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Unit 06 · Pages 68–78

At the Market and at the ShopSuuqa iyo Dukaanka

Ask the price, use this/these/that/those, and bargain politely.

  • I can ask how much something costs.
  • I can bargain politely at the market.
Audio for this unit (12)

Sections in this unit

  1. 6.1"How much is this?" / "How much are these?"Key Language68
  2. 6.2"How much is/are…?"Further Examples68
  3. 6.3"How much is/are…?" — singular & pluralHow to Form68
  4. 6.4Write the correct question for each price tagExercise69
  5. 6.5Listen and write the priceListening69
  6. 6.6"Price check" — ask and answer with a partnerSpeaking70
  7. 6.7Demonstratives: this / these / that / thoseKey Language70
  8. 6.7Cabdiraxmaan & Fatima shopping togetherDialogue71
  9. 6.8Numbers: hundreds and thousandsPronunciation71
  10. 6.9Listen and circle the price you hearListening72
  11. 6.10"Which one?" — point and describeSpeaking72
  12. 6.11Bargaining politelyKey Language73
  13. 6.12Bargaining phrases in contextFurther Examples74
  14. 6.13Put the market conversation in the correct orderExercise74
  15. 6.14"Market Day" — role-play (output task)Speaking74

RevisionKu celi

6.1 "How much is this?" / "How much are these?"

CabdiraxmaanExcuse me. How much is this macawiis?

MuktarIt is 35,000 shillings." (about $20)

CabdiraxmaanAnd how much are these scarves?

MuktarThey are 15,000 shillings each." (about $8.50)

CabdiraxmaanHow much is that bag over there?

MuktarThat one? It is 25,000 shillings." (about $14)

CabdiraxmaanAnd how much are those shoes?

MuktarThose shoes are forty-five dollars.

  • NOTE: "How much is …?" is for one item. "How much are …?" is for two or more items. The verb changes — just like "there is / there are."
  • NOTE: " This " and " these " are for items near you. " That " and " those " are for items farther away. Notice "that bag over there " — the bag is not close.
  • NOTE: In the answer, use " It is " for one item and " They are " for more than one. Short forms: "It's…" and "They're…"

6.2 "How much is/are…?"

1. FatimaHow much IS this bag of rice?" → "It IS two dollars." (supermarket, Mogadishu)

2. AhmedHow much ARE these shoes?" → "They ARE forty-five dollars." (shoe shop)

3. HodanHow much IS that phone?" → "It IS one hundred and twenty dollars." (phone shop)

4. MariaHow much ARE those scarves?" → "Those scarves ARE twelve pounds each." (clothing stall)

5. NoahVendor: "Can I help you?" — Noah: "I'm just looking, thank you.

  • NOTE: "I'm just looking, thank you" is a useful phrase. Use it when you do not want to buy anything right now. It is polite and friendly.

6.3 "How much is/are…?" — singular & plural

  • Use "is" for one item. Use "are" for two or more items.
  • Use "this/these" for things near you. Use "that/those" for things farther away.
  • In the answer, use "it is" for singular and "they are" for plural. Contractions: "It's…" / "They're…"

6.5 Listen and write the price

  • Audio script (teacher): A — "How much is this scarf?" / "It is twenty thousand shillings." B — "How much are these mangoes?" / "They are three dollars." C — "How much is that pair of shoes?" / "It is forty-five dollars." D — "How much is this phone credit?" / "It is six dollars." E — "How much are these shirts?" / "They are twenty-two pounds." F — "How much is that bag?" / "It is fifty thousand shillings."

6.6 "Price check" — ask and answer with a partner

Student AHow much is the macawiis?

Student BIt's 35,000 shillings — about twenty dollars.

  • Use "How much is …?" for one item and "How much are …?" for more than one. Remember: this/these (near) or that/those (far).

6.7 Demonstratives: this / these / that / those

  • Use " this one here " and " that one over there " to make it very clear which item you mean.

6.7 Cabdiraxmaan & Fatima shopping together

CabdiraxmaanLook, Fatima. I like this bag here.

FatimaWhich one? This one here, near us?

