Key points about describing shopping in French
Words for this, that, these and those. Demonstrative adjectives are used to point out a specific thing or person or to emphasise something. are words like ‘this’ and ‘that’ and are useful for talking about specific shops and products.
translate the English words ‘which’ and ‘what’ and change depending on the All French nouns are either masculine or feminine. In French, objects such as a table or car, as well as people, have a grammatical gender. and number of the noun.
Vocabulary - Clothes shopping
Useful phrases to describe where and how people like to shop for clothes include:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Je vais au centre commercial pour chercher de nouveaux vêtements. | I go to the shopping centre to look for new clothes. |
| Mes amis préfèrent faire du shopping en centre ville. | My friends prefer to go shopping in the town centre. |
| Il faut aller au marché pour trouver des choses pas chères. | You have to go to the market to find inexpensive things. |
| Hier, ma belle-mère a acheté un joli pantalon au supermarché. | Yesterday, my step-mum bought a nice pair of trousers at the supermarket. |
| C’est très facile de choisir les styles qu’on aime en ligne. | It’s very easy to choose the styles you like online. |
| Je vais vendre mes vieux vêtements sur une appli. | I am going to sell my old clothes on an app. |
| Il n’y a pas assez de bons magasins de mode dans ma ville. | There aren’t enough good fashion shops in my town. |
Grammar - Using demonstrative adjectives
The demonstrative adjectives in English are 'this', 'that', 'these' and 'those'.
To say ‘this’ or ‘that, use ce, cet or cette.
To say ‘these’ or ‘those’, use ces.
| Masculine (before nouns starting with a consonant) | Masculine (before nouns starting with a vowel or silent ‘h’) | Feminine | Plural (masculine and feminine) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ce | cet | cette | ces |
For example:
Ce magasin est assez cher. – This/That shop is quite expensive.
Cet achat est pour toi. – This/That purchase is for you.
Cette taille est parfaite. – This/That size is perfect.
Ces vêtements sont un bon prix. – These/Those clothes are a good price.
Demonstrative adjectives - Mini quiz
Choose the correct demonstrative adjective to complete the following sentences.
Press Start to begin the activity.
You can find out more by taking a look at the Demonstrative adjectives in French guide.
Reading practice
Read the following social media posts about shopping habits and answer the questions.
Henri
Je suis propriétaire d’un magasin de mode mais cette année, je vends de moins en moins de produits. Trop de gens achètent leurs vêtements en ligne. Si ce problème continue, je pense que bientôt, je vais devoir fermer mon magasin.
Why will Henri probably have to close his fashion shop soon?
| A | Because he is starting an online business. |
| B | Because he wants to retire. |
| C | Because he is not selling enough in his shop. |
The answer is C.
Je vends de moins en moins de produits. - I am selling fewer and fewer products.
Translation
I am the owner of a fashion shop but this year I am selling fewer and fewer products. Too many people buy their clothes online. If this problem continues I think that soon I am going to have to sell my shop.
Caroline
J’aime bien acheter mes vêtements en ligne parce que c’est beaucoup plus facile. Par contre, le problème, c’est que quand ce n’est pas la bonne taille, il faut payer à la poste pour les renvoyer. Ce système est embêtant.
What does Caroline dislike about buying clothes online?
| A | Returning clothes that don’t fit. |
| B | The price of the clothes. |
| C | The parcels not arriving on time. |
The answer is A.
…le problème, c’est que quand ce n’est pas la bonne taille, il faut payer à la poste pour les renvoyer. - …the problem is that when the size is wrong you have to pay at the post office to return them.
Translation
I like buying my clothes online because it is a lot easier. On the other hand, the problem is that when the size is wrong you have to pay at the post office to return them. This system is annoying.
Nathalie
J’ai ouvert un magasin de vêtements et j’en vends aussi sur Internet. Cette situation est normale - c’est impossible aujourd’hui d’avoir une entreprise sans avoir un site web. Cependant, la plupart de mes clients viennent au magasin.
What is Nathalie’s opinion of running a business these days?
| A | It’s best to only have an online business. |
| B | You need to have a website. |
| C | You don’t need a website as most people buy from shops. |
The answer is B.
…c’est impossible aujourd’hui d’avoir une entreprise sans avoir un site web. - …it’s impossible today to have a business without having a website.
Translation
I have opened a clothes shop and I also sell online. This situation is normal - it’s impossible today to have a business without having a website. However most of my customers come to the shop.
