Cultural notes

In most parts of the U.S., particularly the South and West, houses and apartment buildings are air conditioned. Most apartments and houses also have such appliances as dishwashers, garbage disposals, and sometimes trash compactors. It is not uncommon for there to be a swimming pool as well.

The situation in this lesson is a bit unusual, i.e., it would be unlikely for someone to rent an apartment without first taking a look. But since there was only one left, and our intrepid traveler was looking for a short-term rental, we can understand his haste!

Here are some words associated with rooms in houses and apartments:

bedroom

living room

bathroom

kitchen

dining room

den / family room

basement

attic

garage

By the way, in the U.S. a half bath is considered to be a bathroom containing no bath or shower, in other words a W.C. (toilet) with a lavatory.

Action

APT. MANAGER: Good morning. Are you ready to see the apartment?

YOU: Yes. Let's go inside.

APT. MANAGER: We'll start with the kitchen and dining room.

YOU: Oh good, a refrigerator and stove. Is there a dishwasher, too?

APT. MANAGER: It's right over here, next to the sink. There's also a garbage disposal and a trash compactor.

YOU: I'd like to take a look at the bedrooms and bath.

NARRATOR: You walk through the living room, which contains a sofa, several armchairs, tables, and a TV. There is wall-to-wall carpeting throughout.

APT. MANAGER: Here're the bedrooms. They're connected by the bathroom. There's also a half bath off the living room. Which bedroom will you use?

YOU: I like the one facing the pool. I'll use the other one for my study. Can I get a desk and chair for the study?

APT. MANAGER: I'll call the office and see if there are any in storage.

NARRATOR: You realize that although your apartment is furnished throughout, you have no food in your kitchen.

YOU: I don't have a car. Is there a grocery store nearby?

APT. MANAGER: You're in luck. There's a supermarket down the street. It's about a ten-minute walk. Let's go back to my office and talk about your lease.

Lesson 13 «Shopping for Groceries»

Vocabulary

aisle (noun)

baker (noun)

bakery (noun)

basics (noun)

The "basics" include things like "sugar," "salt," "pepper," "flower," "bread," "milk," "eggs," etc.

bit (adj.)

browse, you (to browse)

"To browse" is to "look around" in a casual, unhurried fashion.

butcher (noun)

carts (noun, pl.)

cents (noun, pl.)

check-out counter (noun)

The "check-out counter" is sometimes called the "check-out stand" or "cash register." Stores usually have displays set up around check-out counters to get you to purchase "candy," "newspapers," and "tabloid magazines." You'll learn all the latest national gossip just by standing in line at the check-out counter.

chicken (noun)

cut it up, I'll (to cut up, fut.)

cut up (adj.)

eighty (adj.)

enough (adj.)

fresh (adj.)

fruit (noun as adj.)

fryer (noun)

A "fryer" is a chicken that is ready to be "fried" (or cooked in other ways). It has been cleaned and prepared for you, so you don't have to worry about removing unpleasant parts.

grab, you (to grab)

Often the verb "to grab" is associated with a sudden action, as in "She grabbed him before he fell."

groceries (noun, pl.)

head of lettuce (noun)

likewise (adv.)

list (noun)

loaf (noun)

Most Americans eat sliced bread ("white" or "whole wheat") that is wrapped in plastic. Although it's not as good as fresh-baked, it is handy for making sandwiches.

ma'am (noun, colloq. contr., "madam")

meat (noun as adj.)

myself (refl. pron., intensive)

neighbourhood (noun)

once (conj.)

owe, I (to owe)

pound (noun)

produce (noun as adj.)

pushing (pres. part., to push)

rye (noun as adj.)

settled (adj.)

shoppers (noun, pl.)

sorry about that [I'm] (id. exp.)

Another way to handle making mistakes is to say "excuse me," or simply "sorry."

stopping (pres. part., to stop)

tomatoes (noun, pl.)

You will see two acceptable plural forms for "tomato" and "potato": "potatos" or "potatoes," "tomatos" or "tomatoes."

vegetable (noun as adj.)

walk, you (to walk)

weigh (inf., to weigh)

"To weigh" something is to determine how many "pounds" and "ounces" it has. Americans have been stubborn about clinging to non-metric measurements. For your information, there are 16 ounces in a pound. Liquids are measured in "cups," "pints," "quarts," and "gallons". The noun form of "to weigh" is "weight."

whole wheat (noun as adj.)

Story

Now settled in your new apartment, you walk to the large supermarket in your neighbourhood. Once inside, you see other shoppers pushing grocery carts, so you grab one and do likewise. You haven't had time to make a shopping list. However, you do know what basics you'll need to get started. You head for the fresh fruit and vegetable aisle. You see some apples and bananas that you like.