SPEAK FIRST · A1 · 50 min

A Present for Carla

A scarf for Carla, a shirt for Marco, a T-shirt for Sofia. Colours, sizes, prices, and "I'll take it".

Speak First · Lesson 12 of 15. ← Lesson 11: The Meeting · Lesson 13: Flying Home →

Today: buy something in a shop: say what you are looking for, ask about colours, sizes and prices, and decide. Grammar: I'm looking for…, Do you have this in…?, too big, I'll take it.
Warm up — five words to remember. They come from Lessons 9, 10 and 11. Do you know it? Say what it means and use it in a sentence. Is it new? Good — learn it now. Click Reveal to check, and follow the link to read the lesson.
a colleague — from The Meeting
What does it mean? Say the name of one colleague.
a colleague — a person who works with you.
a manager — from The Meeting
What does it mean? Are you a manager?
a manager — the person who is the boss of a team.
a contract — from The Meeting
What does it mean? When did you last sign one?
a contract — a paper both companies sign: the deal.
the menu — from Dinner with the Customer
What does it mean? What do you look for first on a menu?
the menu — the list of food in a restaurant.
straight on — from A Problem, and the Way
What does it mean? Give me one direction with it.
straight on — not left, not right: in front of you.

Now — the words for today's conversation

These are the new words for A Present for Carla. Match each word (1–8) to its meaning (A–H). Say your answers out loud — "I think 1 is D" — then check.

Words

  1. a present
  2. a scarf
  3. a size
  4. a colour
  5. too big
  6. to try on
  7. expensive
  8. a discount

Meanings

  • A. not the right size: bigger than you need
  • B. it costs a lot; not cheap
  • C. a thing you give to a person: a gift
  • D. red, blue, green…
  • E. small, medium, large
  • F. a lower price: you pay less
  • G. to put on clothes in the shop to see if they are good
  • H. a long cloth for your neck

1 = C (a present) · 2 = H (a scarf) · 3 = E (a size) · 4 = D (a colour)

5 = A (too big) · 6 = G (to try on) · 7 = B (expensive) · 8 = F (a discount)

Now talk — out loud

Before we read:
  • Which words are things? Which words are about money?
  • Leo has a free morning in London. What does he buy, and for whom? Guess.

The conversation, in three parts

Leo in a bright London shop holding a green-and-blue scarf; the assistant smiles; a sign reads SALE 20%.
Look at the picture. Say:
  • Where is Leo?
  • What is he holding?
  • What does the sign say?

Thursday morning. A free morning, and a big shop on Oxford Street. Read each part. Then try the questions from memory, and answer the last one about you.

Part 1 — A scarf for Carla

The flight home is at six in the evening. Leo has the morning free. A present for Carla, a present for the children. He goes to a big shop on Oxford Street.

Assistant: Can I help you?

Leo: Yes. I'm looking for a scarf. For my wife.

Assistant: What colour?

Leo: Green. She likes green.

Assistant: We have this one — green and blue. It's wool.

Leo: It's beautiful. How much is it?

Assistant: Forty-five pounds.

Leo: Hmm. It's a little expensive.

Assistant: There's a twenty per cent discount today. Thirty-six pounds.

Leo: OK. I'll take it.

Quick check — answer from memory, then reveal:

1. What does Leo want, and who is it for?

2. How much does he pay? Why?

1. A green scarf, for his wife Carla.

2. Thirty-six pounds. There is a 20% discount.

Talk about it:
  • And you? Do you buy presents when you travel? For whom?

Part 2 — Marco and Sofia

Now: Marco and Sofia. A football shirt for Marco. A T-shirt for Sofia.

Leo: Do you have this shirt in a small size?

Assistant: Small… yes. Here you are.

Leo: And this T-shirt — do you have it in pink?

Assistant: In pink, only medium.

Leo: Medium is too big. She's ten.

Assistant: What about this one? Pink, size small.

Leo: Perfect. Can I have a gift bag?

Assistant: Of course. Is that everything?

Leo: Yes. Can I pay by card?

Quick check — answer from memory, then reveal:

1. What does Leo buy for Marco?

2. Why is medium not good for Sofia?

1. A football shirt, size small.

2. It is too big. She is ten.

Talk about it:
  • And you? What do you buy for your family when you travel: clothes, chocolate, something from the city?

Part 3 — Something for Leo

One more thing. A shop with a hundred umbrellas. Leo laughs. Of course. London.

Leo: Excuse me, how much is this umbrella?

Assistant: Twelve pounds.

Leo: Do you have it in black?

Assistant: Black, blue, red…

Leo: Black, please.

Assistant: Would you like to try it?

Leo: Try an umbrella?

Assistant: Everybody says that. And then they try it.

He tries it. It works. He is ready for London — on the last day.

