🛍️ Shopping for Clothes

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to ask for help in a store, understand shopping vocabulary, and communicate clearly when buying clothes.

🎯 Level: Intermediate ⏱ Time: 20 minutes
📘 Categories: Shopping, Vocabulary, Speaking
 

🎯 The Rule (Shopping)

  • Use polite questions like “could”, “would”, and “may”
  • Ask about size, color, and price
  • Try clothes before buying
  • Confirm details before paying

Structure: Ask → Try → Decide → Pay

🧠 Key Shopping Vocabulary

  • brand → the company that makes the product
  • cashier → the person who takes your money
  • checkout → the place where you pay
  • customer → the person buying something
  • discount → a lower price
  • exchange → to change an item for a different size or color
  • fit → how clothes feel on your body
  • fitting room → place to try clothes
  • full price → the original price (no discount)
  • in stock → available in the store
  • loose → too big
  • on sale → being sold at a lower price
  • out of stock → not available in the store
  • pick up → to take an item from the store
  • put back → to return an item to the shelf
  • receipt → paper after purchase
  • refund → money you get back after returning something
  • return → to take something back to the store
  • sale → lower price
  • size → how big or small something is
  • store clerk → person who helps you
  • tight → too small
  • try on → to test clothes before buying
  • waist / inseam → measurements for pants
  • brand → I like this brand because the quality is good.
  • cashier → The cashier gave me my receipt.
  • checkout → Let’s go to the checkout to pay.
  • customer → The customer asked for a different size.
  • discount → I got a discount on this jacket.
  • exchange → I want to exchange this shirt for a smaller size.
  • fit → These jeans fit me perfectly.
  • fitting room → The fitting room is over there.
  • full price → I don’t want to pay full price.
  • in stock → This size is still in stock.
  • loose → This shirt is too loose for me.
  • on sale → These shoes are on sale today.
  • out of stock → Sorry, that size is out of stock.
  • pick up → I will pick up the shirt later.
  • put back → I don’t like it, so I will put back it.
  • receipt → Keep your receipt in case you return it.
  • refund → I got a refund after returning the jacket.
  • return → I need to return these shoes. They’re too small.
  • sale → There is a big sale this weekend.
  • size → What size do you wear?
  • store clerk → The store clerk helped me find my size.
  • tight → These pants are too tight.
  • try on → Can I try on this jacket?
  • waist / inseam → My waist is 32 and my inseam is 30.

🗣️ Real Conversation

Listen and read. A customer want to buy a sweater and a pair of pants.

Dialogue

Sales clerk: May I help you?
Customer: Yes, I’m looking for a sweater.
Sales clerk: What size are you?
Customer: I’m an extra large.
Sales clerk: Would you like a plain sweater or something else?
Customer: I’m looking for a plain blue sweater.
Sales clerk: How about this one?
Customer: Yes, that’s nice. Could I try it on?
Sales clerk: Certainly, the changing rooms are over there.
Customer: Thank you. (goes into a changing room to try on the sweater)
Sales clerk: How does it fit?
Customer: It’s too large. Do you have a large?
Sales clerk: Yes, here you are. Would you like to try it on to see if it fits?
Customer: No, that’s OK. Thank you. I’ll take it. I’m also looking for some nice slacks.
Sales clerk: Great. We have some very nice wool slacks over here. Would you like to take a look?
Customer: Yes, thanks for your help.
Sales clerk: What are your measurements?
Customer: I’m a 38″ waist and a 32″ inseam.
Sales clerk: What do you think about these?
Customer: They’re nice, but I’d prefer cotton trousers if you have them.
Sales clerk: Certainly, our summer slacks collection is over here. How about these?
Customer: Yes, I like those. Do you have them in grey as well?
Sales clerk: Yes, here’s a pair. You said your measurements are 38″ by 32″, didn’t you?
Customer: Yes, that’s correct. I’ll go try them on.
Sales clerk: Let me know if you need any help.
Customer: Thank you. (comes back) These are great. So, that makes one sweater and a pair of grey slacks.
Sales clerk: OK, how would you like to pay?
Customer: Do you take credit cards?
Sales clerk: Yes, we do. Visa, MasterCard, and American Express.
Customer: OK, here’s my Visa.
Sales clerk: Thank you. Have a nice day!
Customer: Thank you, goodbye.

