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Lesson 136 of 240

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Fruit and bargaining in English

Saturday at the farmers market, Ana stops at a fruit stall. Murray is already there with two bags.

She wants peaches, but she checks if they are ripe first. Then she asks the price per pound.

You will ask how much they cost, try one, and ask for a better price.

Keep it polite. A little lower is fine. You do not fight over the price.

By the end of this lesson

Buy fruit, ask the price per pound, and ask for a better price.

  • How much are they per pound?What is the price for one pound?
  • I'll take a pound of ___.I want to buy one pound of this.
  • Are these ripe?Are these ready to eat now?
  • Can I try one?Can I taste one first?
  • Can you go a little lower?Can you make the price a bit cheaper?
  • Is it cheaper if I buy more?If I buy a bigger amount, is the price less?

Scene — peaches at the market

The Saturday market is open in the plaza. Crates of fruit sit on folding tables. Ana walks up to a peach stall.

Murray is already there. He holds two bags and a black coffee from the diner. He has not finished it.

The clerk waits behind the table. No signs show prices.

Ana walks up to the peach stall as Murray waits nearby with his bags and coffee.

Learn — price per pound

Six short lines help you buy fruit at the market. You ask the price per pound and if the fruit is ready.

You also ask to try one, then you ask for a slightly better price.

  1. Ana points to a crate of peaches while looking toward the clerk.

    How much are they per pound?

    What is the price for one pound?

    When to use it: Ask this at a stall when fruit is sold by the pound.

    Per pound is the price for each pound of fruit.

    Say it: Put the stress on pound.

  2. Murray offers a peach toward Ana as she listens beside the stall.

    I'll take a pound of ___.

    I want to buy one pound of this.

    When to use it: Say this when you decide to buy one pound.

    I'll is I will, said as one piece.

  3. Ana turns a peach in her hands while studying the fruit in the crate.

    Are these ripe?

    Are these ready to eat now?

    When to use it: Ask this before you buy soft fruit.

    Ripe means the fruit is ready to eat.

    Say it: Use the buzzing th sound in these.

  4. Ana holds a peach forward in a polite request to taste it.

    Can I try one?

    Can I taste one first?

    When to use it: Ask this if you want to taste one first.

    Try one means taste a little piece first.

  5. Ana leans toward the table and makes a gentle gesture asking for a better price.

    Can you go a little lower?

    Can you make the price a bit cheaper?

    When to use it: Use this to ask for a slightly better price.

    A little lower is a polite way to bargain.

    Say it: Lower has stress on the first part.

  6. Ana gestures between a small pile of peaches and a fuller crate while considering a larger purchase.

    Is it cheaper if I buy more?

    If I buy a bigger amount, is the price less?

    When to use it: Ask this when you want a deal for more fruit.

    Cheaper means the price is less than before.

Story — murray already knows

Watch Ana buy fruit at the peach stall. She checks if they are ripe, then she asks about the price.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. The plaza is busy. Ana stops at the peach crates.
  2. AnaExcuse me.you say this to get someone's attention
  3. ClerkHey. What can I get you?He asks what she wants to buy.
  4. MurrayWell, you're going to want the peaches.He tells her, kindly, what she will buy.
  5. AnaAre these ripe?Are these ready to eat now?
  6. ClerkYeah, they're ready to eat today.He says the peaches are ready now.
  7. AnaCan I try one?Can I taste one first?
  8. ClerkSure. Go ahead.He says she may taste one.
  9. Ana tastes a slice. She nods.
  10. AnaHow much are they per pound?What is the price for one pound?
  11. ClerkThree dollars a pound.The price is three dollars for each pound.
  12. AnaCan you go a little lower? Sit down?She asks for a better price, then thinks it means sit.
  13. ClerkThe price, not the stool.He tells her he means the price, kindly.
  14. AnaIs it cheaper if I buy more?If I buy a bigger amount, is the price less?
  15. ClerkA little, if you take two pounds.The price is a bit less if she buys two pounds.
  16. AnaI'll take a pound of peaches.I want to buy one pound of this.
  17. ClerkYou got it.He agrees and will give her the fruit.

Practice — ask and bargain

These quick exercises wait here for you now. You will listen, pick, fill a gap, and then build a line.

They stay short, so you can move through them fast.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    Are these ripe?Drop the Simple English here
    Can I try one?Drop the Simple English here
    Can you go a little lower?Drop the Simple English here
    Is it cheaper if I buy more?Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

    Drag a Simple English line onto its English, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    You look at peaches. You want to know if you can eat them today.

  4. What does it mean?

    Can I try one?

  5. Fill the gap

    If I buy a bigger amount, is the price less?

    Is it ____ if I buy more?

  6. Build the line

    Can you make the price a bit cheaper?

    ?

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Pick the reply

    Clerk says:

    Three dollars a pound.

    This is the price for each pound.

    And you reply with:

  8. Swap the word

    You decided to buy one pound of fruit at the stall.

    I'll take a ____ of ___.

  9. What do you say?

    You want the fruit clerk to look at you. Other people are talking.

  10. True or false?

    This line means you have no money at all.

  11. What do you say?

    You point to one loaf of bread. You want the price of that one thing.

Say it — buy the peaches

Now you're Ana at the fruit stall. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. ClerkHey. Looking at the peaches?He sees you at the fruit and checks.
  2. Ana (you)Ask if they are ready to eat now.

    Are these ripe?

    Are these ready to eat now?

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
How much are they per pound?What is the price for one pound?
I'll take a pound of ___.I want to buy one pound of this.
Are these ripe?Are these ready to eat now?
Can I try one?Can I taste one first?
Can you go a little lower?Can you make the price a bit cheaper?
Is it cheaper if I buy more?If I buy a bigger amount, is the price less?
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A quick Yak Cards round keeps your market lines ready for Saturday.

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