EnglishShopping chat
- Where do you like shopping: online, in a shopping centre, or at a market?
- Have you ever returned something to a shop? Why?
- What problems can customers have with clothes, electronics, or food?
Word bank: size • price • receipt • damaged • refund • exchange
Shopping and complaints
- receipt [/rɪˈsiːt/]
- a paper or digital proof that you bought something
I have the receipt. - refund [/ˈriːfʌnd/]
- money that a shop gives back to a customer
I'd like a refund. - exchange [/ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ/]
- to return one item and get a different one
Can I exchange it for a larger size? - faulty [/ˈfɔːlti/]
- not working correctly
This phone is faulty. - damaged [/ˈdæmɪdʒd/]
- broken or harmed
The box is damaged. - size [/saɪz/]
- how large or small clothes or shoes are
This is the wrong size. - fit [/fɪt/]
- to be the right size for somebody
These shoes don't fit. - price tag [/ˈpraɪs tæɡ/]
- a label that shows the price
The price tag says £25. - customer service [/ˈkʌstəmə ˌsɜːvɪs/]
- the department that helps customers
Ask customer service for help. - cashier [/kæˈʃɪə/]
- a person who takes payments in a shop
The cashier can help. - return [/rɪˈtɜːn/]
- to take something back to a shop
I need to return this. - complain [/kəmˈpleɪn/]
- to say that you are unhappy about something
I want to complain about this product. - discount [/ˈdɪskaʊnt/]
- a lower price
Is there a discount on this jacket? - guarantee [/ˌɡærənˈtiː/]
- a promise that a product will work for a period of time
It has a two-year guarantee. - good deal [/ˌɡʊd ˈdiːl/]
- something sold at a very good price
This jacket is a good deal.
Say it: “I'd like a refund, please.”
Say it: “Can I exchange it for a larger size?”
Talking about degree
The main patterns
Use | Form | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
A problem: more than is acceptable | too + adjective | excessive degree | The bag is too expensive. |
The right degree | adjective + enough | sufficient | The bag is big enough. |
The needed quantity | (not) enough + noun | sufficient quantity | I don’t have enough money. |
Strong emphasis | so + adjective | very | This coat is so cheap! |
Strong emphasis with a noun phrase | such + a/an + adjective + noun | very | It’s such a good deal. |
Word order
Pattern | Correct order | Shopping example |
|---|---|---|
too + adjective | too → expensive | This phone is too expensive. |
adjective + enough | big → enough | These shoes are big enough. |
enough + noun | enough → money | I have enough money. |
so + adjective | so → cheap | This dress is so cheap! |
such + a/an + adjective + noun | such → a → good → deal | It is such a good deal. |
Too
Use too + adjective when something causes a problem.
The jacket is too small.
The price is too high.
This blender is too noisy.
Too often means: “I do not want this situation.”
- The suitcase is too heavy to carry.
- The cashier is too busy to help now.
Enough
Use adjective + enough when something has the right degree.
These boots are warm enough.
Is the screen bright enough?
This bag is not strong enough.
Use enough + noun for quantity.
We have enough time.
I don’t have enough money for a refund.
Is there enough space in the box?
So and such
Use so + adjective for strong feeling or emphasis.
This laptop is so fast!
The discount is so good!
That price tag is so confusing!
Use such + a/an + adjective + singular noun.
It is such a useful guarantee.
That was such a bad experience.
This is such an expensive phone.
With plural or uncountable nouns, do not use a/an.
They are such good deals.
That is such useful information.
Common mistakes
Incorrect | Correct | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| The box is big enough. | Enough comes after an adjective. |
| I have enough money. | Enough comes before a noun. |
| It is such a nice day. | Use a/an with a singular countable noun. |
| This coat is so cheap! | Use so for a positive surprise; too usually shows a problem. |
| It is such a good deal. | Use such before an adjective + noun phrase. |
Choose the right form
Connect each shopping problem with the correct pattern
Connect each problem with the best language pattern.
- The shopper does not have the money they need.
- enough + noun
- The suitcase cannot hold all the items.
- too + adjective
- The customer says the backpack is the right size.
- adjective + enough
- The customer is impressed by a bargain with a noun phrase.
- such + a/an + adjective + noun
Complete each sentence
- This dress is [___] expensive for me.
- These boots are [___] cheap!
- I don’t have [___] time to wait for customer service.
- It is [___] a useful guarantee.
Build the complete shopping phrase
- This box isn’t [___] .
- I don’t have [___] for this jacket.
- The jacket is [___] for me.
- This is [___] , and the screen is broken.
At customer service
Customer: Hello. I’d like to return this blender, please.
Assistant: Of course. What’s the problem with it?
Customer: It is faulty. The motor is so noisy, and it stops after two minutes. It isn’t powerful enough to make a smoothie.
Assistant: I’m sorry about that. Do you have the receipt?
Customer: Yes, here it is. I bought it yesterday. It was such a good deal, so I was very happy at first.
Assistant: I understand. Would you like an exchange or a refund?
Customer: A refund, please. I don’t have enough time to try another one today.
Assistant: No problem. The refund will go back to your card.
Customer: Thank you. The blender is too disappointing.
Difficult words
- blender — a machine for making drinks or mixing food
- motor — the part of a machine that makes it work
- noisy — making a lot of noise
- powerful — strong enough to work well
- smoothie — a cold drink made from fruit or vegetables
- exchange — getting a different item instead
- refund — money returned by a shop
- go back to your card — return to the bank card used for payment
- What item does the customer want to return?
- Why is the blender faulty?
- What proof of purchase does the assistant ask for?
- Does the customer choose an exchange or a refund?
Role-play: Be the customer and the assistant. Change the product, problem, and solution.
Key language to take away
Degree expressions
Meaning | Word order | Example |
|---|---|---|
Problem or excessive degree | too + adjective | too expensive |
Sufficient degree | adjective + enough | big enough |
Sufficient quantity | enough + noun | enough money |
Strong emphasis | so + adjective | so cheap |
Strong emphasis with a noun phrase | such + a/an + adjective + noun | such a good deal |
Useful customer phrases
- I’d like to return this.
- I’d like a refund.
- Can I exchange it?
- It doesn’t fit.
- It’s faulty.
- The price tag says £25.
- I want to complain.
- Is there a discount?
- It has a guarantee.
Review the shopping words
- receipt
- refund
- exchange
- faulty
- damaged
- size
- fit
- price tag
- customer service
- cashier
- return
- complain
- discount
- guarantee
- good deal
Connect the phrase with its purpose
Connect each customer phrase with its purpose.
- I'd like a refund.
- Ask to get money back
- Can I exchange it?
- Ask for a different item
- It doesn't fit.
- Explain a size problem
- This product is faulty.
- Explain that an item does not work correctly
Exit sentence: Describe one product using too, enough, so, or such.