📖 People & Shopping

Listen and read about the people and their shopping habits. After you listen and read, answer the questions below.


Nancy, DenverMike, RochesterLucy, TopekaGeorge, ManchesterCelia, LondonLyle, Chicago
Nancy, Denver
I like shopping and I usually go to department stores, although they can be a bit expensive. I also shop at Gap or other cheaper stores. There are also flea markets that I enjoy visiting just to look around. I don’t often buy used clothes unless I need them for a special event, like something for university. I really love buying jewelry.
Mike, Rochester
I think, like many guys, I don’t really enjoy shopping. I prefer to go to the store, know what I want, go in, buy it, and leave quickly. If I had a lot of money, maybe it would be nice to walk around and shop more, but I still prefer to be focused. I just want to get what I need and go, so I’m not a big fan of shopping.
Lucy, Topeka
What do I think about shopping? I really don’t like it. I get bored easily when I’m buying things, so I try to make quick decisions. The only exception is jewelry because it always catches my attention, and then I spend too much money. So, shopping is not something I enjoy doing often.
George, Manchester
I hate shopping. I really don’t like it at all. The only time I go shopping is when I go to the supermarket to buy food or basic supplies. I try to avoid shopping for clothes because I find it very boring. I usually depend on my girlfriend or my mother to buy clothes for me, which is a bit sad.
Celia, London
I like shopping in many places. In London, there are a lot of charity shops that sell clothes that were only worn once or given as unwanted gifts. I enjoy shopping there, especially for interesting or unusual dresses. I don’t go shopping often, but when I do, I have to think about clothes for different seasons, which can be difficult. I usually shop in normal stores, but I really love buying shoes.
Lyle, Chicago
What do I think about shopping? I don’t really go shopping unless I have to, like when I need clothes or things for the house. If I need something, I’ll go and buy it, but I don’t like browsing or window shopping. However, I do enjoy shopping for food. Everyone has to buy food at least once a week, and I like that more than shopping for other things.
Answer the questions.

1. Who likes shopping?
2. Who doesn’t like shopping?
3. Who likes jewelry?
4. Who prefers quick shopping?
5. Who shops only when necessary?
6. Who likes charity shops?
7. Who enjoys flea markets?
8. Who avoids buying clothes?

At a caféCheck your Answers
1. Nancy / Celia
2. Mike / Lucy / George / Lyle
3. Nancy / Lucy
4. Mike
5. Lyle
6. Celia
7. Nancy
8. George

✍️ Build Sentences

Put the words in order:

1. looking / I’m / jacket / for / a
2. try / I / it / on / Could
3. cheaper / anything / have / you / Do
4. for / looking / I’m / shoes / black
5. try / on / I / can / it / ?
6. have / do / size / you / medium / a / ?
7. this / too / is / expensive
8. like / I / don’t / this / color
9. take / I’ll / it
10. is / this / on / sale / ?
11. pay / I / card / can / by / ?
12. return / I / this / can / ?

Check your Answers

1. I’m looking for a jacket
2. Could I try it on
3. Do you have anything cheaper
4. I’m looking for black shoes
5. Can I try it on?
6. Do you have a medium size?
7. This is too expensive
8. I don’t like this color
9. I’ll take it
10. Is this on sale?
11. Can I pay by card?
12. Can I return this?

🗣️ Speaking & Listening Part 1

1. Say the sentences outloud.
2. Read and listen to the audio. Pay careful attention to pronunciation.
3. Practice saying the sentences outloud.

Step 1: Repeat

I’m looking for a jacket.
Do you have this in a medium?
Could I try it on?
This is too expensive.
Do you have anything cheaper?

Step 2: Change

I’m looking for a shirt.
I’m looking for black shoes.
I’m looking for a cheap jacket.

Step 3: Personalize

What are you looking for?
Where do you shop?
Do you like shopping?

🎧 Speaking & Listening Part 2

Listen and repeat:

  • I’m looking for a jacket.
  • Do you have this in a medium?
  • Could I try it on?
  • This is too expensive.
  • Do you have anything cheaper.

🎯 Now say it without looking:

⏱ Pause — speak for 30 seconds

🔑 Takeaway

Polite questions + clear communication = confident shopping in English.

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Más información

Horario de atención: Lunes a viernes, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Shopping for Clothes © 2026 by Joe Ehman is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International