Shopping

1. Browsing different products: Shop around/ Check out

Meaning:

Shopping around means to browse products, look at the options, comparing prices ultimately to find the best deal. Check out means to go and see and examine the products.

Examples:

I was in town yesterday shopping around for a new jacket.

I always shop around before buying something.

Before buying my new car, I shopped around to find the best deal.

I’m looking for a new laptop at the moment so I’m heading to a few places to check out what they’ve got.

My mate told me to check out this new book.

I recommend checking out the new sports outlet in the city centre.

2. Describing Movement of clothes: Put on/ Try on/ Take off

Meaning:

To put on means to wear the clothing, take off means to remove clothing and try on means to test clothing for fit or style.

Examples:

I put on the wrong shirt this morning.

I took my shoes off as soon as I got home.

When I go to the gym, I always put on my sport watch to track my activity.

I take off my shoes at the door but some of my friends wear shoes in the house.

3. Describing Choosing items: Pick out

Meaning:

The phrase “pick out” means to choose or select someone or something from a group or a variety of options.

Examples:

My brother, sister and I used to pick out our Christmas presents from a brochure and my granny and grandad would buy them for us!

I never know what to get for my mum.. last year, my sister was able to pick out a nice scarf for her though!

4. Describing that you have no or nearly no resources left and speed of use: Use up/ Run out of/ Go through (quickly)

Meaning:

Note: Don’t use ‘use up‘ or ‘run out of‘ for clothing– use these when talking about disposable items, food items etc.

Examples:

We ran out of juice. Can you pick some up?

We used up all the milk I’m afraid.

We always go through razors so quickly!

I don’t go through coats quickly at all. I usually have one that lasts 5 years or so!

5. Describing buying a large quantity of something for the longer-term: Load up (on) sth/ Stock up (on) sth

Meaning:

Load up on/ stock up on means to buy or take a large amount of something for future use.

Examples:

I saw a good deal for toilet paper in Tescos. We should stock up on it.

I loaded up on ice-cream for the summer!

6. Describing spending a lot of money on sth: Splash out on/ Splurge on

Meaning:

To spend extravagantly, often as a treat.

Examples:

I splashed out a little bit too much on the weekend. I’m afraid to look at my bank balance!

My mum never really splurges on anything.

I really wanted a nice pen, so I splashed out a bit and got a beautiful ballpoint pen. It cost around £40.

I splurged out a little and got myself the fancy greek yoghurt!

7. Describing attitude about shopping: Shopaholic/ Impulsive buyer/ Frugal/ Minimalist/ Mindful spender/ Savvy shopper

  1. Shopaholic:
    • Someone who is addicted to shopping and often buys things compulsively.
  2. Impulsive buyer:
    • Someone who makes quick, unplanned purchases without much thought.
  3. Frugal:
    • Someone who is careful about spending money and avoids unnecessary expenses.
  4. Minimalist:
    • Someone who prefers to own fewer items and focuses on simplicity and essential needs.
  5. Mindful spender:
    • Someone who is intentional and thoughtful about their purchases, considering the impact and value.
  6. Savvy shopper:
    • Someone who is knowledgeable and skilled at finding good deals and making smart purchasing decisions.

Examples:

My friend is a total shopaholic. She goes shopping every single weekend!

I’m quite an impulsive buyer. Sometimes I see something that’s not on my list but I get it anyway.. I just get too excited!

I used to go shopping quite a bit up until a few years ago, but I’d say I’m quite a minimalist now.

I’m quite frugal when it comes to money. My friends would probably describe me as a mindful spender.

I’d say I’m quite a savvy shopper. I’m usually able to suss out the best deals!

Examiner: How do you feel about shopping?

Student: I wouldn’t say I’m a shopaholic or anything, but truth be told, I do enjoy getting new stuff, especially if it’s good quality. I love getting new clothes, and getting the newest devices always feels great to be honest. But I don’t go splurging my money on just anything.

Examiner: What types of shops do you go to regularly?

Student: Well, for everyday items, I go to grocery stores like Tescos, Lidl etc and of course I pop into little corner shops now and again. But when it comes to clothing, I prefer to visit boutiques or department stores where I can try on unique styles.

Examiner: Have you noticed any changes in those shops in the past few years?

Student: 100%. Heaps of the clothing stores I used to visit have revamped their layouts, and there’s a stronger emphasis on online shopping. Also, I’ve seen a trend where stores are trying to stock up on more sustainable and eco-friendly products.

