Chapter 7:

I’m going to shop till I drop.

 Idiomatic Future

We use the idiomatic future, sometimes referred to as near future, when we want
to express a future action that will occur relatively soon or when we have decided
to do something. In other words, our intention is to do something,
we use: BE GOING TO + INFINITIVE.

Ex. I am going to drive to the supermarket in about 10 minutes.

Susan is going to work tomorrow.
My neighbors are going to move next month.
We’re going to see an excellent movie tonight.
What are you going to do on the weekend?
Is Jerry going to study during his Christmas vacation?

Exercises:
Complete the following sentences using am/are/is going to + one of these verbs

wear give eat cook buy sell

study take walk do rain play

1. I don’t have anything fancy in my closet. What ________ I __________________

to the party?
2. This sweater doesn’t fit me anymore. I __________________________ it to my
sister.
3. John is very hungry. He ________________________ at McDonalds.
4. It’s Jeff’s birthday next week. What ________ we ______________________ him?
5. I’m starving! What ________ you _____________________ for dinner ?
6. If you ________________________ to the park bring an umbrella. I think it
______________________ .
7. Mary ___________________________ for her exams.
8. ___________ you _____________________ your computer? Because I really
need one.
9. What _________ you _______________________ after you graduate from
university ?
10. Karen ___________________________ a trip to Europe for a month.
11. My brother ____________________________ basketball for the national team.

Class Activity: List some things you are going to do later today. Then discuss them in
class.
Clothing vocabulary

shirt skirt pants blouse

jacket tie suit coat
socks shoes housecoat nightgown
dress bra jeans sweater
scarf underwear nylons T-shirt
vest hat gloves boots
shorts bathing suit belt raincoat

Here are some pictures of some of these items.

What are these people wearing?

Grammar tip
When we talk about something that always comes in twos. We use PAIR OF
____________
Ex. I am wearing a pair of shoes and a pair of socks.
We also use pair of for pants and jeans because they have two legs.

Circle the items that usually come in twos.

shirt underwear pants overalls dress

socks nylons gloves glasses boots
dress bra sweater jeans suit
Class Activity : Describe what you are wearing. Don’t forget your colors from
Chapter 1. Then choose someone else in the class describe what they are wearing. The other
students have to guess who you are talking about based on your description. As a variation
you can also cut out pictures in magazines and use them to practice descriptions.

Conversation Practice :

At Home :

George : Hey, are you going to go to Jerry’s

party on Friday night ?
Elaine : I´d like to, but I don’t have anything to
wear.
George : Oh. Is it a formal party ?
Elaine : Yeah, I think it’s pretty* formal.
George : Well, I guess I’m going to wear my new
suit .
Elaine : That’s a great idea. Where did you buy it ?
George . I bought it at Harry Rosen’s. in the
Eaton’s Center. They have a lot of really good clothing stores in that
mall. Maybe you could find something there.
Elaine: Good idea. I think I am going to go there after work. There are a lot
of sales on right now. Maybe I can find a good deal*.
George : Good luck!
Elaine : Thanks George. See you later. I am going to eat lunch with an old
friend.
George : See you later gater.
*Culture Note : In English, pretty + adjective means quite or very or more than the
average. In other words, in the example, I think the party is pretty formal, Elaine means
that the party will be quite formal, more formal than the average party. The expression a
good deal means a good price, a bargain, a steal.
Practice the conversation above with a classmate or your teacher.
Then, change some of the details in the conversation to make up
your own conversation.

Liquidation Sale :
Everything must go!! Hurry, hurry to Ben’s Bargain Basement
Store for all your consumer needs! We have what you need at the
price you want to pay! Guaranteed lowest prices in the city!!
Top designer labels at fabulous discount prices.

Women’s dresses Regular price NOW

Anne Kleinburg $50.00 $25.00
Liz Clayblack 100.00 49.99
Alfred Song 119.00 39.99
Yves St. Lewis 122.00 66.99

Men´s suits
Armoochie $ 609.99 209.00
Hugo Boogie 225.00 137.00
Versaggie 133.00 72.00

Men´s and Women´s Shoes

Floreshow $225.00 132.00
Duck´s 175.00 88.00
Hang nine 75.00 45.00
Pegaboo´s 69.99 39.99
Batan´s 59.99 29.99

General Questions about Ben´s Bargain Basement Store Sale

1. What is the average discount of items in Ben´s ?
2. How many types of women´s dress labels does Ben´s carry ?
3. What is the most expensive suit you can buy at Ben´s ?
4. Would you shop at Ben´s ? Why ? Why not ?
5. Do you know of a store like Ben´s ? What is it´s name ?
6. What do you think of the prices at Ben´s ? Are they reasonable ?
7. What are some positive words we use to sell products ?

