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Lesson 17
Module 05 · Read Fast, Choose Well
A2

A2 Key:Shopping & Services

This/that/these/those · prices · polite requests in shops and cafés.

60 min A2 Key — Shopping and services (all four skills)

A2 Key parts in this lesson

Reading 2Listening 3Speaking 2GrammarStrategy

Why this lesson now? Introduces Reading 2, Listening 3 and Speaking 2 photo — all reappear in Labs.

Your level · You are here

  1. A0/A1Beginner
  2. A1/A2Elementary
  3. A2/B1Pre-Intermediate
  4. B1/B1+Intermediate
  5. B2Upper-Intermediate
  6. C1Advanced
  7. C2Proficiency

Get ready · 01

5 min

Get talking

activity
Point and name

Point to three things near you and say 'this is…' or 'these are…'.

discussion
Favourite shop

Tell your partner your favourite shop and what you usually buy there.

reflection
Price guess

Guess the price of a coffee, a T-shirt and a haircut in this city.

Grammar for the Exam · 02

8–10 min

This / that / these / those + polite requests

Grammar Bank: This / that / these / those + polite requestsJumps straight to this rule — full explanation, examples & practice
Quick rule
  • this/that = singular (near/far)
  • these/those = plural (near/far). Polite request: Could I have…? / Can I have…, please?
How it works
  1. 1We use this and these for things near us, and that and those for things further away.
  2. 2This and that go with singular nouns; these and those go with plural nouns: This shirt is nice.
  3. 3Those shoes are expensive.
  4. 4In shops and cafés, we make requests polite with Could I have…?, Can I have…, please? or I'd like…, please.
  5. 5We answer prices with It's/They're + price: It's four fifty.
  6. 6They're two pounds each.
Examples

  • This coffee is very hot.

  • Could I have those apples, please? — the red ones over there.

  • How much is this jacket? — It's thirty-five pounds.

  • I'd like a large coffee and a sandwich, please.

Question 1.____ bag here on the counter is mine.

Question 2.____ shoes over there look nice. Can I try them on?

Question 3.____ I have a coffee, please?

Question 4.How much ____ this bag?

Question 5.____ oranges near you smell great.

Question 6.I'd ____ a large tea, please.

Answer all items, then check.
Conversation Builder
Say it naturally

Build the sentence → spot the natural chunks → say it aloud → reply like a real conversation.

1.Ask politely in a café

Step 1 · Build
Tap words below to build the sentence…

2.Ask the price

Step 1 · Build
Tap words below to build the sentence…

3.Point to something far away

Step 1 · Build
Tap words below to build the sentence…

Quick check 1.Which is correct for something far away and plural?

Answer all items, then check.

Exam Vocabulary · 03

5–7 min

Words & phrases to own

Open Vocabulary BankTap any word below to jump straight to its entry
1

receipt

a piece of paper that shows what you paid for

Use it

Say when you keep a receipt.

2

try on

put on clothes to see if they fit

Use it

Say the last thing you tried on.

3

change (money)

coins/notes given back after you pay

Use it

Ask for your change politely.

4

queue

a line of people waiting

Use it

Say where you often stand in a queue.

5

How much is it?

asking the price

Use it

Ask the price of something in the room.

6

That's fine, thanks

polite phrase to end a service interaction

Use it

Use this phrase to your partner.

Matching

What to do

Match each customer question to the best shop assistant answer.

Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.

Answer all items, then check.
Use it now

Activation · Personalise · Recycle

Use today's shopping vocabulary in full sentences.

Ask your partner
Task 1

Ask your partner

  • When did you last try something on in a shop?
  • Do you always keep your receipt?
  • Do you mind waiting in a queue?
Usetry onreceiptqueue
Complete it
Task 2

"The last time I got change in a shop was..."change

Your opinion
Task 3

Do you prefer shopping online or in a real shop? Give a reason.

Give your answer + one reason.

UseHow much is it?That's fine, thanks
Quick write
Task 4

Write 30 words about the last thing you bought in a shop.

Usetry onreceiptHow much is it?

