Разговорный английский

C. Yes, please. Ah! That’s a great improvement. What is the price all in all?

S. ... shillings, sir.

b) Buying Gloves

SALESMAN. What can I do for you, young lady?

CUSTOMER. Will you, please, show me some gloves. I should like grey ones.

S. What kind of gloves would you like? Kid gloves or suede?

C. Kid gloves, please.

S. What size do you wear?

C. Really, I don’t know. I’d like to try them on.

S. Sorry, but it is not allowed to try gloves on. Permit me to take your measure, if you please.

C. With pleasure.

S. Your size is number 7. Here are gloves of that size. They are of the best quality.

C. They are nice, indeed. What’s the price?

S.... roubles.

C. That’s too dear. Have you no other, cheaper ones?

S. Oh, yes. Now do you like these?

C. They are not bad. How much are they?

S. ... roubles. We have still cheaper ones, but they are not so good.

C. I’ll take them. No, you need not wrap them up. I’ll put them on.

c) At the Textiles Counter

S. Are you being served, madam?

C. Not yet.

S. What can I do for you?

С. I should like some silk for a dress, please.

S. Natural silk? And what colour would you like?

C. Really I don’t know. May I ask you to help me make¹ my choice?

S. With the greatest pleasure. Now, would you like it with a pattern or plain?

C. Well, show me something with a pattern, if you please.

S. Here is some fine silk that I am sure you will like.

C. The pattern is too showy. Something quieter, please. Show me that roll on the third shelf, please, the light blue one.

S. This one?

C. No, the other next to it, please.

S. Here you are. You might look at this as well — this is of much better quality.

C. Oh, yes, it is indeed. How wide is it?

S. 48 inches, madam. It’s folded, you see.

C. Yes, I do. How much would I need for a dress?

S. Well, it depends upon the fashion you choose.

С. I don’t want anything stylish — a dress of severe lines is what I like.

¹ In colloquial speech (especially in American English) the verb to help often takes the infinitive without to.

S. I suppose six yards would do.

C. What’ll that come up to?

S. 3 pounds 6 shillings, madam. Shall I cut off the piece?

C. Do, please. Here you —.

S. No, you must pay to the cashier, please.

2.      THE GROCERY SHOP

Going out to Shop

MARY. Isn’t it good that we have bought this refrigerator, mamma? Now we can buy in the things we need for the whole week.

MOTHER. Yes, it is very convenient indeed. Now, Mary dear, I’d like you to do some shopping as I am very busy now. I’ll send Tom along with you.

MARY. Yes, Mother dear. What must I buy?

MOTHER. Make a list of the things. First you drop in to Barker’s, the butcher’s, and buy some beef.

MARY. How much beef, Mother?

MOTHER. Well, let it be 2 or 3 pounds, but see that it is fat. The last time I was there he managed to wrap up a joint which happened to be very lean. If he plays such a trick on me again, I’ll never buy at his shop any more. That done, you go over to the greengrocer’s.

MARY. To Adam’s, ma?

MOTHER. No, better go over to Grossman, he is also a fruiterer. Buy 6 pounds of potatoes, I think six will do, and a good-sized cabbage.

MARY. Any beans, Mother dear? I like them very much.

MOTHER. Yes, buy 2 pounds of them. Now, we will need nuts and apples.

MARY. What sort, Mother? Cooking apples or for eating?

MOTHER. Buy 2 pounds of each. Put down a pound of mixed nuts and a dozen oranges as well. From the greengrocer’s you turn in to the baker’s, it’ll be on your way to the grocer’s. Pay Mr. Butler for the bread that we have had — two brown loaves, two white loaves and six rolls, it seems.

MARY. Isn’t it eight, Mother dear? You have forgotten that —. MOTHER. Yes, so it is. So at Butler’s buy one loaf of bread and —.

MARY. White, mamma?

MOTHER. Yes, — a dozen fancy cakes, and one pound of fruit cake. That’ll be all there. Before going along to the grocer’s shop call (round) at the dairy and pay our bill for the milk, one pint daily, and the dozen eggs that were sent to our flat last week.

MARY. Shan’t we need some extra milk today, mamma?

MOTHER. Yes, I think we shall. Don’t forget to take the milk-can. A pint and a half will do, I suppose. At the grocer’s buy a pound of fresh butter, a pound of bacon, but not too fat. You watch Mr. Carter closely or you will be cheated — he’ll give you it all fat. You might as well buy the sweets at his shop — a pound of caramels and a pound of chocolate with nut filling.

MARY. What kind of caramels, mamma?

MOTHER. At a shilling a pound. Well, get the shopping basket ready. Now where is that boy? You can never find him when he is wanted. Tom!

MARY. No need to call him, mamma. He’s out in the street. Give me the money, please.

3.      MARKETING

VERA. Good morning, Nina!

NINA. Oh, that’s you, Vera! How nice that you have come.

VERA. 1 haven’t seen you of late so I thought I’d —.

NINA. I say, Vera, have you time to go with me to the market? Ma feels unwell and she wants me to do the shopping.

VERA. Why, yes! I am quite free.