Shopping in English: Useful Phrases for Shops
Do more with this exercise
These are useful phrases for a shop. Read each phrase and its short dialogue, then do the exercises. Say the phrases out loud, and use them the next time you buy something.
Asking for help in a shop
Can I help you?A shop assistant says it to a customer.
“Can I help you?” “Yes, please.”
I'm just looking, thanks.Say it when you don't need help now.
“Can I help you?” “I'm just looking, thanks.”
I'm looking for a jacket.Say it to tell the assistant the thing you want.
“I'm looking for a jacket.” “This way, please.”
Do you have this in blue?Ask it when you want another colour or size.
“Do you have this in blue?” “Yes, we do.”
Do you have anything in black?Ask it when you want to see other things in a colour.
“Do you have anything in black?” “Let me look.”
Can I try it on?Ask it when you want to wear a thing in the shop.
“Can I try it on?” “Yes, the fitting rooms are over there.”
Where are the fitting rooms?Ask it to find the place to try clothes.
“Excuse me, where are the fitting rooms?” “Upstairs.”
Asking about prices
How much is this?Ask it to know the price of one thing.
“How much is this?” “It's twenty dollars.”
How much are these?Ask it to know the price of two or more things.
“How much are these?” “They're thirty pounds.”
How much does it cost?Ask it for the price. It is a polite question.
“How much does it cost?” “Ten euros.”
It's ten dollars.Say it to tell the price of one thing.
“How much is the T-shirt?” “It's ten dollars.”
Is it on sale?Ask it to know if the price is lower now.
“Is it on sale?” “Yes, it's half price.”
Do you have anything cheap?Ask it when you don't want to pay a lot.
“Do you have anything cheap?” “These are five dollars.”
That's a bit expensive.Say it when you think the price is high.
“It's fifty dollars.” “Oh, that's a bit expensive.”
Deciding and paying
I'd like this, please.Say it to tell the assistant you want to buy a thing.
“I'd like this, please.” “Of course.”
Can I pay by card?Ask it when you want to use a bank card.
“Can I pay by card?” “Yes, of course.”
Cash or card?The assistant asks it to know how you pay.
“That's twelve dollars. Cash or card?” “Card, please.”
Here you are.Say it when you give a thing to a person.
“Twelve dollars, please.” “Here you are.”
Here's your change.The assistant says it when he or she gives back your money.
“Here's your change.” “Thank you.”
Can I have a bag, please?Ask it when you need a bag for your things.
“Can I have a bag, please?” “Sure.”
Can I have a receipt, please?Ask it for the paper that shows what you bought.
“Can I have a receipt, please?” “Here you are.”
How much and how many
How many do you want?Ask it about things you can count.
“I want some apples.” “How many do you want?” “Six.”
I'd like two kilos of apples.Say it to order food by weight.
“I'd like two kilos of apples, please.” “Here you are.”
Just a little, please.Say it when you want a small amount.
“Some rice?” “Just a little, please.”
Anything else?The assistant asks it to see if you want more.
“Anything else?” “No, that's all.”
Nothing else, thanks.Say it when you don't want more things.
“Anything else?” “Nothing else, thanks.”
That's everything, thanks.Say it when you have all the things you want.
“Anything else?” “No, that's everything, thanks.”
Practice exercises
Match the Phrase and the Situation
Match each phrase with the situation.
Choose a word on the left, then its match on the right.
What Do You Say?
Choose the best phrase for each situation.
7.“Can I help you?” “___”
8.You like a T-shirt but you want a different colour. What do you say?
9.You want to know the price of one watch. What do you say?
10.The assistant says: “Twelve dollars, please.” You give the money. What do you say?
11.“Anything else?” “No, ___.”
12.You want to pay with your bank card. What do you ask?
13.“How ___ apples do you want?” “Six, please.”
Complete the Dialogue
Type the missing word.
