Forum newsfeeds |  | | Notices | You are welcome to answer questions posted in the Ask a Teacher forum as long as your suggestions, help, and advice reflect a good understanding of the English language. If you are not a teacher, you will need to state that clearly at the top of your post. Please note, all posts are moderated by our in-house language experts, so make sure your suggestions, help, and advice house the kind of information an international language teacher would offer. If not, and your posts do not contribute to the topic in a positive way, they will be subject to deletion. | 
03-Dec-2007, 22:45
| | Key Member | | Join Date: Oct 2007 Country: .
Posts: 1,587
Current Location: . First Language: Portuguese Member Type: Student or Learner Thanks: 747
Thanked 68 Times in 63 Posts
| | sentences you say when shopping hi,
i had a hard time last time i traveled to an English-spoken country, trying to communicate with people, and i wonder if some of the sentences i said sounded stupid for the natives:
1) i had to pay for the shuttle to take me to the airport and i asked to the attendant: "do i have to pay before?". should i have said "do i have to pay in advance?"?
2) i was looking for a very specific winter coat and i asked: "hi, do you have jackets for heavy winter?"
3) when the guy brought the winter coat i checked the inside and noticed it wasn't the way i wanted. then, i asked him "don't you have a jacket with the inside covered with a fabric like...?".
4) i wanted to get a film developed and i said "i would like to process the film". was it too stupid?
thanks a lot.
jc | 
04-Dec-2007, 01:14
|  | Moderator | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Country: UK
Posts: 16,785
Current Location: UK First Language: English Member Type: Other Thanks: 5
Thanked 3,907 Times in 3,669 Posts
| | Re: sentences you say when shopping Quote:
Originally Posted by jctgf hi,
I had a hard time last time i traveled to an English-speaking country, trying to communicate with people, and I wonder if some of the sentences I said sounded stupid for the natives:
1) I had to pay for the shuttle to take me to the airport and i asked to the attendant: "Do I have to pay before?". Should i have said "Do i have to pay in advance?"? yes
2) I was looking for a very specific winter coat and I asked: "Hi, do you have jackets for heavy winter?" "Do you have heavy winter coats?" "Do you have thick winter coats?" [You say "a very specific winter coat" - so perhaps "I am looking for a down-filled winter coat"/"I am looking for a double-weight winter coat"/"I am looking for a vicuna winter coat"]
3) When the guy brought the winter coat W checked the inside and noticed it wasn't the way I wanted. Then, T asked him "Don't you have a jacket with the inside covered with a fabric like...?". "Do you perhaps have one with a padded/fleecy lining?"
4) i wanted to get a film developed and I said "I would like to process the film". Was it too stupid? That says you will do the work. "I would like to have this film processed/developed".
thanks a lot.
jc | . | 
04-Dec-2007, 20:52
| | Key Member | | Join Date: Oct 2007 Country: .
Posts: 1,587
Current Location: . First Language: Portuguese Member Type: Student or Learner Thanks: 747
Thanked 68 Times in 63 Posts
| | Re: sentences you say when shopping Hi,
Thank you for your reply!
How bad was “Hi, do you have jackets for heavy winter?" ?
Thanks again,
JC | 
04-Dec-2007, 23:29
|  | Moderator | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Country: UK
Posts: 16,785
Current Location: UK First Language: English Member Type: Other Thanks: 5
Thanked 3,907 Times in 3,669 Posts
| | Re: sentences you say when shopping Not "bad" but funny - "heavy winter" is not something we would expect to say. | 
05-Dec-2007, 01:39
| | Member | | Join Date: Nov 2007 Country: Canada
Posts: 399
Current Location: Canada First Language: English Member Type: Other Thanks: 0
Thanked 20 Times in 20 Posts
| | Re: sentences you say when shopping 1. "pay in advance" is correct, or "pay now."
2. Do you have heavy winter jackets?
3. [You'd have to be more specific about what you're looking for.]
4. I'd like to have this film developed and printed.
[But why are you still using film?]
good luck!
edward Quote:
Originally Posted by jctgf hi,
i had a hard time last time i traveled to an English-spoken country, trying to communicate with people, and i wonder if some of the sentences i said sounded stupid for the natives:
1) i had to pay for the shuttle to take me to the airport and i asked to the attendant: "do i have to pay before?". should i have said "do i have to pay in advance?"?
2) i was looking for a very specific winter coat and i asked: "hi, do you have jackets for heavy winter?"
3) when the guy brought the winter coat i checked the inside and noticed it wasn't the way i wanted. then, i asked him "don't you have a jacket with the inside covered with a fabric like...?".
4) i wanted to get a film developed and i said "i would like to process the film". was it too stupid?
thanks a lot.
jc | | 
05-Dec-2007, 20:25
| | Key Member | | Join Date: Oct 2007 Country: .
Posts: 1,587
Current Location: . First Language: Portuguese Member Type: Student or Learner Thanks: 747
Thanked 68 Times in 63 Posts
| | Re: sentences you say when shopping Quote:
Originally Posted by baqarah131 1.[But why are you still using film?]
edward | hi,
can you believe i forgot to take my camera with me last time traveled to NYC?
i had to use one of that cameras that are bought at drugstores. the camera is sealed, comes already loaded with a film and u can get it developed at the same drugstore as well.
awful pictures, but, at least, some pictures.
how do u say these kind of camera?
regards,
jc | 
05-Dec-2007, 20:37
|  | Moderator | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Country: UK
Posts: 16,785
Current Location: UK First Language: English Member Type: Other Thanks: 5
Thanked 3,907 Times in 3,669 Posts
| | Re: sentences you say when shopping Disposable cameras [I've got two waiting for processing now - much less trouble than either film or digital cameras!] | 
06-Dec-2007, 05:26
|  | Moderator | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Country: USA
Posts: 2,941
Current Location: Detroit, Michigan First Language: English Member Type: English Teacher Thanks: 0
Thanked 452 Times in 393 Posts
| | Re: sentences you say when shopping Quote:
Originally Posted by jctgf hi,
2) i was looking for a very specific winter coat and i asked: "hi, do you have jackets for heavy winter?"
3) when the guy brought the winter coat i checked the inside and noticed it wasn't the way i wanted. then, i asked him "don't you have a jacket with the inside covered with a fabric like...?". | When he brought you the wrong type of coat, you should have clarified "I would like a coat with a lining" and then specify what type of lining - fleece? flannel?
I think most sales people are willing to work with you when they realize that English isn't your first language, so don't be shy about just explaining as best you can ("I would like a warm coat for cold winter weather.") | 
06-Dec-2007, 15:16
| | Key Member | | Join Date: Oct 2007 Country: .
Posts: 1,587
Current Location: . First Language: Portuguese Member Type: Student or Learner Thanks: 747
Thanked 68 Times in 63 Posts
| | Re: sentences you say when shopping Quote:
Originally Posted by Ouisch When he brought you the wrong type of coat, you should have clarified "I would like a coat with a lining" and then specify what type of lining - fleece? flannel?
I think most sales people are willing to work with you when they realize that English isn't your first language, so don't be shy about just explaining as best you can ("I would like a warm coat for cold winter weather.")  |
thanks a lot.
jc | | Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes | Linear Mode |
Posting Rules
| You may post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | All times are GMT. The time now is 07:39. |  |