Listening and Speaking A1: Asking About Prices and Costs

Asking About Prices and Costs

Asking about prices is essential for shopping, dining, and traveling. This lesson covers essential vocabulary, practical dialogues, and key phrases to boost your confidence in financial conversations. Let’s dive in! 🛒

🔑 Vocabulary for Prices and Costs

Here is a list of simple words and phrases to talk about prices and costs.
Listen and repeat aloud to improve your pronunciation!

💲 Key Terms for Prices:Price: The money you pay to buy something.
Cost: The total money needed to buy something.
Discount: A lower price than usual.
Sale: A time when things are cheaper.
Expensive: Costs a lot of money.
Cheap: Costs very little money.
Affordable: A price that is not too high.
Price tag: A label that shows the price.
Value: How good something is for its price.
Fixed price: A price that does not change.
Bargain: A very good deal with a low price.
Wholesale: The price when buying many items at once.

📌 Common Currency Terms:

💷 Pounds (£): The money used in the United Kingdom.
💵 Dollars ($): The money used in the United States and other countries.
💶 Euros (€): The money used in many European countries.
💴 Yen (¥): The money used in Japan.
🇮🇳 Rupees (₹): The money used in India.
🇨🇳 Yuan (¥): The money used in China.
💰 Cash: Coins and paper money.
💳 Credit/Debit card: A card to pay for things.
💲 Exchange rate: How much one currency is worth compared to another.
💱 Currency conversion: Changing money from one type to another.

🛒 Shopping Phrases:

“How much does it cost?” – Ask for the price.
“What’s the price of this?” – Ask for the cost.
“Is there a discount available?” – Ask if the price is lower.
“Do you have it in a different size/color?” – Ask if there are other options.
“Can I pay with a card?” – Ask if you can use a card.
“Do you accept cash only?” – Ask if you must pay with cash.
“Is the price negotiable?” – Ask if the price can be changed.
“Can I get a receipt, please?” – Ask for proof of purchase.
“Are there any special offers?” – Ask if there are any deals.
“What’s the total cost?” – Ask for the final price.

🌟 Useful Adjectives:

Expensive: Costs a lot of money.
Cheap: Costs very little money.
Reasonable: A fair price.
Discounted: A lower price than usual.
Overpriced: Costs more than it should.
Budget-friendly: Good for a small budget.
Costly: Very expensive.
Economical: Saves money.

🗺️ Locations and Stops:

Train station: A place where trains stop.
Bus stop: A place where buses stop.
Metro station: A station for the subway.
Intersection: A place where roads cross.
Parking lot: A place where cars are parked.
Railway crossing: A place where a road crosses train tracks.
Ferry terminal: A place where ferries pick up and drop off people.
Carpool area: A place where people share car rides.

🎧 Real-Life Dialogues: Asking About Prices and Costs

Here are sample dialogues to help you navigate price-related conversations. Practice both roles for better fluency! 🌟

🗣️ Dialogue 1: Asking for the Price of an Item

Emma: Excuse me, how much is this jacket? 🧥

Clerk: It’s $50. Would you like to try it on? 💵

Emma: No, thank you. I’m just checking. 😊

Clerk: Let me know if you need help! 👍

🗣️ Dialogue 2: Asking About Discounts

John: Is this item on sale? 🛒

Clerk: Yes, it’s 20% off today. 🔖

John: That’s great! How much does it cost now? 💸

Clerk: It’s $40 after the discount. 😊

🗣️ Dialogue 3: Comparing Prices

Tom: How much are these two phones? 📱

Clerk: This one is $300, and the other is $450. 💵

Tom: What’s the difference between them? 🤔

Clerk: The more expensive one has a better camera. 📸

🗣️ Dialogue 4: Asking About Payment Options

Emily: Can I pay by card? 💳

Clerk: Yes, we accept both credit and debit cards. 😊

Emily: Perfect! Do you offer installment plans? 🛒

Clerk: For purchases over $100, yes. 👍

🗣️ Dialogue 5: Asking About Hidden Costs

Liam: Are there any additional fees? 💰

Clerk: No, the price includes all taxes. ✅

Liam: Great! I’ll take it. 😊

🗣️ Dialogue 6: Asking About Value

Sophia: Why is this watch so expensive? ⌚

Clerk: It’s made of gold and has a lifetime warranty. 💎

Sophia: Oh, I see. That explains the price. 😊

🗣️ Dialogue 7: Asking About Bulk Prices

Ryan: Do you offer discounts for bulk purchases? 📦

Clerk: Yes, we can reduce the price by 10% for orders over 10 items. 👍

Ryan: That’s great! I’ll take 12. 😊

🗣️ Dialogue 8: Asking About Delivery Costs

Ella: How much is the delivery fee? 🚚

Clerk: It’s $5 for local delivery. 🚗

Ella: Does that include same-day delivery? 💨

Clerk: Yes, if you order before 2 PM. 😊

🗣️ Dialogue 9: Asking About Refund Policies

Lucas: What’s your refund policy? 📜

Clerk: You can return items within 30 days for a full refund. 👍

Lucas: That’s reassuring! Thank you. 😊

🗣️ Dialogue 10: Asking About Sales Tax

Mia: Does this price include sales tax? 💵

Clerk: Yes, the tax is included in the displayed price. 😊

Mia: Perfect! I’ll take it. 🛒