Shopping is one of the most common daily activities. Every day we can see plenty of people, both men and women, in various shops. When we go shopping we can go either to a big department store or to a shop which specialises in some goods.

Working time differs in various types of shops. Grocer’s shops usually open at 7 o’clock, greengrocer’s, butcher’s, perfumery, drugstores and others about 8 o’clock, and bigger shops and departments stores open about 9 o’clock. There used to be a time when majority of shops was closed for lunchtime, but not any more. Nowadays most shops are open continuously during all day and close at the evening at 6 p. m. On Saturday we can do the shopping in department stores.

Some people prefer shopping in department stores where you can get all goods you need. We can walk through different departments, look and choose. The self-service system is very popular. Customers usually put chosen stuff in their baskets and go to pay for it to a counter. But some people prefer shopping in smaller shops where you can find better choice. A shop assistant will offer you the goods you wont at the counter.

The most common shop in Britain is the grocer’s. It sells foods, such as tea, coffee, sugar, flour, butter, cheese, eggs, jam, biscuits etc. Another common shop is the chemist’s. You can buy medicines here but also toothpaste, combs, soap, cosmetics and films.

All possible goods can be sold in various types of shops: food products are usually bought in a self-service shop or a supermarket. The supermarket is bigger and you can also buy goods from the chemist and ironmonger there. A hypermarket is very large and sells all possible kinds of food and kitchen and household needs. Street markets sell various things at stalls in the streets and squares. There are big modern department stores in London or other big cities, e.g. Marks and Spencer and Harrods. They are usually huge buildings equipped with speedy lifts and escalators, where you can buy almost everything from food to furniture. Here are, for example, departments for boyswear, gilrswear, beds and bedding, electronics, carpets, furniture, gifts, sportswear, toys, TV and radio, tobacco, bookshop and shoes. You can pay for all your goods either in cash or with your credit card.

In our country, an average family goes shopping every day to a local supermarket for necessary food and once a week they usually make one bigger purchase for the weekend. From time to time they have to buy some clothes, shoes, household etc. A real shopping rush happens before Christmas season when people try to buy nice and unique Christmas presents. Visitors from foreign countries can buy souvenirs or a nice picture book about our country from a street stall at the Charles Bridge in Prague and in the old city centre.

There are different factors, which influence the style of clothing, such as geography, climate, economic situation, poverty and wealth and many others.

Fashion also concerns hairstyle, make-up and accessories, such as shoes, handbags, gloves, jewellery and glasses.

Suits can be made of natural materials such as cotton, wool, linen, and silk or of man-made fibres.

On special occasions we like to be dressed properly. When we go to a concert or to the theatre we prefer to be dressed up. We wear evening dress, which consists of a dark suit, a light shirt and a tie or a bowtie, sometimes a dinner jacket, an evening gown, court shoes and pumps. For sports we put on sports wear, like jeans, shorts, T-shirts, blazers, track suits and to the mountains a waterproof jackets and sports shoes. At home we like to feel comfortable, and so we prefer leisurewear - slacks, jeans and T-shirts and on our feet slippers. To school we wear something practical and plain, e.g. jeans or trousers, shirts and T-shirts of different colours. For workshop or cleaning jobs we must put on an apron or overall. Uniforms and costumes are special kinds of clothes. Some professions such as the police, the armed forces and health workers, wear uniforms. It is still a tradition in some school in Britain to wear a school uniform. Costumes are not seen very often, only on special occasions. There is for example the Scottish national costume.

Fashion changes quite fast and some people do not choose their dress with regard to the latest fashion. They wear what suits them, what is healthy and what they can afford. The most important thing is that clothes are neat and clean, they look smart and elegant and they feel comfortable.

Differ – lišit se, být různý
Various – jiný, další, různý
Basket – košík
Counter – pult
Purchase – nákup, obchod
Costume – kroj
Neat – upravený, v zmysle vyžehlený