Pronunciation for Speaking · 04

3–4 min

Polite intonation with 'could' and 'please'

Say it like this

Rise slightly at the end of a polite request: Could I have a coffee, please?

  • • Could I have a coffee, please?
  • • Can I try this on?
  • • Could you help me, please?
  • • Excuse me, how much is this?

Reading Skills · 05

8–10 min

A trip to the market

Read along — listen to the text

Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.

Every Saturday, I go to the market near my flat. It's a great place for fresh fruit and vegetables, and the prices are usually good.

This week I bought some apples, tomatoes and a big bag of oranges. The man at the fruit stall is always friendly. 'These apples are from a farm near here,' he told me. 'They're one pound fifty a kilo.'

I also stopped at a small clothes stall. I saw a blue jumper I liked. 'How much is this jumper?' I asked. 'It's fifteen pounds,' the woman said. I tried it on and it fitted well, so I bought it.

At the end, I always buy a coffee from the same stall and sit for a few minutes before I go home. It's a nice way to start the weekend.

Question 1.When does the writer go to the market?

Question 2.How much are the apples?

Question 3.How much was the jumper?

Answer all items, then check.
PET Reading Part 1

What to do

  1. 1.A2 Key Reading Part 1 — Read the notice.
  2. 2.Choose the correct answer, A, B or C.
Sign in a shop window

Sale

SALE All shoes 20% off Today only!

1.What does the sign say?

Text message from a friend
Priya11:05
Hi! I'm at the supermarket. Do you want anything? I can also get bread if you need it.

2.Why did the friend send this message?

Notice at a café counter

Cards only

CARDS ONLY We do not accept cash Sorry for any inconvenience.

3.What does the notice tell customers?

Answer all items, then check.

Listening Skills · 06

8–10 min

In a clothes shop

Listening audio

Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.

Show transcript

Assistant:Hello! Can I help you?

Customer:Yes, please. How much is this red jacket?

Assistant:That one's forty-five pounds. Would you like to try it on?

Customer:Yes, please. Do you have it in a small?

Assistant:Let me check… Yes, here you are. The fitting rooms are over there.

Customer:Great, thank you. Oh, and could I also see those blue scarves, please?

Assistant:Of course. They're twelve pounds each.

Question 1.How much is the red jacket?

Question 2.What size does the customer ask for?

Question 3.Where are the fitting rooms?

Question 4.How much is one scarf?

Answer all items, then check.
PET Listening Part 3

What to do

  1. 1.A2 Key Listening Part 2 — Complete the notes.
  2. 2.Write ONE word or a number/price in each gap.

Part 3 audio

Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.

Shopping list — clothes shop

Notes
  • Item:
  • Colour:
  • Price:
  • Size needed:
  • Second item price (each):
Answer all items, then check.

Exam Strategy · 07

5 min

A2 Key Listening Part 2 — note completion

Strategy

Before you listen, decide what kind of word each gap needs: a price, a colour, a size.

Task

Listen twice and write short answers (one or two words, a number or a price) in each gap.

Example

Label: Size needed: → expect a word like small, medium or large.

Writing Task · 08

5 min

Put it in writing

Sentence transformation
Type a short answer (1–3 words)

Q1.'____ shoes over there are nice.' Type ONE word.

Q2.'Could I ____ a tea, please?' Type ONE word.

Q3.'How much ____ this bag?' Type ONE word.

Answer all items, then check.
Writing Part 2Write an article
≈100 words

A2 Key Writing Part 6 — write a short message. See the full task below.

Your writing draft

0 words Saved
Show model answer & examiner comment

See WRITING_PART1 for a full worked example.

EX

Examiner comment

Reward range, organisation and style. Penalise lists, off-topic or under-length answers.
Mark scheme extract
5All content points covered; consistent style; range of structures; minor errors only.
3Content mostly covered; mostly suitable style; some range; errors don't stop the reader understanding.
1Limited content; intrusive errors; very basic structures; under-length.
PET Writing Part 1 · Email

What to do

  1. 1.A2 Key Writing Part 6 — Read the notes.
  2. 2.Write a short message to a friend about your shopping trip (25 words or more).
Note from your friendSubject: Shopping today?

