Shopping

When we go shopping, we can go either to a big department store or to the shop which specializes in some extra goods, e.g.:

• the greengrocer sells fruit and vegetables
• the butcher sells meat
• the baker sells bread, cakes, rolls or buns
• the tobacconist sells cigarettes and tobacco
• the confectioner or sweet shop sells sweet and icecream
• the fishmonger sells fish
• the newsagent sells newspapers und magazines
• the men´s wear and women´s wear sells clothes and dresses
• the lingerie sells underwear
• the draper sells cloths and bed clothes
• the wine-merchant sells alcoholic drniks of all kinds
• the ironmonger sells metal goods(tools, pots, pans, nails)
• the dairy sells milk products and eggs
• the stationary sells paper products and office suplies
• the jeweller sells jewellery
• the toyshop sells various toys for children(dolls, teddies)
• the delicatessen sells some exclusive and more expensive food
• the electrical applicances shop sells TV and radio sets, fridges etc.

The most common shop in Britain is the grocer´s. He sells food, such as tea, coffee, sugar, flour, butter, cheese, eggs, jam, tinned food and kitchen needs such as dishsoap, detergents and polish. Another common shop is the chemist´s. You can buy medicines and ointments, toothpaste, combs, bath soap (US – drugstore – they sell many more things than the British chemist´s – they have a counter where you can buy something to drink and eat).

Food products are usually bought in a self service shop or a supermarket. The supermarket is bigger and you can also buy goods from the chemist and ironmonger here. A hypermarket is very large and sells all possible kinds of food and kithen and house needs. Street markets sell various things at stalls in the streets and squares.

In a self service store you go in, pick up a basket or a wheeled cart, walk around the shop a choose what you want. At the exit there is a cash-desk or a cashier where you pay for all your merchandise together, either with cash or with your credit card.

A typical feature of modern big cities (London – e.g. Marks and Spencer, Harrods etc.) are big department stores. They are usually huge buildings equipped with speedy lifts and escalators, where you can buy almost everything from food to furniture. Here are some departments: Boyswear, Girlswear, Beds and bedding, Electronics, Carpets, China and glass, Furniture, Gifts, Households, Lingerie, Toys, Stationary, TV and Radio, Tobacco, Bookshop, Shoes, Watches and Clocks.

When pay we may use banknotes or coins if we want to pay cash, or a credit cards. Money you can earn, inherit, win, lend, borrow, steal or win in a bet.

An average Czech family goes shopping every day to a local supermarket for necessary food. Once a week they usually do one bigger purchase for the weekend and from time to time they have to buy clothes, shoes, household utensils and equipment.

A foreigner visiting our country might buy a nice picture book about our country, a record or compact disc, cut glass, china and dolls in national costumes.