Unit 17: Buying things

Unit 17: Buying things

1. In a lost property office.

Francis	Hello. Excuse me. Good morning. Can I help you?
Mrs. Smith	Yes. I lost my umbrella. I lost it yesterday.
Francis	I think this is your umbrella.
Mrs. Smith	Oh, yes. Thank you very much. Goodbye.
Francis	That's Mrs. Smith. She loses her umbrella every week. And last week she lost a bag, too. Some people lose things every day. Mr. Johnson for example. Yes. There he is. He's buying a present for his wife. But he'll lose it. He always loses things.

2. How much does it cost?

Salesgirl	Good morning, sir. Can I help you?
Mr. Johnson	Yes. I'm looking for a present, for my wife.
Salesgirl	This handbag is very nice, sir.
Mr. Johnson	Is it expensive?
Salesgirl	Oh, no, sir. It's quite cheap. It costs fifteen pounds.
Mr. Johnson	Fifteen pounds? That's too expensive, I'm afraid.
Salesgirl	Look at this vase, sir.
Mr. Johnson	No. That one's too big. What about the one next to it?
Salesgirl	Ah, yes, sir. This one is smaller. And it's cheaper.
Mr. Johnson	How much does it cost?
Salesgirl	Eleven pounds thirty pence.
Mr. Johnson	Eleven pounds thirty? It's too expensive and it's too heavy.
Salesgirl	What about one of these?
Mr. Johnson	How much is it? How much does it cost?
Salesgirl	Eight pounds fifty. It costs eight pounds fifty.
Mr. Johnson	It's too expensive.
Salesgirl	This is cheaper. It's four pounds fifty. And these are very cheap. They're four pounds.
Mr. Johnson	I'll take the big brown one. My wife will like that. She likes bears. I'll buy that one.

3. What's it made of?

Customer	How much is this hat?
Salesman	Fifty pounds, madam.
Customer	That's expensive. What's it made of?
Salesman	It's made of real fur. It's a very good hat. Those hats are cheaper. This one here, twelve pounds. Who is it for?
Customer	It's for my husband.
Salesman	It's probably too small for your husband. It isn't big enough. It's size 5. Now, this one is bigger.
Customer	What size is it?
Salesman	It's size 7. Is that big enough for your husband?
Customer	Yes, it's big enough. It's the right size for my husband. What's it made of?
Salesman	It's made of wool. And it costs ten pounds.
Customer	What do you think of it?
Salesman	Well, it looks very nice on you, madam. But will your husband like it?
Customer	Perhaps not. It's the right size and it's not too expensive. But my husband prefers very dark colours.
Salesman	Ah. The fur hat is dark, madam, and it's the right size. There, what do you think of it that?
Customer	It's very nice. I'll buy it.