CabdiraxmaanYes, this one. And look at those shoes over there.

Fatima Those shoes are nice! Can I have a look at that scarf?

Cabdiraxmaan That scarf? It's far away. Which one do you mean?

FatimaThat one over there — the blue one.

CabdiraxmaanOh! And look — these mangoes here are very fresh.

FatimaYes, these ones look good. And that fruit stall over there has spices too.

FatimaBut first — how much are these mangoes?

6.8 Numbers: hundreds and thousands

  • In British English we say "two hundred and fifty." In American English the "and" is sometimes left out: "two hundred fifty." Both are correct.

6.10 "Which one?" — point and describe

Student AHow much are these scarves?

Student BThese scarves are twelve dollars each.

  • Use "How much is/are…?" to ask the price of any item on the stall.

6.11 Bargaining politely

CabdiraxmaanGood morning! How much is this macawiis?

MuktarGood morning! It's 50,000 shillings." (about $29)

CabdiraxmaanFifty thousand? That's a bit too much. It's very nice, but…

MuktarIt is very good quality, my friend. The best fabric.

CabdiraxmaanI like it. Can you do it for 35,000 shillings?

MuktarThirty-five thousand is too low. I can do 44,000.

CabdiraxmaanHow about 38,000?

MuktarOK — 40,000 shillings. Final price. A very good price.

CabdiraxmaanOK! I'll take it. Thank you.

MuktarHere you go. Do you have change? I only have large notes.

CabdiraxmaanYes — here's forty thousand shillings. Exact.

MuktarPerfect. Thank you very much. Have a good day!

  • " That's a bit too much " is a soft, polite way to say the price is high. "A bit" makes it gentle — not rude. " Can you do it for…? " is a polite counter-offer. " I'll take it " is what you say when you decide to buy.

6.12 Bargaining phrases in context

Exchange 1Ali: "How much is this fabric?" — Vendor: "It's twenty dollars a metre." — Ali: " That's a bit too much. Thank you.

Exchange 2Sahra: "How much is this bag?" — Vendor: "It's thirty dollars." — Sahra: " Can you do it for twenty-two dollars?" — Vendor: "OK — twenty-five dollars, final price." — Sahra: "That's fine. I'll take it.

Exchange 3Carlos: "How much is this phone credit?" — Vendor: "It's six dollars." — Carlos: "OK, I'll take it. Here you go." — Vendor: "Thank you! Have a good day.

Exchange 4Vendor: "Can I help you?" — Yuki: " I'm just looking, thank you. " — Vendor: "Of course. Please take your time.

  • "I'm just looking, thank you" is a polite way to say you do not want to buy anything right now. You can use it in any shop — a market stall, a supermarket, or a mall.

6.14 "Market Day" — role-play (output task)

YasminExcuse me — how ①____ is this scarf?

AbdiIt ②____ twenty dollars.

YasminThat's a bit ③____ much. Can you do it ④____ fifteen?

AbdiOK — seventeen dollars, final price.

YasminI'll ⑤____ it. Here you ⑥____." (She gives a $20 note.)

AbdiDo you have ⑦____? I only have large notes.

YasminYes — here's three dollars. Oh — where can I ⑧____ the shoe stall?

AbdiIt's just over there — next to the fruit stall.

  • Customer cue card — budget $60 (~105,000 shillings). Buy: (1) a macawiis or fabric at Bakaaraha; (2) phone credit or a phone case; (3) fruit and vegetables. Steps: Ask the price → React if too high → Make an offer → Decide → Pay → Say goodbye.
  • Vendor cue card — Macawiis $29 (reduce up to 8,000 SOS); Fabric $20/m (reduce up to $4); Phone credit fixed; Phone case $12 (reduce up to $3); Mangoes/Tomatoes/Onions fixed. Phrases: "Can I help you?" / "It's [price]." / "That's my best price." / "OK — [price], final." / "Do you have change?" / "Have a good day."
  • You can change the price in each row. Choose any price from the price box.
  • Voice memo challenge: After your role-play, record a 30-second voice memo in English. Say: ① What did you buy? ② What was the first price? ③ What did you pay in the end? ④ Was it a good deal?