Examiner: Do you like shopping on the internet?

Student: Yes, I do. It’s just super handy, especially when I run out of time during the week. I can check out various online platforms and pick out what I need without leaving my home. It’s efficient, but I miss the experience of trying on clothes before purchasing them.

Examiner: What kinds of things do you buy online?

Student: I usually buy clothing and accessories online. It’s more about convenience for me. Mind you, for groceries, I prefer to physically go to the store. As for splashing out on something special, I recently bought a unique piece of artwork online, which was a bit of a treat for myself.

1. How do you feel about shopping?

2. What types of shops do you use regularly?

3. What changes have you seen in those shops in the past few years?

4. Do you like shopping on the internet?

5. What kinds of things do you buy online?

i) Describe your favourite shop.

You should say:

● where it is

● what it sells

● how often you go there

and explain why you think it is a good shop.

ii) Describe a shopping experience that you enjoyed.

You should say:

● where you went shopping

● what you bought

● what made who you were with

and explain why you enjoyed this shopping experience.

iii) Describe a product that you researched before buying.

You should say:

● what the product was

● why you needed it

● how you researched it

and explain whether or not you were satisfied with your purchase.

iv) Describe something special you want to buy in the future.

You should say:

● What it is

● What it is like

● When you intend to buy it

and explain why you want to buy it.

1. Do you agree or disagree that women spend more time shopping than men?

2. Do people generally prefer to buy products from their own or from other countries?

3. Why do you think some people purchase things that they do not need?

4. How does consumerism contribute to environmental issues?

5. Are there specific products or industries that have a particularly high environmental impact, and how can consumers make more sustainable choices?

6. How do shopping habits reflect societal values and cultural trends?

7. In what ways does advertising and marketing influence societal perceptions of needs and wants?

8. What is the impact of buying local versus supporting global brands on communities and economies?

Make up a story about a fictional character using each set of words. You must integrate all of these words in the correct tense into your story.

E.g. If the set includes the following: Shop around, try on, savvy shopper and load up on, the story could be something like this: “A few weeks ago Cathy was at the mall shopping around for a good pair of trainers. She tried on a couple of different pairs and loved one particular pair. Cathy was quite a savvy shopper who was always searching for the best deal, so she asked the staff when the next sale was coming for trainers. The staff told her there was a big sale the following weekend. So, Cathy decided to put the trainers back and get them then! That weekend, she saw that they were half off! She also saw some of her favourite Nike sports socks on offer, so she loaded up on 10 pairs!”

Set 1:

Shop around
Pick out
Frugal
run out of

Set 2:

Check out
Put on
Splash out on
Shopaholic

Set 3:

Take off
Splurge on
Mindful spender
stock up on

Fill in the appropriate vocabulary in the correct tense from the following list to complete the story. The words may be used more than once or not used at all.



Shop around/ Check out/ Put on/ Try on/ Take off, Pick out Use up/ Run out of/ Go through (quickly), Load up (on) sth/ Stock up (on) sth, Splash out on/ Splurge on, Shopaholic/ Impulsive buyer/ Frugal/ Minimalist/ Mindful spender/ Savvy shopper

Emma loves shopping, but she’s a (1) __________ who always looks for the best deals. Before making a purchase, she likes to (2) __________ different stores to compare prices.

One day, she decided to (3) __________ a new dress for an upcoming party. She found a beautiful one and went to the fitting room to (4) __________ it _______. It fit perfectly, so she bought it!

Afterward, she noticed she had (5) __________ her favourite perfume, so she decided to (6) __________ some more. While at the store, she couldn’t resist and decided to (7) __________ a designer handbag.

Feeling a little guilty about her spending, she promised to be a more (8) __________ next time. However, she still made sure to (9) __________ on essentials before heading home.

Answers

Emma loves shopping, but she’s a (1) savvy shopper/mindful spender who always looks for the best deals. Before making a purchase, she likes to (2) shop around/ check out different stores to compare prices.

One day, she decided to (3) pick out a new dress for an upcoming party. She found a beautiful one and went to the fitting room to (4) try it on. It fit perfectly, so she bought it!

Afterward, she noticed she had (5) run out of her favourite perfume, so she decided to (6) stock up on some more. While at the store, she couldn’t resist and decided to (7) splurge on/ splash out on a designer handbag.

Feeling a little guilty about her spending, she promised to be a more (8) mindful spender next time. However, she still made sure to (9) stock up on/ load up on on essentials before heading home.