In your country, which of these items of clothing are:

a) usually only worn by women;

b) usually only worn by men;

c) worn only on informal occasions;

d) never worn by anyone.

Ex. 14. Put each of the following words or phrases in its correct place in the text below:

tag sales bargain

label try on receipt

cash desk fit cashier

off-the-peg assistant exchange

refund mail order till

If you want to buy ready-made (or we sometimes say (1)  ) jacket, first find the jackets in the shop and look at the (2) ¼ inside to see the size, material and make. For the price, look at the price- (3) ¼ . To see if it will (4) ¼ you, you can (5) ¼ the jacket in front of a mirror. If necessary an (6) ¼ will help you. You pay the (7) ¼ , who you will find at the (8) ¼ . He or she will take your money, put it in the (9) ¼ and give you your change. Make sure you also get a (10) ¼ , which you should keep and bring back to the shop with the jacket if something is wrong with it and you want to (11) ¼ it or ask for a (12) ¼ of your money. In clothes shops you pay the fixed price, of course. You don’t (13) ¼ . Or you can wait until the (14) ¼ when many goods are reduced in price. If you don’t like shops, you can stay at home, look at catalogues and newspapers advertisements and do your shopping by (15) ¼ .

Ex. 15. On the left below are phrases we often use in shops. Match each one to the correct assistant’s reply on the right:

1) Can I try this jacket on? 2) Does this jacket suit me? 3) Does this jacket fit me? 4) Can I pay by cheque? 5) I’m afraid I only have a $ 10 note. 6) Can I exchange this? 7) Can I have my money back? 8) Shall I help you, sir? 9) What colour would you prefer? 10) What size do you wear?

a) Of course, if you have some kind of bank card. b) Size 50, please. c) I’m afraid we don’t give refunds. d) Certainly, there is a fitting room over there. e) Red ones, size 22. f) It’s a little too long. Try a smaller size. g) If you have a receipt. h) Yes, I’m trying to choose a suit. i) That’s all right. I can change it. j) Yes, it’s just the right colour and the style for you.

Ex. 16. Read the dialogue and fulfil the tasks:

AT A SHOE SHOP

Shop assistant. Mrs. Brown. Shop assistant. Mrs. Brown. Shop assistant. Sam. Shop assistant. Sam. Mrs. Brown. Sam. Shop assistant. Sam. Mrs. Brown. Shop assistant. Mrs. Brown. Shop assistant. Mrs. Brown. Shop assistant.

Good morning, madam. What can I do for you, please? A pair for this boy. Shoes or boots? Shoes. Very good. Will you please come this way. Take a seat, please. What size does he take? I take size four, and I want a pair of brown ones. Very good. Will you take off your boots and try this pair on? They are a very good make and will wear a long time. Here, they are too tight. Try a larger pair. But they are too big. I believe we have a half size. Yes, here we are. Try these on. I hope they’ll fit nicely. Yes, these fill all right. Let me have this pair, Mum. Very well. How much do they cost? 19 pounds, madam. (To Sam) If you take them off, I’ll wrap them up for you. Where do I pay? Over there at the cash-desk, madam. Here is the bill. (Mrs. Brown goes over to the cash-desk and pays the bill. She comes back with the receipted bill, which she hands in to the assistant. He gives her a parcel with the shoes). Anything else, Madam? No, thank you. Good bye. Good bye, madam, and thank you.

Ex. 17. Describe the following situations. Make use of the words prompted:

1. Sam wants a pair of shoes (take size 4, brown, to try on, too tight, too big, to feel all right, to have the pair, to cost, to pay the bill, the receipted bill).

2. The shop-assistant is eager to please the customers (to do smth. for smb., to come this way, to take a seat, to try on, to fit nicely, to wrap up, to give the parcel).

Ex. 18. Make up dialogues by analogy using the words prompted:

1. “What can I do for you, please?” – “A pair for this boy (a pair of gloves for me, a pair of shoes for everyday wear, an evening suit, a pair of pants for this girl, etc.).”

2. “What size does he (she) take?” – “I take size four, and I want a pair of brown ones (size 46, 48, 50, 52 – in Britain 16, 18, 20 22 respectively – in clothes; size 37, 38, 39, 40 – in Britain 7, 8, 9, 10 respectively – in shoes).”

3. “Here, they are too tight (loose, not my colour, big, out-dated, too bright, etc.).” – “Try a larger (another) pair.”

4. “How much do they cost?” – “Nineteen pounds, madam. If you take them off, I’ll wrap them up for you (this hat, this jacket, these trousers, raincoat, ect.).”

