Episode 35

EPISODE 35
LEVEL A1.2/A2.1

 

READING COMPREHENSION

 

SHOPPING FOR CLOTHES

 

Shop Assistant: Hello, Can I help you?
Customer: Can I try on this jacket? (= I want to see if I look good in this jacket)
S: What size would you like? (= how big should your jacket be?)
C: 40.
S: The changing rooms are over there. (= a small room where you can change into the clothes you want to buy)
After some time …
S: Any good? ( = Is your jacket ok?)
C: I think it’s a bit small. Can I have a bigger one?
S: Yes, of course.
A little bit later …
S: Is that better?
C: Yes. I think I’ll take it. (= I have decided to buy it) How much is it? ( = what is the price of the jacket?)
S: 200 PLN. How would you like to pay?
C: In cash. ( = I will pay with banknotes)
S: There you go. The receipt is in your bag. (= a document which shows that you have paid for the jacket)
C: Thank you. Goodbye.

 

More contexts for the new words:

• We say „I’ll take it” when we want to buy something, but „I’ll leave it” when we decide not to buy it.
• How much does it cost? (= How much is it?)

 

 

EXERCISE 1

Complete the conversation.

 

Shop assistant: Can I (1) ……………………… you?

Customer: Can I try (2) ……………………… this dress?

S: Of course. What (3) ……………………… are you?

C: 38. Where is the (4) ……………………… room?

S: It’s on the left. (after some time) Any (5) ………………………?

C: It’s a bit too big. Can I (6) ……………………… a smaller one, please?

S: Yes, of course. Is that better?

C: Yes, I’ll (7) ……………………… it. How (8) ……………………… is it?

S: It’s 100 zlotys. Would you like to pay in (9) ………………………?

C: No, I’ll pay by credit card.

 

 

EXERCISE 2

Match the question halves, then answer them.

 

1. What size a. or by credit card?
2. Do you prefer to pay in cash b. the receipt?
3. Do you always keep c. are you?

ENGLISH IN USE 

In the last lesson we learned that we should use „going” after „like”, so we say:

I like going to work.

but in the text above we can see:

How would you like to pay?

We must remember that „like” and „would like” are not the same.
„Would like” is similar to „want”, but more polite and after „would like” we must use „to go”, not „going”.

I would like to go to Spain.
I would like to work here.

There are some more constructions which work in the same way:

to want, to hope, to need, to refuse

so in a sentence they look like this:

I want to buy a new car.
He hopes to get more money next year.

 

 

IDIOM CLOSE-UP

 

 

A/ We just got another bill.

B/ I guess we’ll have to TIGHTEN OUR BELTS this month.

 

If you need to tighten your belt, you must spend your money carefully.

 

 

PHRASAL VERBS CLOSE-UP

 

 

1. If you PUT ON clothes, you start wearing them.

Dorothy put on her coat and went out.

Kim had forgotten to put his watch on.

 

2. If you TAKE OFF clothes, you stop wearing them.

I’d better take my shoes off.

 

 

EXERCISE 3

What should you do in these situations? Use the phrasal verbs and idiom you have learnt.

 

1. You’re wearing a sweater, and you feel hot.

 

………………………………………………………………………….

2. Your head feels cold.

 

………………………………………………………………………….

3. Everything is more and more expensive.

 

………………………………………………………………………….

 

NEWS

 

LOSING CUSTOMERS

 

For the first time in many years, large clothes shops have experienced a fall in the number of customers. The fall is attributed to the global economic crisis, which seems to be lasting longer than expected, and affecting the behavior of customers to a much greater extent. What is more, the increasing food prices, coupled with constant or falling salaries, have forced people to tighten their belts. And – of course – we have to buy food no matter how expensive it is, so we try to save elsewhere. Shop assistants in large clothes shops are complaining that not only do they have fewer customers, but also those that do come to the shop are much more careful with their money, and try to hunt for bargains in the sales.

 

 

GLOSSARY

– attributed to – caused by

– affecting – influencing

– coupled with – together with

– a bargain – something you buy very cheaply

 

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