Class Activity : In partners or individually, design your own advertisements for

products you would like to sell.
Grammar Tip
When we ask for the price of something we can use a variety of
styles. Ex : How much is that dress ?
What is the price of this watch ?
How much does this sweater cost ?
Do you know the price of this shirt ?
Can you tell me the price of this suit ?

Practice asking the prices of different items from Ben’s Bargain

Basement Store with a partner.

Modals :
In English, we use modals to be polite, to make suggestions or to give advice about
something or someone. Below is a table of common modals in English .

Modal Example Purpose/Meaning

Should 1. You should go to the doctor. 1. Suggestion or Advice
2. I should see my dentist soon. 2. Obligation

Could 1. I could speak French when I 1. Past of can meaning ability

was a child 2. Polite suggestion or request
2. Could you help me ? 3. Condition
3. If you had money, you could
come.
Can 1. I can drive. 1. to be able to do something
2. Can I have your telephone 2. polite suggestion or request but
number, please ? more direct than could.

May 1. May I help you ? 1. Polite suggestion or request

2. She may move next year. 2. Possibility

Might We might go to the cinema tonight. Possibility

Must My father must do his taxes. 1. Obligation

He must be at home. 2. Supposition
Will I will finish this next week. Intention
Would I would if I could. 1. Condition
 Would you like to have a drink ? 2. Polite invitation or request.
Yesterday, the car wouldn´t start. 3. Past of will
Have to I have to talk to my teacher about Obligation
the exam.
Conversation Practice :

At the Department Store :

Sales Clerk : Hi. May I help you ?
Janet : Yes, thank you. I´m looking for the
shoe department.
Sales Clerk : Sure, that´s on the sixth floor, right next
to the stationary department.
Janet : Great, thanks for your help.
Sales Clerk : My pleasure.
In the Shoe Department :
Janet : Excuse me, do you have these shoes
in a size 10 , black leather ?
Shoe Clerk : Let me check. I´ll be right back. Yes, you´re in luck*. We have one
pair of size ten left in black leather.
Janet . Excellent, I´m so happy. It´s difficult to find a nice pair of shoes in
my size.
Shoe Clerk : I guess this is your lucky day *! Let´s try them on to see how they fit.
Janet : They look great ! They are really comfortable and the price is right* !
Shoe Clerk : So you are going to take the shoes ?
Janet : Yes. Do you accept credit cards ?
Shoe Clerk : Certainly, Visa, Mastercard, American Express.
Janet : Great ! I am going to use my Visa.
Shoe Clerk : That will be $69.99, please.
Janet : Here´s my card.
Shoe Clerk : Thank you. Here´s your bill and have a nice day.
Janet : Thank you, same to you * .

*Cultural Note : The expression you´re in luck means you are lucky. We usually use
this expression when we are referring to something that we need which we are able to get. It
´s your lucky day means that you are very lucky today. The price is right means that
the price is reasonable for you. It is exactly the price you wanted to pay. Same to you is
an expression we use when we want to repeat the same compliment or respect to a person.
In other words, the same as you just said to me.
Practice the conversation above and then change some of the details
to make up your own conversation. Don´t forget to use the modals
from the previous page when necessary.
Write it !
Write six sentences or questions using the modals indicated.

1. (could) ______________________________________________

2. (may) _______________________________________________

3. (would) ______________________________________________

4. (can) ________________________________________________

5. (should) _____________________________________________

6. (must) _______________________________________________

Role Play
Act out the following situations with a partner.

Situation 1:

A : You call a local department store and ask for prices for certain items. You also
ask for sizes and the colors available.
B : You are a sales clerk in a local department and you speak to a customer who is
inquiring about the prices, styles, colors and sizes of your merchandise.

Situation 2 :
A : You are going to a wedding in two days and you need something to wear. You
have no more time to shop. This is the last store. You must find something in this
store. You take size 12 and you don’t look good in pale colors.
B : You are a sales clerk in a department store. The styles and sizes are limited.
You don’t have a lot of clothing in size 12 and most of the dark colored clothing
has been sold.
Class Activity : Act out the situations in front of the class using props. As a variation
you could telephone role play the situations using a catalogue or you could come up with
your own scenarios related to shopping.
How many/ How much
In English, we use how many and how much to talk
about the quantity of something. In the case of how
much, it is also used to refer to the cost of something.
as we mentioned earlier in the chapter. So at this point
we are going to talk about the quantity of things.

