Cultural notes

Shopping for groceries in the U.S. is very simple. Most people go to large supermarkets where they can find everything they need under one roof. Most supermarkets contain a meat section where you can buy prepackaged steaks, chicken, fish, pork, etc., or request a special cut from the butcher. Sometimes there are bakeries where you can find fresh-baked products like bread, rolls, pies, and cakes.

American supermarkets have extensive frozen food sections. Americans thrive on frozen foods, particularly those that they can cook or heat up quickly in their microwave ovens. Frozen foods make up in convenience for what they lack in freshness.

It is possible to find fresh foods, especially vegetables, at smaller groceries and farmers' markets. Most large cities have such a place. However, you may have to drive some before you reach a farmers' market.

In Chapter 2 you learned about the present progressive tense. The past progressive is used when talking about something that was in progress at a particular time in the past: They were buying groceries when we arrived. The buying of groceries probably began before and continued after the arrival of "we."

Action

PRODUCE CLERK: Good morning. Can I weigh those for you?

YOU: Yes. And how much are the tomatoes?

PRODUCE CLERK: Eighty cents a pound. How many would you like?

YOU: Three will be enough. I also want this head of lettuce. How much do I owe you?

PRODUCE CLERK: Oh, you don't pay here. You pay at the check-out counter when you leave.

YOU: Sorry about that.

NARRATOR: You browse through the supermarket, stopping at the meat counter.

BUTCHER: Can I help you?

YOU: I'd like a chicken, please.

BUTCHER: Would you like it whole or cut up?

YOU: A whole fryer please. I'll cut it up myself. Thanks.

NARRATOR: A bit later, you go to the bakery.

BAKER: Yes, ma'am?

YOU: I'd like a loaf of bread, please.

BAKER: Do you want rye, whole wheat, or white bread?

YOU: I'll take the rye bread.

NARRATOR: You pay for your groceries at the check-out counter.

Lesson 14 «Going to the Laundromat»

Vocabulary

add (inf., to add)

The opposite of "to add" is "to subtract."

been (past. part., to be)

big (adj.)

borrow (inf., to borrow)

Many people confuse the verbs "to borrow" and "to lend" (or "to loan"). "Borrow" means to take or receive, "lend," to loan or give. (E.g.: "I hope to borrow money from Mom."; "Will Mom lend it to me?")

buy (inf., to buy)

change (noun)

"Change" can refer to "coins" as in the expression "a pocket full of change." "Change" sometimes refers to "bills" as well (as in, "Do you have change for a twenty?"/ "Can you change a twenty?").

clothes (noun, pl.)

coin machine (noun)

A "coin machine" is sometimes called a "change machine," "coin changer," or "changer."

cup (noun)

detergent (noun)

"Detergent" is also called "laundry soap."

dirty (adj.)

discover, you (to discover)

dry (inf., to dry)

dryer (noun)

forgot, I (to forget, past)

four (adj.)

kind (adj.)

Laundromat (noun)

The word "Laundromat" is considered a proper noun and is capitalized. Another word (not capitalized) is "laundry."

laundry (noun)

manage, I (to manage)

Do not confuse "I manage" a store or business with "I manage to" do something (much like the auxiliary "can") in "I managed to call all 30 people up on the phone."

mention! (imp., to mention)

Synonyms of "to mention" include "to say" and "to tell."

need, you (to need)

neighbors (noun, pl.)

Oh, no! (interj.)

Similar interjections used to express regret, or to acknowledge one's mistakes include "shoot!," "dammit!" and "oops!"

piling up (pres. part., to pile up)

When things "pile up," they "accumulate."

put (inf., to put)

quarters (noun, pl.)

sale (noun)

Saturday (noun as adj.)

slot (noun)

sometime (adv.)

still (adv.)

stop by (to stop by)

Instead of telling someone to "stop by," you can also ask them to "visit" you, to "drop by," to "swing by," or to "stop over."

sure (adv.)

their (poss. pron., 3rd pers. pl.)

turn, you (to turn)

wash, you (to wash)

washing machine (noun)

week (noun)

why? (interr.)

work (inf., to work)

In English, a person can "work" or go to "work." A machine can also "work" in the sense of "working well" or "not working at all." When you need to figure out how to use a machine, you can ask "How does this work?"

Story

You've been in your new apartment for over a week. There is no washing machine, and your dirty clothes are piling up. You discover that your apartment complex has a Laundromat in the next building. It's a Saturday morning - as good a time as any to do your laundry.

Cultural notes

If you are not fortunate enough to have your own washer and dryer, you will have to do as many Americans do - either take your clothes to a Laundromat where you will wash them yourself or take them to a commercial laundry where they will be done for you at a relatively high cost.

Most apartment complexes, and even many hotels, have laundry facilities with coin-operated washers and dryers. If you have clothes that need to be dry cleaned, you will have to go to a dry cleaner. You will probably have to wait several days to have your clothes cleaned, although some cleaners provide one- or same- day service.

Action

NARRATOR: Some of your neighbors are also washing their clothes. You turn to one of them.

YOU: How does this washing machine work?

1ST NEIGHBOR: You have to put four quarters in the slot, then add the detergent.

YOU: I don't have any change. Where can I get some?

1ST NEIGHBOR: There's a coin machine over there. It takes dollar bills.

2ND NEIGHBOR: Do you have any detergent?

YOU: Oh, no! I forgot to buy some at the supermarket. Can I borrow a cup?

2ND NEIGHBOR: Sure. Take as much as you need.

NARRATOR: You wash your clothes.

1ST NEIGHBOR: I've finished using the dryer, and there's still some time left if you want to dry your clothes.

YOU: That's very kind. Thanks a lot.

1ST NEIGHBOR: Don't mention it. Here's my business card if you need anything for yourself or your apartment. I manage a department store in the mall. We're having a big sale this week. Why don't you stop by sometime?

YOU: Thank you. I'll try to.