Main Aisles and Sections
Here are the main aisles (or sections) in a grocery store as well as some example items you will find in them.
produce: fresh fruit and vegetables frozen food: juice, pizzas, fruit and vegetables bulk food: peanuts, candy, flour, snacks (You bag yourself. You choose the amount.) baking: pre-packaged goods such as flour, sugar, salt, and chocolate chips. breads: packaged breads, bagels, hamburger and hot dog buns meat and seafood: packaged beef, chicken, fish deli: freshly sliced meats and cheeses (You tell the butcher how much you want.) bakery: fresh breads, muffins, cakes to order dairy: milk, eggs, dairy, yogurt pasta and rice: spaghetti, penne, wild rice, whole wheat pasta ethnic foods: foods from countries in other parts of the world canned foods: beans, pasta sauce, canned fruit and vegetables condiments: ketchup, BBQ sauce, salad dressings, oil snacks: chips, packaged candy, cookies, crackers cereal: boxed breakfast cereals and bars, oats, granola. beverages: juice, pop, coffee, tea, household items: toilet paper, tissue paper, garbage bags, detergent, diapers health and beauty and or pharmacy: make up, deodorant, feminine products, medicine
Checkout
Read
the signs above you before you get into a line.
express checkout: For people buying a few items. The sign will show how many items you are allowed to have (1-12).
automatic checkout: You swipe and bag your own groceries and pay with a credit or debit card.
closed: Many stores use a lighting system to show which line ups are open for service. If the light is on the aisle is likely open.
Questions to ask in a Grocery Store
You don’t always need to ask someone who works in the store. The shopper next to you may be able to tell you where to find the sugar.
Can you tell me where the produce section is?
Can you do a price check for me?
Do you have prepackaged candy?
Do you have more flour in the back? (if a shelf is empty)
Is this on sale?
Do you sell stamps, lottery tickets, alcohol? (grocery stores in some countries are not licensed to sell alcohol)
Discounts
Do you have a discount card? Many clerks will ask this. Membership cards at grocery stores are usually free. They provide you with a discount on many items. Are you going to use this store a few times? Fill out a form and get a card! It will be worth your time. If you don’t have a card, don’t be fooled by the prices on food. Many foods are advertised at membership prices. Without a card you’ll pay a higher price. Brand-name items are typically more expensive than no-name or store-named items.
Common Courtesy If the person behind you only has one or two items, you can invite the shopper to go in front of you. Say, “You can go ahead of me. You’re just buying a few things.” If there is a divider (small stick) on the conveyor belt at the checkout, place it after your items. This will allow the person behind you to start placing his or her groceries down too.
Grocery Shopping Tips Did you write out a list? Creating an English grocery list is a fun and simple way to practise English. You can even create a master list using the sections above. Add subcategories for all the foods you normally buy. Leave extra spaces for special items that you need once in a while. If you’re shopping with children, bring a snack or toy!
Your questions: Ask a cashier or salesperson
Excuse me…how much is…?
What does …. cost?
How much is the tax?
Is “this” on sale?
What is the price after the discount?
What’s the total?
How much do I owe you?
Do you take/accept cash? (OR credit card, debit, cheques)
Is this new or used?
May I try this on?
Do you have “this” in…? (a different size: extra small, small, medium, large, extra large)
Can you tell me where the … are? (apples, coats)
Can I return this if I need to?
Your problems: Tell a clerk or salesperson
I’m afraid, you gave me the wrong change. (incorrect money back after you make a purchase)
It doesn’t fit.
It’s the wrong size.
I need to return this. OR I need to take this back.
I lost my receipt. (paper that shows proof of purchase)
Excuse me, I can’t find the … (ladies clothing, men’s wear, toy section)
Special Offers and Deals: Watch for these signs and ads
Buy one get one free
Buy one get 50% off your second item
Buy now pay later
Pay no money down (no down payment is required)
Kids eat free (usually with the purchase of an adult meal)
Senior’s discount (people 65 and older get a reduced price)
All out-of season stock on sale (ex. summer clothing is on sale at the end of summer)
Restrictions: Watch for these Warnings (sometimes in small print)
Deposit required (you must pay a small amount to hold the item)
No delivery
No exchanges or refunds (you can’t bring an item back if you decide you don’t like it)
Exchange only (you can’t get money back; you can change for a different in-store item)
No coupons on/during/after… (often on a certain day or at a certain time)
Discount or coupon not valid with other special offers
Expires … (date you can no longer use coupon or item)
Bonus Expressions to remember
It’s okay to put something back on the shelf if the price is too high. The clerk might put it away for you. Smile and say, “Sorry, that’s more than I thought it would be.”
It’s polite to have small talk with the cashier. If the price is great, smile and say, “That’s a good deal!”
Weight
"Weight" tells us how heavy something is (or how much it weighs). There are basically two systems in use in English-speaking countries.