Other words that can be used for ‘shop’: store, superstore, outlet, retail outlet, retail park (a
collection of large shops, usually away from a town centre).

 Bakers – a shop selling bread and cakes.

 Boutique – A shop selling fashionable items, usually clothes.
 Butchers – a shop selling meat.
 Cash and Carry – A shop like a supermarket, where items are cheaper, although the
range will be less. You normally have to become a ‘member’ to use a cash and carry.
 Charity Shop – A shop selling usually second-hand goods (ones that have been owned
before) such as clothes, books, ornaments and toys, where the money raised goes to
charity.
 Chemist – a shop selling medicines and toiletries (such as soap and shampoo).
 Corner shop – a small, local shop, that sells food and often a range of other useful
goods.
 Dairy – a shop selling milk products.
 Deli – a shop that sells foods, often from other countries, that are often not found in
supermarkets.
 Department Store – A large shop, usually in a town or city centre, selling a wide range of
goods, from electrical to clothing to toys.
 Drycleaners – a shop to clean suits, dresses and items you cannot wash at home.
 Grocers – a shop, usually small, selling food and household goods.
 Greengrocers – a small shop selling fresh fruit and vegetables.
 Hardware Shop – A shop selling goods we use in the home, such as washing up bowls,
hammers and nails and often cleaning products.
 Newsagents – A shop selling newspapers, cards and stationery goods such as pens and
pencils.
 Off Licence – A small store selling alcohol and soft drinks.
 Supermarket – A large shop selling a wide range of goods. Mostly foodstuff and
household goods; many larger stores also sell clothes and electrical goods.

Online Shopping
This is a useful service most larger shops now offer. There are many advantages to a person
who is still learning to speak English. There is a picture of the product you want to buy, and the
process of buying is usually simple to follow.

How to ask for something in English, and the replies you might recieve
There is a traditional way to do this in Britain. In large shops, assistants will usually wear some
kind of uniform.

Approach an assistant:

 Excuse me, do you sell (washing up liquid)? or Excuse me, I am looking for (washing up
liquid).

If the shop is large, such as a supermarket, and they do sell it, these are some of the words you
may hear in response:

 Aisle (pronounced ‘I-yull) – This is one of the long lines of shelving on which items are
stacked. (Example: ‘It’s in Aisle 12.’).
 Counter – The long shelf on which the till is based.
 Department – a part of a larger shop which sells items of a particular kind, such as the
television department.
 Display – A collection of items shown in a way to make you want to buy them, such as a
plastic model of a human (called a mannequin) wearing a suit, shirt and tie so that you
can see what they look like when worn.
 Window Display – A display in a window of a shop.

Phrases an Assistant or Sales Person Might Use

If you are browsing (looking at the goods in a shop) an assistant might approach you.

 Can I help you? or Are you looking for something in particular? are the sort of phrases
they will use. They are hoping to start a conversation that will lead to a sale.

If you would like help, then the sort of responses you can give are:

 Yes please, I am looking for… or Yes please, how much are…? (if you wish to know the
cost of an item).

If you do not want their help, then a polite way of sending them away is to say:

 I’m fine thanks, just browsing. Some sales people find it hard to give up a chance of a
sale.

Another phrase that can be used to send them away is:

  I’m only looking today.

Conversation Endings
In most smaller shops, the shopkeeper will often make conversation as they deal with your
purchase. Often, this will be about the goods you are buying.

 We sell a lot of these.

 A good choice.
 Is this a present for someone?

This is called ‘small talk’ and is not usually that important. A smile and a nod are good
responses to small talk.

Once your purchases are complete, there are a number of questions that you may be asked.

 Would you like a bag? – Usually, a charge of five to ten pence (depending on the bag
size) is made for this.
 Would you like a receipt? – Unless it is just for a bar of chocolate or cup of coffee, it is
best to take a receipt in case there is a problem with your purchases.
The receipt (reeseet) is the piece of paper that comes with the purchase. See below for
more details on this.