Hi! Did you go shopping today? Send me a message and tell me about it.

✎ Say where you went.
✎ Say what you bought.
✎ Say how much it cost.

Your reply must cover:

  1. where you went
  2. what you bought
  3. how much it cost
Show model answer

Hi! I went to the market this morning. I bought some fruit and a nice blue jumper. The jumper was fifteen pounds — not bad! I also had a coffee before I came home. See you soon!

Speaking Task · 09

10–15 min

Make it a real conversation

Open Expressions BankConversation phrases and functional language from across the course

Roleplay in pairs: one person is a shop assistant, one is a customer. Ask about prices, sizes and colours, then make a polite request and pay.

Useful phrases

PET Speaking Part 1 · Examiner script

What to do

  1. 1.A2 Key Speaking Part 1 — interview (2–3 minutes).
  2. 2.Work in pairs; take turns being the examiner.

Phase 1 — short factual questions

  1. 1.Examiner: "Where do you usually go shopping?"

    Tip: Name a shop or market + one detail.

  2. 2.Examiner: "What do you usually buy there?"

    Tip: Give one or two examples.

  3. 3.Examiner: "Do you like shopping?"

    Tip: Yes/No + a short reason.

  4. 4.Examiner: "Is shopping expensive in your town?"

    Tip: Give a short opinion, e.g. 'a bit expensive'.

Phase 2 — extended question (aim for 3–5 sentences)

Examiner: "Tell me about your favourite shop."

Tip: 3–4 short sentences: name, location, what you buy there, why you like it.

Show model extended answer

My favourite shop is a small bakery near my flat. It's in the town centre, next to the bank. I usually buy fresh bread and cakes there. I like it because the people are friendly and the bread is always fresh.

PET Speaking Part 2 · Photo description

What to do

  1. 1.A2 Key Speaking Part 2 — Each candidate has a photograph.
  2. 2.Describe your photograph for about 1 minute.
Candidate A Photograph 1
A customer at a market stall choosing fresh fruit and vegetables.

Candidate A — your photograph

Need help? Show prompts (try describing with no help first)
  • • Where is this person?
  • • What are they doing?
  • • What can you see on the stall?
  • • Do you often buy fruit at a market?
Candidate B Photograph 2
A shop assistant helping a customer try on a jacket in a clothes shop.

Candidate B — your photograph

Need help? Show prompts (try describing with no help first)
  • • Where are these people?
  • • What is the assistant doing?
  • • How does the customer feel?

Useful phrases

  • • In this photo I can see…
  • • She's/He's…
  • • I think they're…
Show model 1-minute description

In this photo I can see a woman at a market stall. She's choosing some vegetables. There's a lot of fresh fruit on the stall too. I think it's a sunny day.

Optional · Teacher-led

Teacher Activities

Use if the shopping and services practice finishes early. ~15 min total

Homework · 10

Take-home

Take it home

Self-study — everything you need is included below. All four skills are covered so you keep the spiral going between lessons; pick the order that suits you.

SpeakingProductive

Record yourself doing a shop roleplay: ask the price of three things and make one polite request each time.

Your response

0 words Saved
WritingProductive

Write a 25-word message telling a friend about something you bought this week, with the price.

Your response

0 words Saved

Materials included

Content points

where you went · what you bought · how much it cost
VocabularyLanguage

Learn 8 new words from today's Vocab list and write one full sentence with each.

Your response

0 words Saved

Recap · 11

2–3 min

What you've learned

  • this/that = singular; these/those = plural. Near = this/these, far = that/those.
  • Polite requests: Could I have…? / Can I have…, please? / I'd like…, please.
  • Prices: 'It's/They're + price.'
  • A2 Key Writing Part 6 = short message, 25+ words, cover every content point.
  • A2 Key Speaking Part 1 = short personal questions; Part 2 = describe a photo.
Extra Practice

Need more practice?

Optional · your lesson progress stays the same

Numbers, times and spelling

Practise this exam skill

Matching people to texts

Practise this exam skill

Comparing and describing

Practise this exam skill

All Extra Practice
Lesson 16All lessonsLesson 18 →