Quick check — answer from memory, then reveal:

1. What does Leo buy for himself?

2. Why is it funny?

1. A black umbrella.

2. It is his last day in London. Now he is ready for the rain.

Talk about it:
  • And you? What do you always forget when you travel?

Grammar: I'm looking for… / Do you have this in…? / too big

Four sentences do almost all the work in a shop. Learn them as one set.

I'm looking for + a thing. "I'm looking for a scarf." "I'm looking for a present for my son." The assistant asks: "What colour?" "What size?"
Do you have this in…? "Do you have this in blue?" "Do you have it in a small size?" Sizes: small, medium, large (S, M, L).
too + adjective = more than you want: "It's too big." "It's too small." "It's too expensive." Softer: "It's a little expensive."
Decide: "I'll take it." (yes) · "I'll think about it." (no, politely) · Prices: £12.50 = "twelve pounds fifty" · "Is there a discount?"

1. Which word?

Complete each sentence with looking, in, too or take.

1. I'm for a present for my wife.

2. Do you have this blue?

3. Medium is big.

4. It's beautiful. I'll it.

1. looking

2. in

3. too

4. take

2. Make the sentence

Put the words in order. Then say the sentence out loud.

1. much / How / this scarf / is?

2. in / Do / this / you / have / a small size?

3. expensive / a little / It's

4. take / I'll / it

1. How much is this scarf?

2. Do you have this in a small size?

3. It's a little expensive.

4. I'll take it.

3. Complete the conversation

Fill each gap with one word. Read the conversation out loud when you finish.

"Can I you?" — "Yes. I'm looking a T-shirt for my son." — "What ?" — "Small, please. And in blue." — "Here you are. It's fifteen pounds." — "Hmm, it's a little . Is there a discount?" — "Ten per cent today." — "OK, I'll it."

help · for · size · expensive · take

I'm looking for → what you want. I'll take it → yes.

Role Play

A shop in a new city. You want a present.

Round 1 — you are the customer. Read your partner's line, then say your own line from the cue in italics. Use your real answers. Then click to compare with a model.

Assistant: Can I help you?
You: what you want · who it is for

Assistant: What colour?
You: a colour · one more detail

Assistant: We have this one. It's forty pounds.
You: say: a little expensive · ask: discount?

Assistant: There's a ten per cent discount today.
You: decide

Assistant: Anything else?
You: one more thing · size

Assistant: Small, yes. Here you are. Would you like a gift bag?
You: yes · pay by card

Assistant: Can I help you?
You: Yes. I'm looking for a scarf for my wife.

Assistant: What colour?
You: Blue. Or green. She likes both.

Assistant: We have this one. It's forty pounds.
You: It's a little expensive. Is there a discount?

Assistant: There's a ten per cent discount today.
You: OK. I'll take it.

Assistant: Anything else?
You: Yes. Do you have this T-shirt in a small size?

Assistant: Small, yes. Here you are. Would you like a gift bag?
You: Yes, please. Can I pay by card?

Round 2 — change roles. Now you are Assistant. Ask the questions, and listen to the answers. Then say one thing you remember.

Quick-fire questions

Answer fast, in full sentences. No time to think. Then check a model answer for the ones that were hard.

1. Can I help you?

2. What colour?

3. What size?

4. How much is this scarf?

5. Is it too big?

6. Do you have this in black?

7. Is there a discount?

8. Would you like a gift bag?

9. Can I pay by card?

10. It's forty-five pounds. OK?

1. Yes. I'm looking for a present.

2. Green, please.

3. Medium.

4. Thirty pounds.

5. Yes, it's too big. Do you have a small?

6. Yes, here you are.

7. Twenty per cent today.

8. Yes, please.

9. Of course.

10. Hmm, it's a little expensive. I'll think about it.

Speak

Do all three tasks out loud. Use the timer to keep talking.

Useful language: "I'm looking for…" · "Do you have this in blue / in a small size?" · "How much is it?" · "It's a little expensive." · "Is there a discount?" · "It's too big." · "I'll take it." · "Can I have a gift bag?"
Time remaining: 1:00
Task A · Tell the shopping

Tell Leo's morning in your own words. Steps: a free morning, Oxford Street → a green scarf, £45, a little expensive, 20% → a football shirt, small → a pink T-shirt, medium is too big → a gift bag, by card → a hundred umbrellas → black, please → "try an umbrella?"

Task B · Presents (2 minutes)

Talk about presents: what you buy when you travel, for whom, where, and how much you pay. Say one thing that was too expensive. Start the timer and keep talking.

Task C · Buy three things

I am the shop assistant. Buy three things: a present for a person in your family, a thing for you, and a thing you forgot at home. Ask about colour, size and price each time.

To finish

  1. What is a good present from your city? What is a bad present?
  2. Leo buys an umbrella on his last day. Say one thing you bought too late.
  3. From memory: say the four shop sentences from today.