We have two categories of things; countable, those

things which you can count and uncountable, those
things which can´t be counted. We use many or how
many for countable things and much or how much for
uncountable things.
Ex.
How much coffee do you drink ? Once we put the thing in a container
How many cups of coffee do you drink ? we can count it.
OR
How many pieces of paper do you need ? If we talk in general about
How much paper do you need ? something it is uncountable
OR but if we are specific then we
How much money do you have ? can count it
How many dollars do you have ?

Complete the following sentences using either much or many.

1. Ron doesn´t have ____________ time.

2. How _____________ food is in the fridge.
3. How _____________ people will be at the party.
4. I don´t drink very ____________ coffee.
5. How ___________ paper is in the photocopier.
6. How ____________ towels are in the bathroom.
7. My father took ___________ photographs on his trip to Europe.
8. We don´t have ____________ money right now.
9. How ___________ games did you play last month ?
10. How __________ postcards did you write to your friends ?

*Note : So now you know you use much + uncountable nouns and we use
many + countable nouns. We can also use a lot of + uncountable or plural
nouns
 Uncountable Nouns Plural Countable Nouns
She seems to have a lot of money. There are a lot of books in this room.
You drink a lot of coffee. I know a lot of people.
We will have a lot of free time, soon. The students always ask a lot of questions
Much is usually used in questions and negative sentences. We don´t normally use
it in positive sentences. We use a lot of + noun for positive sentences.
Ex.
Do you drink much soda pop ?
No, I don’t drink much.
Yes, I drink much soda pop. (incorrect) Yes, I drink a lot of soda pop.

Exercises :
Change the following sentences when it is necessary. If the sentence is correct just
put a checkmark beside it. If it is wrong, mark an x beside it and make the
changes.

1. She is happy because she has many friends.________

2. Sorry, we don´t have much time. _______
3. My father drinks much coffee in the morning. _______
4. Right now, we have many money. _______
5. It takes much work to have children. ______
6. We have much friends around the world. ______
7. Do you much about Mexican history ? _______
8. Look over there ! There are much people waiting for the movie. ________
9. I don´t speak much Spanish, but I am taking courses at the university. ______
10. How much times have you been to the United States. _______
 Irregular Past Tense
For this chapter, we will concentrate on verbs that relate to shopping.
Simple Present Simple Past
buy : I buy flowers every Monday. bought : She bought me a present for
my birthday.
sell : The store sells newspapers. sold : Our neighbor sold their house.
wear : What size do you wear ? wore : I wore a green dress to my
friend’s party.
feel : Steve feels great when he felt : Debbie felt beautiful in her
exercises. wedding dress.
cost : How much does this cost ? cost : The book cost $50.00, but I needed
it, so I bought it.
pay : She pays $400 rent each month. paid : My mother paid a fortune for her
new car.
give : My family gives to charity every gave : My aunt gave us all her old baby
year. clothes when the baby was born.
choose : We usually choose easy chose : Larry chose a new tie for his suit.
courses.
Rap up :
Conversation Practice :
Marsha : Hey, look Stan. What do you think of this new suit
I bought?
Stan : It’s beautiful. I bet you paid a fortune for it.
Marsha : No, actually it was on sale at Ben’s Bargain
Basement Store for an excellent price.
Stan : What did it cost ?
Marsha : It only cost $49.99, and it’s a Liz Clayblack
design.
Stan : No kidding ? *. That’s fantastic. You chose very
well.
Marsha : Actually, my mom gave me some extra money, so I bought a pair of
shoes, too. When I put the shoes on, I felt like Cinderella.
Stan : They’re really nice. Are you going to wear them to the party on
Saturday night ?
Marsha . I’m not sure. What do you think?
Stan : I think you’d be a real hit.*
Marsha : How many people are going to the party ?
Stan : I’m not sure. I think about 100 or so*
Marsha : Wow ! That’s a lot of people. Do they have a big house ?
Stan : Yeah, it’s pretty big. What am I going to wear ?
Marsha . Well, why don´t you wear that navy blue suit that you wore to Fran
´s wedding. It looks so good on you.
Stan : Okay, that sounds like a good idea.*
Look at the conversation above. Underline all the past tense verbs you see.
Then circle all the idiomatic future tense and put a * beside all the expressions
using many, much or a lot.

*Cultural Note : The expression, “ No kidding. “ means “Are you serious?” or

“Really?”. To be a hit means to be successful or popular at something or
somewhere. When we finish a sentence with or so it means more or less . Finally,
the expression sounds like a good idea means that the idea is a good one or seems
to be a good one based on the information he or she is told.

Practice the conversation above with a partner and then make some
changes so the conversation becomes more personal.

End of chapter 7.