Ex. 19. Describe a procedure of …

a) buying a suit:

to be in a shopping mood, to need a suit for spring and summer wear, to get to the ready-made clothes department, to be too expensive, to find a cheaper one, to took smart, to try on, to step into the fitting room, of good quality, silk lining, to fit perfectly, to be quite a bargain, the sleeves were a bit too long, the tailor of the shop, to take the bill to the cashier;

b) buying a hat:

I have a weakness for hats, a fine selection of hats, the latest models in felt, velvet and straw, a little hat to go with the coat, to look smart, to try on, to be too big, to just smb.’s size, to suit smb. perfectly, to be in the very latest fashion, to look years younger, to be quite a bargain, to be of the best quality, to be just to one’s liking, to put into the hat box, to pay at the cash desk;

c) buying a dress:

to make up one’s mind, to be in a shopping mood, to have some money, to go to the ready-made clothes department, the colour was the latest fashion, not to be very flattering, pale green, to try on another one, to go to the fitting room, to seem a bit loose, to fit well, to match one’s eyes perfectly, to take the bill to the cashier;

d) buying gloves:

the old ones have worn out, to get a new pair, a good selection of gloves, kid suede gloves, to look smart, to be reliable, to go well with the new shoes and coat, to be worth getting, find a better purchase for the price, to wrap up;

e) buying shoes:

to wear out, to go to the shoe department, what size shoes do you wear, to try on, to put the right shoe on, to pinch the toes, to be rather tight, to try on another pair, a pair of cheap leather shoes, to wear day after day, to look nice, to be quite a bargain, to fit perfectly, to take the bill to the cashier, to wrap up the purchase.

Ex. 20. Make up dialogues following the models given below:

1. “Have you got a hat to match my coat?” – “Yes, I think light brown is the right colour.”

2. “What is your size?” – “I need a 44.” – “I think you ought to try a 46.” – “Yes, it’s a lot better.”

3. “Could I have a suit one size bigger and a different colour?” – “Yes, here you are. This one is going to cost you a little more money.” – “That’s all right.”

4. “Why don’t you buy this coat?” – “It’s too light. It won’t do for cold weather.”

5. “Does the blouse suit me?” – “Yes, it becomes you and it’s a perfect fit.”

6. “How do you find this skirt?” – “Well, it costs too much and the cloth is of poor quality.”

7. “You see, the dress is too tight. I think you gave me a smaller size than I asked for.” – “Oh, sorry. Here’s one about your size.”

8. “The skirt is made of cotton.” – “That’s nice. It’s practical and suitable for everyday wear.”

9. “Are these shoes in fashion?” – “They were in fashion a few years ago.”

10. “Why don’t you wear your new blouse?” – “It doesn’t go with any of my skirts. And it isn’t just this, it doesn’t really fit me either.”

11. “I bought this jacket two weeks ago, but I’m afraid I don’t really like the colour. It’s pale blue. It is not my colour at all.” – “I could buy it from you if it fits me well. I like blue.”

12. “What did the jumper cost you?” – “I bought it for a song. It was only $ 10.” – “What a bargain!”

13. “This jacket cost me $ 70.” – “Oh, it must be one of the fashions.”

14. “I must say I like your new shoes. Are they expensive?” – “No, they’re not. Just the opposite, they’re surprisingly cheap.” – “Are they really? They look comfortable, too.” – “They’re very comfortable. And they do look nice, don’t they?” – “Very nice, indeed.”

Ex. 21. Role-play the conversations:

AT A SHOP

1. “What can I do for you, sir?” – “I am looking for a brown jacket to match my trousers.” – “What size do you wear?” – “Size 50, please.” – “Try this one on. Is it a good fit?” – “Yes, thank you. I’ll take it.” – “Thank you, sir.”

2. “At your service, madam.” – “I want a pair of stilettos.” – “What colour would you prefer?” – “Red ones, size 22.” – “Will you try this pair on? Do you feel comfortable?” – “Yes, perfectly. Thank you, I am going to buy them.” – “Thank you, madam.”

3. “Shall I help you, sir?” – “Yes, I am trying to choose a suit.” – “What do you think about this black one?” – “It’s too tight on me.” – “Then try this one on.” – “Now, this is a bit loose.” – “What about this?” – “It’s just the right size. Wrap it up. Thank you.” – “Thank you, sir.”

4. “Are you being attended to?” – “No, I’m trying to find a navy blue raincoat, size 42.” – “I can do the size, but not the colour.” – “Do you think you could get one for me?” – “Yes, of course, look in again Monday week*.”

5. “Are you being seen to?” – “No, I’m looking for a pinstriped suit with a 34 waist.” – “I’m afraid I can’t help you at the moment.” – “Will you be having any more in?” – “I doubt it, but you might be lucky at our High Street branch.”

*Monday week – a week from next Monday.

Ex. 22. Act out the dialogue: