Shopping and money

In a shop we ask about prices, sizes and paying. ⟦How much is this T-shirt?⟧ ⟦It's twelve pounds.⟧ ⟦Do you have it in a smaller size?⟧ ⟦Can I pay by card?⟧

Key facts

  • Prices: ⟦£4.50⟧ is ⟦four pounds fifty⟧; ⟦£12⟧ is ⟦twelve pounds⟧; ⟦80p⟧ is ⟦eighty pence⟧. Listen carefully: ⟦fourteen⟧ (⟦£14⟧) and ⟦forty⟧ (⟦£40⟧) sound alike.
  • ⟦How much is⟧ + one thing; ⟦How much are⟧ + more than one: ⟦How much is this bag?⟧ ⟦How much are these shoes?⟧
  • ⟦How much⟧ for money and things you can't count; ⟦How many⟧ for things you can count: ⟦How many apples would you like?⟧
  • Sizes and colours: ⟦small⟧, ⟦medium⟧, ⟦large⟧; ⟦Do you have this in a bigger size?⟧ ⟦Do you have it in blue?⟧ ⟦Can I try it on?⟧
  • Paying: ⟦Can I pay by card?⟧ ⟦Can I pay in cash?⟧ ⟦Here is your change.⟧ ⟦Can I have a receipt, please?⟧

Worked examples

Example 1

Complete: ⟦How much ___ these jeans?⟧

  1. ⟦jeans⟧ is plural.
  2. So we say ⟦How much are these jeans?⟧

Answer: ⟦are⟧

Example 2

Say the price: ⟦£7.25⟧

  1. First the pounds: ⟦seven pounds⟧.
  2. Then the pence: ⟦twenty-five⟧.

Answer: ⟦seven pounds twenty-five⟧

Example 3

You paid £10 for a £6 book. What does the shop assistant say?

  1. £10 − £6 = £4
  2. The money you get back is your change: ⟦Here is your change: four pounds.⟧

Answer: ⟦Here is your change: four pounds.⟧