Speaking Boost · A1 · Lesson 43 of 50
Speaking Boost A1 · Block 9: Shopping and Clothes

What do people buy in a market?

A market is a place with many small shops. In this lesson you buy things in a market. You use Can I have...?, I'd like..., a kilo of... and How much are...?

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

Markets

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

  1. Do you go to a market?
  2. What do you buy at a market?
  3. Is a market cheaper than a supermarket?
  4. Do you like fresh vegetables?
  5. Do you buy honey?
  6. Do you ask for a lower price?
2

Words and phrases

12 min
2.1

New words

Read each word and the example. Then say one sentence with the word.

2.2

Which word?

Choose the word that fits.

  1. A place with many small shops where people buy fresh food is a .
  2. A small table with things for sale in a market is a .
  3. A person who sells things is a .
  4. A person who buys things is a .
  5. Carrots, potatoes and cabbage are .
  6. A weight of 1,000 grams is a .
  7. To is to ask for a lower price.
  8. A sweet food that bees make is .
2.3

Opposites and pairs

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. a market is a place where people
  2. a stall is a small
  3. a seller
  4. a customer
  5. a kilo is
  6. honey is made by
2.4

Useful phrases

Use these phrases to buy things in a market.

  • Can I have...?Можна мені...?Can I have a kilo of apples?
  • I'd like...Я хотів би...I'd like some honey.
  • How much is it?Скільки це коштує?How much is it?
  • How much are they?Скільки вони коштують?How much are they?
  • a kilo of...кілограм...a kilo of tomatoes
  • half a kilo of...півкілограма...half a kilo of cheese
  • Here you are.Ось, будь ласка.Here you are.
  • Anything else?Щось ще?Anything else? No, thank you.
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

Markets around the world

Read the text. Hover over the dotted words for help.

What do people buy in a market?

What do people buy in a market? In a market, people buy fresh food, for example vegetables, fruit, fish, cheese, meat and honey. They also buy clothes, flowers and small gifts. A market is usually open in the morning, and sellers put the goods on a stall.

In many countries, the market is a part of life. The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the biggest and oldest covered markets in the world. People say that it has got about four thousand shops. Visitors buy spices, carpets, lamps and sweets there. In Ukraine, many people go to the market on Saturday for fresh vegetables, fruit, milk and cheese.

In some markets, you can bargain. A customer says: "How much are these tomatoes?" and the seller says a price. Then the customer asks for a lower price, and often they agree. But in many markets the prices are fixed, so you should not bargain.

Polite words help. You can say: "Can I have a kilo of apples, please?" or "I'd like half a kilo of cheese." Then the seller says: "Here you are. Anything else?" You say: "No, thank you. How much is it?"

What do you buy in a market?

3.2

True or false?

  1. People buy fresh food in a market.
  2. The Grand Bazaar is in Istanbul.
  3. You can bargain in every market.
  4. A kilo is 1,000 grams.
  5. You say "I can have" to buy.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. Is a market better than a supermarket?
  2. Is it fun to bargain?
  3. What is the best market you know?
  4. What do you want to buy at a market?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

Asking for things

Use Can I have + a / some + thing? or I'd like + thing. Say please and thank you. The seller says Here you are and Anything else?

Can I have a kilo of apples, please? I'd like some honey. Here you are. Anything else? No, thank you.

Prices and weight

Use How much is it? for one thing and How much are they? for plural things. Say a price with a kilo: twenty hryvnias a kilo. Use half a kilo (not half kilo).

How much are the tomatoes? They're twenty hryvnias a kilo. I'd like half a kilo of cheese. I need a kilo of apples.

Block 9 review

Use the grammar from this block.

how much and prices (L41) · this / that / these / those (L42)

Common mistakes: say Can I have...? (not I can have), would like without -s, half a kilo and a kilo for prices. ✗ I can have a kilo of apples? → Can I have a kilo of apples? ✗ I would likes some honey → I would like some honey. ✗ half kilo of cheese → half a kilo of cheese.

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. a kilo of apples, please?
  2. I
    some honey.
  3. Here
    .
  4. How much
    the tomatoes?
  5. They are twenty hryvnias
    .
  6. I'd like half
    of cheese.
  7. Can I have
    vegetables, please?
  8. , here is the money.
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. I can have a kilo of apples? →
  2. I would likes some honey. →
  3. Here are you. →
  4. They are ten hryvnias the kilo. →
  5. I'd like half kilo of cheese. →
  6. How much is the tomatoes? →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer with full sentences. Use Can I have...? and I'd like...

