How to talk about prices in English - Basic Vocabulary

TL;DR

Learn to ask and understand prices in English easily and efficiently.

Transcript

Do you like shopping? I don't. But one thing I do like is saving money and getting a bargain or a deal when I have to go shopping and buy something. What I'm going to teach you is how to talk about prices or how much something costs or how much something was in English. It is difficult, I think, to say numbers or listen to when people tell you how ... Read More

Key Insights

• 😇 English speakers simplify prices by stating whole numbers and cents separately.
• 😥 Large numbers are divided at the decimal point in price conversations.
• 😷 Clarity can be achieved by asking for written numbers or looking at the displayed price.
• 😒 Use "It was" followed by the price when sharing purchase prices to maintain natural conversation flow.
• 😮 Recognize and handle additional costs like tax while shopping to avoid surprises.
• ❓ Employ appropriate grammar structures in price discussions to ensure clear communication.

Questions & Answers

Q: How do English speakers typically express prices?

English speakers indicate prices by stating the whole number and the cents separately, making it easier to understand and communicate, such as "ten seventy-five".

Q: What is the rule for pronouncing large numbers in English when discussing prices?

For large numbers over a hundred, say the first number, then the subsequent numbers as cents, like "one thousand eight hundred seven eighty-seven".

Q: How can one easily understand prices when spoken quickly?

Request to see the price written down or displayed in the cash register for clarification if struggling to catch the spoken amount promptly.

Q: What are the appropriate phrases to use when revealing the price of a purchase to someone else?

After buying an item, say "It was" followed by the price to inform others, avoiding unnatural expressions like "the price is" or "the cost was".

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Simplify discussing prices in English by stating numbers plainly.

• Break down big numbers by splitting them at the decimal point.

• Feel comfortable shopping by learning key phrases for inquiring and sharing prices.