What is a Bookshop?
A bookshop is a place where you can buy books.
- You can find different types of books, like novels, school books, or cookbooks.
- Sometimes, bookshops also sell magazines or newspapers.
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Take our FREE Placement TestWhat is a Chemist?
A chemist is a shop where you can buy medicine and health products.
- In British English, we often say chemist. In American English, people usually say pharmacy or drugstore.
- You can also buy beauty products, shampoo, and toothpaste here.
What is a Supermarket?
A supermarket is a large shop that sells many types of food and drinks.
- It is where most people buy their weekly groceries.
- You can find fruit, vegetables, meat, milk, bread, and many other household items.
What is a Department Store?
A department store is a very large shop with many different sections, or 'departments'.
- Each department sells a different type of product.
- You can buy clothes, shoes, makeup, electronics, furniture, and toys all in one building.
Other Useful Shopping Words
When you go shopping, you might hear or use these words:
- Shop assistant: A person who works in a shop and helps customers.
- Customer: A person who buys things from a shop.
- Trolley (British English) / Shopping cart (American English): A large metal basket on wheels for carrying many items in a supermarket.
- Basket: A smaller container you carry for a few items.
- Checkout: The place in a shop where you pay for your items.
| Shop | What you can buy |
|---|---|
| Bookshop | Books, magazines, newspapers |
| Chemist | Medicine, health products, beauty items |
| Supermarket | Food, drinks, household items |
| Department store | Clothes, electronics, furniture, toys |
Examples
- I bought a new novel at the bookshop yesterday.
- Can you get some paracetamol from the chemist, please?
- We need to go to the supermarket to buy food for dinner.
- My mother bought a new coat from the department store.
- The shop assistant helped me find the right size.
Practice
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Get started with LangcomCommon mistakes for Spanish speakers
Confusing Chemist and Pharmacy
Learners often wonder if chemist and pharmacy are the same. They are very similar! Chemist is more common in British English, while pharmacy is used in both British and American English, especially for places where you get prescription medicine. For A2, knowing chemist is good, but understand pharmacy too.
Using 'Shop' for Specific Places
In Spanish, you might say 'tienda de libros' (shop of books). In English, we use specific names. Do not say book shop (two words) or medicine shop. Always use the correct single word:
- bookshop (correct) NOT book shop (incorrect)
- chemist (correct) NOT medicine shop (incorrect)
- supermarket (correct) NOT food shop (incorrect, unless it's a small local shop)
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a shop and a store?
The words shop and store are very similar. In British English, shop is more common. In American English, store is more common. For example, a bookshop (UK) is a bookstore (US).
Can I buy clothes at a supermarket?
Some large supermarkets sell a small selection of clothes, especially basic items like socks or t-shirts. However, for a wider choice of clothes, you should go to a department store or a clothes shop.
How is this vocabulary useful for the A2 Key exam?
This shopping vocabulary is very useful for the A2 Key exam, especially in the Speaking Part 1, where you might talk about your daily life and hobbies, including shopping. You might also see these words in the Reading and Writing parts, for example, in short messages or descriptions of places.
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