Vocabulary - Present shopping
Useful nouns for shopping for presents or cards include:
| French | English | French | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| une boîte de chocolats | a box of chocolates | un petit bateau en bois | a little boat made of wood |
| des fleurs | some flowers | un sac à main | a handbag |
| un tableau | a picture, painting | un sac à dos | a backpack / rucksack |
| un roman | a novel | un beau stylo | a beautiful pen |
| un livre | a book | un gâteau en forme de cœur | a cake in the shape of a heart |
| une carte d’anniversaire | a birthday card | du papier cadeau | some wrapping paper |
Acheter (to buy) is a useful A word used to describe an action or state of being. that can be used in different The tense of a verb shows when the action took place. Present, future and perfect are all tenses..
For example:
J’achète souvent des romans en ville. - I often buy books in town.
En vacances, j’ai acheté un sac rouge. - On holiday, I bought a red bag.
Ma mère va m'acheter un nouveau portable pour mon anniversaire. - My mum is going to buy me a new phone for my birthday.
Remember that acheter can also be used across a number of topics, including free time, holidays and celebrations.
All Foundation Tier vocabulary listed in this guide can be found on the vocabulary sheet below.
Grammar - Interrogative adjectives
Interrogative adjectives in French are the words for ‘which’ or 'what' and they change depending on the gender and number of the noun:
| Masculine singular | Masculine plural | Feminine singular | Feminine plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| quel | quels | quelle | quelles |
For example:
Quel genre de cadeau aimes-tu ? – Which type of present do you like?
Quelle est ta couleur préférée ? – What is your favourite colour ? (literally, ‘which’ is your favourite colour?)
Quel can often be translated as ‘what’, when there is a choice between a few different options.
'Quel' as the subject of the question
Quel can be used as the The person or thing in the sentence that is doing the action. of the question, usually with the verb être (to be).
For example:
Quels sont tes projets pour le week-end ? – What are your plans for the weekend?
Quels is used in this example because projets is a masculine plural noun.
'Quel' with a noun
Quel can also be used with a The name of a thing such as an object, a place or a person. Nouns are often described as naming words..
For example:
Quelle carte veux-tu choisir ? – Which card do you want to choose?
Quelle is used in this example because carte is a feminine singular noun.
Interrogative adjectives - Mini quiz
Choose the correct interrogative adjective in the following sentences.
Press Start to begin the activity.
You can find out more by taking a look at the Interrogative adjectives in French guide.
Listening practice
Listen to some French-speaking customers shopping for presents and for each one decide:
what they choose
who is it for
Write the answers in English, giving as much detail as possible.
Customer 1
Blue pen. For his husband.
Transcript
Customer - Je cherche un cadeau utile pour mon mari.
Salesperson - Tu aimes ces stylos ? Quelle couleur préfère-t-il ?
Customer - Je prendrai ce stylo bleu.
Translation
Customer - I’m looking for a useful present for my husband.
Salesperson - Do you like these pens? What colour does he prefer?
Customer - I’ll take this blue pen.
Customer 2
Picture/painting. For their aunt.
Transcript
Customer - Je voudrais quelque chose pour l’anniversaire de ma tante.
Salesperson - Quel genre de cadeau et à quel prix ?
Customer - Je crois que ce tableau est bien. Ce n’est pas trop cher.
Translation
Customer - I would like something for my aunt’s birthday.
Salesperson - What kind of present and at what price?
Customer - I think this picture is fine. It’s not too expensive.
Customer 3
Little boat. For their daughter.
Transcript
Customer - Il ne faut pas oublier ma fille.
Salesperson - Quel âge a-t-elle déjà ?
Customer - Elle a trois ans. Ce petit bateau est parfait pour son bain.
Translation
Customer - I mustn’t forget my daughter.
Salesperson - How old is she again?
Customer - She’s three. This little boat is perfect for her bath.
Customer 4
Big, green bag. For their friend’s birthday.
Transcript
Customer - J’ai une bonne idée ! Je vais acheter un sac.
Salesperson - De quelle taille ? C’est pour qui ?
Customer - J’aime ce grand sac vert. C’est pour l’anniversaire de mon ami.
Translation
Customer - I have a good idea! I’m going to buy a bag.
Salesperson - In what size? Who is it for?
Customer - I like this big, green bag. It’s for my friend’s birthday.
Vocabulary sheet
Click or tap on the image below for a list of useful vocabulary to use when talking about shopping.
Higher Tier - Vocabulary - Shopping
Useful Higher Tier vocabulary for talking about shopping includes:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| J’aime faire des achats originaux, comme ce chapeau. | I like making original purchases, like this hat. |
| une affiche | a poster |
| Si j’étais riche, je t’achèterais un nouveau portable. | If I were rich, I would buy you a new phone. |
All Higher Tier vocabulary listed in this guide can be found on the vocabulary sheet below.
Higher Tier – Vocabulary sheet
Click or tap on the image below for a list of useful Higher Tier vocabulary to use when describing shopping.
Now you have learned about describing shopping why not look at the Describing accommodation guide.
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