Money and buying

blairchen

English

Publish：May 18, 2017

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1. Choosing a product

• attractive - unattractive
• attractive - ugly
• safe - unsafe
• safe - dangerous
• reliable - unreliable
• fancy - plain
• powerful - weak

1.1 expressions

1. The desktop computer is slower than the laptop computer.
2. The desktop computer is less expensive than the laptop.
3. My old computer is slow. I need something faster. (than my old computer)
4. For me, Chinese is more difficult than French.
5. The subway is faster than driving.

2. Making a purchase

• cellphone
• digital camera
• tablet computer
• smartphone
• e-reader
• game console
• laptop computer ['læptɒp]
• desktop computer ['desktɒp]

2.1 expressions

Once you have someone to help you, tell them what you need.

• I want to buy a new camera.
• I need a game console for my son.
• I’m looking for a TV.
• Could you tell me about your digital cameras?

You can ask specific questions about the product you are interested in.

• How much is it?
• Is there a warranty?
• What’s it made of?
• Is it reliable?
• Is it easy to use?

The salesperson might tell you about the store’s promotions.

• It’s on sale today.
• It’s 25% off.

If you decide to buy the product, you can say:

• I’ll take it.

If you decide not to buy the product, you can say:

• I don’t think so.
• I need to think about it.

When you’re paying for a product, these phrases might come up:

• How would you like to pay?
• Cash or credit?

2.2 irregular comparative adjectives

• This e-reader is easier to use than that one.

• My new e-reader cost more than a smartphone.

• The woman is friendlier than the man.

• The woman is more friendly than the man.

• This store is (bad) worse than the first one.

• The train station is (far) farther from here than the bus station.

• Are you feeling better or worse?

• It’s less expensive to buy online.

• The online price is less than the store price.

• I need something easier to use.

• I’ll take this one. It’s better.

• Do you have a cheaper one?

3. Returning a purchase

• jeans
• jacket
• skirt [skɜːt]
• shirt
• dress
• shorts
• socks

3.1 some wrong

• What’s the problem?

• What’s wrong with it?

• What’s the matter?

• What seems to be the problem? （customer service…）

• It’s too big.

• It doesn’t fit.

• There’s a hole in it.

• It’s stained. [steɪnd]

• It’s damaged.

• It doesn’t work.

• It’s broken.

• It’s too difficult to use.

• I don’t like it.

3.2 returning a purchase

• I’d like to return these shorts.
• I’d like a refund, please.
• I’d like to exchange this dress.
• There’s nothing wrong. I just don’t like it

The customer service representative will likely ask why you want to return or exchange the item.

• What seems to be the problem?
• Is there something wrong with it?
• Do you have the receipt?
• Here’s your refund of $27.99.

4. Talking about prices

• gas
• office supplies
• healthcare ['helθkeə]
• entertainment
• utilities [juː’tɪlɪtɪz]
• housing [ˈhaʊzɪŋ] 住房
• clothing
• gasoline

4.1 expressions

Use these expressions to explain an increase in something:

• Prices are going up.
• The rent is going to increase.
• Company sales are up.

Use these expressions to explain a decrease in something:

• Company sales are going down.
• The temperature is going to decrease.
• Gas prices are down.

When we get bad news about an increase or decrease, we can say that it hurts.

• A: The price of food is up 25%.
• B: Ouch! That hurts.

The amount of money we need to live on is called the cost of living.

• The cost of living is going up and up.

4.2 increases and decreases

More bad news today: The prices of housing and utilities are both up by more than 20%. Gas prices are going to increase for the next few months. The cost of education is also going up. There is some good news: The price of food is down by 10%.

• Technology prices are decreasing.
• Gas prices are increasing.
• The price of entertainment is up.
• The cost of living is going down.
• The cost of education is going up.
• Food prices are down.

4.3 adverbs with ‘-ly’ or ‘-ily’

• The price is decreasing slowly.

• The price is decreasing quickly.

• The people in the office are working busily.

• He’s walking lazily down the street.

Not all adjectives can be turned into adverbs with -ly. Here are three important examples:

good > well, fast > fast, hard > hard

• He is doing well in school.

• Gas prices are going up fast.

• She studies really hard.

• People can’t pay for it easily.

4.4 reading

In my country, prices are always increasing. Healthcare and housing costs are going up fast. Prices for food are also increasing, but more slowly. People live well, but the cost of living is difficult. The good news is that technology prices are decreasing. I want to buy a new tablet computer, but it’s too expensive right now.

4.5 writing

In my country, the price of everything is going up. Housing is very expensive, and the price of gasoline is increasing quickly. I donot know how people do it. The cost of living is very difficult. Transportation and food are not expensive, but they are going up. I need a good job.

updated on：Jan 5, 2022

ef-english