How to shop in English: from hello to goodbye
In a shop, the assistant often starts with Can I help you? You can say I'm just looking, thanks, or tell the assistant what you want: I'm looking for a jacket. When you want another size or colour, ask Do you have this in blue?
Before you buy, ask the price. For one thing say How much is this? For more things say How much are these? If you think the price is high, say That's a bit expensive, or ask Do you have anything cheap? Clothes shops also have fitting rooms, so ask Can I try it on?
To pay, tell the assistant what you want with I'd like this, please. The assistant asks Cash or card? and you can ask Can I pay by card? Give the money and say Here you are. At the end, the assistant gives you your change, and you can ask for a bag or a receipt.
Here is a short model dialogue. Assistant: Can I help you? Customer: Yes, please. How much is this jacket? Assistant: It's sixty dollars. Customer: Can I try it on? Assistant: Of course. Customer: I'd like it, please. Can I pay by card? Assistant: Yes. Anything else? Customer: No, that's everything, thanks.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between How much is this? and How much are these?
Use How much is this? for one thing and How much are these? for two or more things. In both questions the answer is the price: It's ten dollars. They're thirty pounds.
What does I'm just looking mean?
It is a polite way to say you do not need help now. The assistant usually says Okay, ask me if you need anything.
What is change?
Change is the money you get back when you give more money than the price. If a book is eight dollars and you give ten, your change is two dollars.
Do I use how much or how many?
Use how many with things you can count: How many apples? Use how much for things you can't count, like rice or water, and for prices: How much is it?
Answer key
1. I'm just looking, thanks.
Answer: You don't need help in the shop.
I'm just looking, thanks is a polite answer when you only want to look.
2. Can I try it on?
Answer: You want to wear a jacket before you buy it.
We try on clothes to see if they are right for us.
3. How much are these?
Answer: You ask the price of a pair of shoes.
Shoes are plural, so we say how much are these?
4. Cash or card?
Answer: The assistant asks how you pay.
The assistant says cash or card? when you are ready to pay.
5. Here's your change.
Answer: The assistant gives back some of your money.
Change is the money the assistant gives back when you pay with more money than the price.
6. Can I have a receipt, please?
Answer: You want a paper that shows your purchase.
A receipt is the paper that shows what you bought and the price.
7. “Can I help you?” “___”
Answer: I'm just looking, thanks.
The customer answers. Here's your change and cash or card? are things the assistant says.
8. You like a T-shirt but you want a different colour. What do you say?
Answer: Do you have this in green?
Do you have this in…? asks for another colour or size.
9. You want to know the price of one watch. What do you say?
Answer: How much is this?
One watch is singular: how much is this? For more than one thing we say how much are these?
10. The assistant says: “Twelve dollars, please.” You give the money. What do you say?
Answer: Here you are.
Say here you are when you give something to a person.
11. “Anything else?” “No, ___.”
Answer: that's everything, thanks
That's everything, thanks means you have all the things you want to buy.
12. You want to pay with your bank card. What do you ask?
Answer: Can I pay by card?
Can I pay by card? asks if the shop takes cards.
13. “How ___ apples do you want?” “Six, please.”
Answer: many
We can count apples, so we say how many. We use how much for things we can't count, like rice or milk.
14. “How ___ is this bag?” “It's forty dollars.”
Answer: much
We ask about price with how much.
15. “Can I ___ it on?” “Yes, the fitting rooms are over there.”
Answer: try
The phrase is try it on.
16. “I'm ___ for a pair of jeans.”
Answer: looking
We say I'm looking for… to tell the assistant what we want.
17. “Can I pay ___ card?” “Yes, of course.”
Answer: by
We pay by card, and we pay in cash.
18. “Anything else?” “No, ___ else, thanks.”
Answer: nothing
Nothing else means you don't want anything more.
19. “Twenty dollars, please.” “___ you are.”
Answer: Here
We say here you are when we give something to a person.