Types of shops

1.Department store – It is a big and large building. It has many departments, which offer their customers all kinds of foodstuff, clothes, shoes, toys, sporting goods, leather goods, cleaning supplies and cosmetics, china and glass, books, stationary and furniture, all under one roof. Nearly all the big department stores have cafés or restaurants. They are situated on more than one floor. In Britain big department stores are situated in London in West End. The first department stores were built in the USA.

2.Supermarket – It is usually a large building. People use baskets for shopping there. There are not departments. It is a self-service shop.

3.Specialized shops-

a/ grocer`s – At the grocer’s we can buy foodstuff such as four, sugar, salt, eggs, various kinds of tea and coffee, bottled beer and juice, sweets, chocolate, rice and so on. There are also dairy products such as milk, butter, cream, cheese, yogurt and bread, rolls, cakes.

b/ baker’s – at the baker’s people can buy various kinds of bread, rolls, cakes, pies and buns.

c/ butcher’s – people can get there fresh meat or frozen meat. There are many kinds of meat, such as pork, beef, lamb and poultry e.g. chicken, turkey, hen, duck, goose. Here we can buy smoked meat products including ham, bacon, sausages and frankfurters. We can buy there also fish and tinned meat.

d/ greengrocer’s – sells fresh fruits and vegetables. We can buy apples, oranges, pears, bananas, lemon, and pineapples there. We can get vegetables including cabbage, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, onion, garlic and parsley.

e/ stationer’s – at the stationer’s we can buy writing paper, wrapping paper, envelopes, notebooks, fountain/pens, ball/point pens, pencils, crayons, glue, rubber, rulers. All the things needed by school children can be bought here.

f/ chemist’s – is a specialized shop where people can buy medicines. In Britain the chemist also keeps cosmetics and toilet supplies such as make-ups, shaving-cream, razor blades, shampoo, soap and toothbrushes. In America we can buy medicines, drops, tablets, pills at the drug store or pharmacy.

g/ footwear shop – we can buy shoes, sandals, slippers, socks, stockings at the shoe shop.

h/ ironmongers (hardware shop) – we can buy scissors, hammers, nails, pliers and other tools and materials.

i/ haberdashers – is the place where the housewives go when they need buttons, threads, needles and pins.

j/ boutique – we can buy trousers, jeans, blouses, skirts, T-shirt, skirts, shorts, jackets, coats, suits at the boutique.

A Shop assistant can say:

Can I help you?
What can I do for you?
What will you have?
Is anybody serving you?
What can I show you?

B Customer can say:

Can I have ……………., please?
Could I have .......…... please?
I would like …………………
I’d like……………………….
I’m just looking, thanks.
I’m looking for ……………..
Have you got this in ………….colour?
Can you tell me where can I find it?
A Shop assistant can say:
Which one?
The big one or the small one?
What size are you?
What size do you want?
What colour would you like?

Here you are. I will take it / I will leave it.
Can I try it on? Anything else?
The changing rooms are over there. No, that’s all, thanks.
I like it. How would you like to pay?
It fits you very well. Is that all?
How much is it? How much does it cost?