  1. Do you go to a market?
  2. What do you buy at a market?
  3. How much is a kilo of apples?
  4. Do you like bargaining?
  5. What is your favourite market?
  6. What do you buy for dinner?
5

Three people in a market, and a short talk

8 min
5.1

Three people in a market

Three people are in a market. Compare them. Who buys vegetables? Who bargains? What do you buy in a market?

Person 1

Hana, 55

  • Is a seller at a market
  • Sells honey and cheese
  • Likes friendly customers
  • Says her honey is fresh
Person 2

Boris, 40

  • Is a customer
  • Buys a kilo of tomatoes
  • Bargains for a better price
  • Pays with cash
Person 3

Emma, 22

  • Is a tourist in Istanbul
  • Visits the Grand Bazaar
  • Buys a lamp and some sweets
  • Takes a lot of photos
5.2

Mini-talk: buying things

Your teacher will time you.

  1. Plan for one minute, then speak for one or two minutes.
  2. Part 1: say what you buy in a market and what you like there.
  3. Part 2: act a short talk: ask for two things and the price.
  4. Part 3: say what is better, a market or a supermarket.
2:00
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. Do you go to a market?
  2. What do you buy there?
  3. Is it cheaper than a supermarket?
  4. Do you like fresh vegetables?
  5. How much is a kilo of apples?
  6. Do you buy honey?
  7. Do you bargain?
  8. What would you like to buy now?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. Who in your family goes to the market?
  2. Who buys the vegetables?
  3. Who cooks dinner?
  4. Who sells things?
  5. Who bargains?
  6. Who likes fresh fruit?
6.3

Part III: A bit deeper

  1. Is a market better than a supermarket?
  2. Is fresh food better than frozen food?
  3. Is it good to bargain?
  4. Are markets important for a town?
  5. Is it fun to shop at a market?
7

Roleplay

12 min
7.1

At the market

You

Customer

You are at a market stall (your teacher is the seller):
  • ask for a kilo of tomatoes
  • ask for half a kilo of cheese
  • ask how much it is
  • say thank you
Speak for at least 1 minute. Use Can I have...? and How much...?
Your teacher

Seller

Says things like:
  1. Here you are.
  2. Anything else?
  3. It's sixty hryvnias.
  4. You are welcome.
7.2

Selling at the market

You

Seller

You sell things at a market (your teacher is the customer):
  • say hello and ask what the customer wants
  • say the price per kilo
  • say here you are
  • say goodbye
You do most of the talking. Use: What would you like? · They're... a kilo.
Your teacher

Customer

Says things like:
  1. Can I have a kilo of apples?
  2. How much are they?
  3. Thank you.
  4. Goodbye.
8

Homework

at home

Your homework score

Do all four exercises, then press Check all homework. Correct answers will appear next to your mistakes.

– / 30
H1

Complete with a word

marketstallsellercustomervegetableskilobargainhoney
  1. A place with many small shops where people buy fresh food is a .
  2. A small table with things for sale in a market is a .
  3. A person who sells things is a .
  4. A person who buys things is a .
  5. Carrots, potatoes and cabbage are .
  6. A weight of 1,000 grams is a .
  7. To is to ask for a lower price.
  8. A sweet food that bees make is .
H2

Choose the correct word

  1. a kilo of pears, please?
  2. I some cheese.
  3. Here .
  4. How much the apples?
  5. They are ten hryvnias .
  6. I'd like half of fish.
  7. Can I have vegetables, please?
  8. , here is the money.
H3

Correct or incorrect?

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. Can I have a kilo of apples?
  2. I can have a kilo of apples?
  3. I would like some honey.
  4. I would likes some honey.
  5. How much are the tomatoes?
  6. How much is the tomatoes?
  7. Here you are.
H4

Match the two halves

  1. Can I have
  2. I'd like
  3. How much
  4. They're
  5. I'd like
  6. Here
  7. Anything

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© Yevheniia Kolesnykova, Academy of Languages. All rights reserved. No copying or reuse without written permission.