At the Grocery Store

 

Unless you eat out in restaurants every day of the week, you will find yourself at a grocery store at some
time to load up on goodies. As most people know, large supermarkets sell more than just food. They can
sell everything from aspirin to zippers. There are several vocabulary terms that are commonly used with
food and food containers. Look at these examples.

Containers

cans- of tuna, peaches                   packages- of sausage, gravy mix
bottles- of milk, soda                      box- of cereal, cake mix
jars- of jelly, olives                           cartons- of milk, eggs
bags- of chips, cookies                  tubes- of toothpaste
tubs- of butter

Amount

pound- of hamburger, potatoes            bunch- of grapes, bananas
head- of lettuce, cabbage                      gallon- (quart/pint/liter) of milk
loaf of- bread

Sections in a Grocery Store

check out line
produce- vegetables, fruit
bakery- bread, pastry, rolls,
canned goods- beans, tomato sauce, tuna fish
dairy- milk, cheese, yogurt
meat/fish/poultry- steaks, salmon, chicken
frozen foods- ice cream, pizza, TV dinners
health and beauty aides- shampoo, toothpaste, lip stick
dry goods- toilet paper, paper napkins, laundry soap

Dialogue- At a grocery Store

Husband: Do you have the shopping list?
Wife: Me? I thought you brought it?
Husband: No. I thought you did. Oh, well, we’ll have to rely on our memories.
Wife: We need some refried beans for tostados. I think it’s on aisle 3.
Husband: Here it is. Oh look, do you want to get some jalapeño’s?
Wife: Are you nuts? Those things will set my mouth on fire. Let’s go to the produce section, we need fruit
     for the kids’ lunches.
Husband: How about these apples?
Wife: I don’t think they want apples. Last time we bought them they were mealy, and they refused to eat
     them. These grapes look good. How many should I get?
Husband: Get two bunches, no three. I’ll eat some for a snack.
Wife: OK, on to the meat section. You wanted some hamburger, right?
Husband: Yes, get about three pounds. Be sure it’s lean. Do we still have plenty of bacon and sausage
     for breakfast.
Wife: Yes, but that reminds me, we have no eggs. We should get 2 cartons.
Wife: We need milk, right?
Husband: Yes, on to the dairy section. Here’s the milk. Get a gallon jug.
Husband: Do we need any cheese?
Wife: Yes, we’ll need some for the pizza on Tuesday. Get two large packages. Do we have everything?
Husband: I need some shaving cream and razor blades. Which way to the health and beauty section?
Wife: It’s to the right, three aisles down.
Husband: I just thought of something else. We need some bread and pastry.
Wife: The bakery is that way. How many loaves should we get?
Husband: One loaf of whole wheat and one loaf of sour dough. And a dozen croissants.
Wife: That’s everything. Let’s go to the checkout.

Conversation Activities- At a Grocery Store

1. Pair work- discussion
     Do you go to the grocery store often? Tell your partner about it using some of the ideas for discussion
     below. Your partner should ask questions to get more information.

when do you go
where do you go- a supermarket or local mom and pop store
what kind of food do you usually buy
how often do you go

2. Pair Work- role play
     Working with a partner, role play the situation, using the information below

The situation: At a grocery store
The roles: A husband and wife or two roommates

laundry soap              corn chips                eggs
can of tomatoes        salt                             pepper
oranges                      face soap                 bacon
onion                          garlic                          bell pepper
cereal                         rice                            chicken
12 pack of beer        milk                            salsa
bread                         tissue                         cooking oil
flour                            brown sugar               honey
grape jelly                  toilet paper                Q-tips
basil leaves               water melon               can of pork and beans
blue berry yogurt       kitchen cleanser        canned apricots