Speaking: Functional Language A1 - Lesson 4: Making Very Simple Requests (e.g., "Coffee, please.")

Speaking: Functional Language A2

Lesson 4: Shopping for Essentials (Asking Price)

Listen to the conversation here.

What you will learn: By the end of this lesson, you will be able to perform the function of asking for items and their prices in a shop or market.

Conversation Scenario: At a Small Shop 🛒

Let's look at a typical conversation in a small shop in Siem Reap. Click 🔊 to hear each line.

Shopkeeper: Hello! Can I help you?

You: Yes, please. I'm looking for some good notebooks.

Shopkeeper: We have these blue ones and these red ones.

You: Oh, the blue ones look nice. How much are these?

Shopkeeper: They're four thousand riel each.

You: Okay, I'll take two, please.

Shopkeeper: Two blue notebooks. Anything else?

You: No, that's all, thanks.

Shopkeeper: Okay, that's eight thousand riel in total.

Your Shopping Toolkit 🛍️ (Click 🔊)

Here are the most important phrases you need to buy things in English.

🗣️ Customer Phrases (to say)

• I'm looking for...Tells the shopkeeper what you want.
• Have you got any...?Asks if the shop sells an item.
• How much is this/these?Asks for the price.
• I'll take it / I'll take two.Says you want to buy it.
• No, that's all, thanks.Says you have finished shopping.

👂 Shopkeeper Phrases (to understand)

• Can I help you?Asks if you need help.
• Anything else?Asks if you want more items.
• That's [price] in total.Tells you the final price.
• Here you are.Said when they give you the item.

Tips for Sounding Fluent

🗣️ Pronunciation: Linking in Questions

To ask for the price fluently, we link the words together so they sound like one smooth phrase. Click 🔊 to hear the fast, linked sound.

• "How much is this?" → sounds like "How-mu-chis-this?"
• "How much are these?" → sounds like "How-mu-char-these?"

💡 Using "this/that/these/those"

Remember our lesson on "pointing words"? They are very useful for shopping!

• Point to one thing near you: "How much is this?"
• Point to one thing far from you: "How much is that?"
• Point to many things near you: "How much are these?"
• Point to many things far from you: "How much are those?"

Practice Shopping 🎯

Activity 1: What's the Question? (Self-Check)

You are the customer. What question would you ask to get these answers? Think, then click "Show Example".

1. Shopkeeper: "Yes, we have fresh bread over here."
   Show Example

   "Excuse me, have you got any fresh bread?"

2. Shopkeeper: "It's two dollars."
   Show Example

   "How much is this?"

3. Shopkeeper: "No, sorry, we are out of large shirts."
   Show Example

   "Have you got this in a large size?"

Activity 2: Role-Play at the Market

Work with a partner. One person is a customer, one is a shopkeeper at a stall in Phsar Chas (Old Market). The customer wants to buy: one coconut and two mangoes. Role-play the full conversation. Use the phrases from the Toolkit!

Key Vocabulary Reference (Click 🔊)

• I'm looking for... | ខ្ញុំកំពុងរក...
  A phrase to tell a shopkeeper what you want to find.
• How much is this? | នេះតម្លៃប៉ុន្មាន?
  The most common way to ask the price of one item near you.
• I'll take it. | ខ្ញុំ​យក​វា។
  A phrase to say "I want to buy this."
• Anything else? | មានអ្វីផ្សេងទៀតទេ?
  A question the shopkeeper asks to see if you want more items.
• In total | សរុប
  The final price for all your items. (e.g., "That's 5 dollars in total.")

Your Functional Mission ⭐

This week, your mission is to perform the function of "asking a price".

Go to a local shop or market stall. Find one item you are interested in. Politely ask the shopkeeper in English, "Excuse me, how much is this?" Listen to the answer. You don't have to buy it! The goal is just to practice asking the question confidently.