Most conversation endings, though, are just made up of a polite remark.

 Take care.
 Hope you have a good day.
 See you later. Which doesn’t necessarily mean that they will!
 Thanks, Thank you or Goodbye.

Your rights
In the case of new items, the goods you buy must be suitable for the task they are designed to
do, and be in good working order. If they are not, you are entitled to your money back, or a
replacement. With larger items, such as a car, you have to give the seller a chance to fix the
problem.

These are called your statutory rights. Most electrical and mechanical items usually come with
a guarantee as well. The receipt you receive is often the guarantee.

If you do have a problem with something you buy, you should take it back to the shop from
which you purchased it. Bigger stores will have a returns or customer service desk.

 Excuse me, the kettle I purchased doesn’t work.

 Excuse me, this shirt has a tear in it.
  Excuse me, I bought these shoes a week ago and the bottom (or sole) is coming off.

Then hand over the goods and the receipt proving that you purchased them. The shop will then
exchange or offer a refund. If you have a problem, and cannot find the words to take the
argument further, then most towns have a ‘Citizens Advice Bureau’ who will help you out.

Grammar

What are object pronouns

An object pronoun, also called objective pronoun, functions as the object of a verb or preposition, as
distinguished from a subject or subjective pronoun, which is the subject of a verb.

Examples:

 He begged her to live with him. (her is the object of the verb begged and him is the object of the
preposition with)
 She told them the truth. (them is the object of the verb told)

Object pronouns are used instead of object nouns, usually because we already know what the object is.
 She's my friend. I really enjoy being with her.
 I like this film. I saw it last week.

Object Pronouns
Object pronouns in English are the following:

me, you, him, her, it, us, them

Object pronouns come after either a verb (e.g "like") or a preposition (e.g "to").

Examples:

 I like you but you don't like me.

 Do you really hate her?
 She loves sitting next to him.
 She always writes e-mails to us.
 He's talking to her about it.

Object pronouns differ from:

 Subject pronouns,
 possessive adjectives,
 possessive pronouns,
 and reflexive pronouns.
 Lesson A: Can / Could for Polite Requests
Unscramble the polite requests.
A
1. try / on / can / the / jackets / red / I Can I try on the red jacket ?
2. I / buy / blue / can / the / please / hat,______________________________________________?
3. yellow / the / could / I / skirt / try / on ______________________________________________?
4. you / I / can / help ______________________________________________?
5. me, / you / can / please / help ______________________________________________?

C Write the polite requests using cafl / could.

1. You want to try on the red coat. Can / Could I try on the red coat, please?
2. You want to see some blue ties.________________________________________?
3. You want to try on the black jacket.____________________________________?
4. You want the sales assistant to bring you a size 10._______________________?
5. You want to pay by credit card.______________________________________?

D Write polite requests using cafl / could and the words below.
1. try on / blue dress Can / Could I try on the blue dress?
2. pay by / credit card ____________________________________________?
3. you / help me ____________________________________________??
4. you / bring / red shirt ____________________________________________?

5. try on / size 7 ____________________________________________?

 Gabarito
Lesson A

A. 2. Can I buy the blue hat, please? 3. Could I try on the yellow skirt? 4. Can I help you? 5. Can you help
me, please?

B. 2. c 3. a 4. b 5. D
C. 2. Can / Could I see some blue ties, please? 3. Can / Could I try on the black jacket, please? 4. Can /
Could you bring a size 10, please? 5. Can / Could I pay by credit card, please?
D. 2. Can / Could I pay by credit card? 3. Can / Could you help me? 4. Can / Could you bring a red shirt,
please? 5. Can / Could I try on a size 7, please?

Lesson C
A. 2. loves 3. likes 4. hates 5. Likes
B. 2. love 3. like 4. hate 5. don’t like
C. 2. Yes, I like it. or Yes, I like speaking English. 3. No, I don’t like them. or No, I don’t like
skirts. 4. No, I hate them. or No, I hate hats. 5. No, I don’t like them. or No, I don’t like
white clothes.