Beginner· A1–A2Shopping & money5 min

Paying at the checkout

Answer the cashier's questions, choose how to pay and ask for a receipt.

The scene

You are buying groceries at a supermarket. The cashier scans your items and asks you a few quick questions.

Speaker A
Cashier
Speaker B
You (customer)

Your goals

  • Answer common checkout questions
  • Say how you want to pay
  • Ask for a receipt or a bag

Key vocabulary

Press the speaker to hear each word or phrase.

  • checkout

    the place in a store where you pay

    The checkout line is long today.

  • cashier

    the person who takes your payment

    The cashier was very friendly.

  • bag

    a container for carrying things you buy

    Do you need a bag?

  • loyalty card

    a store card that gives you points or discounts

    Do you have a loyalty card?

  • cash

    paper money and coins

    Can I pay in cash?

  • change

    money you get back when you pay too much

    Here's your change.

  • receipt

    a paper or email showing what you bought

    Could I have a receipt?

Useful phrases

  • Yes, please. / No, thanks.

    Answering simple offers

  • I'll pay by card.

    Saying how you will pay

  • Can I pay in cash?

    Asking to pay with cash

  • Could I have a receipt, please?

    Asking for a receipt

  • I brought my own bag.

    Saying you don't need a bag

Practice studio: speak the dialogue

Pick your role and press Start. Your partner's lines are read aloud; then say your line into the microphone (or type it) and see which words you got right.

Your role

  1. Cashier

    Hi. Did you find everything you were looking for?

  2. You (customer)

    Yes, I did, thanks.

  3. Cashier

    Do you have a loyalty card with us?

  4. You (customer)

    No, I don't. Is it free?

  5. Cashier

    Yes, it's free. You can sign up online. Do you need a bag?

  6. You (customer)

    No, thanks. I brought my own bag.

  7. Cashier

    Great. That's twenty-three forty. How would you like to pay?

  8. You (customer)

    I'll pay by card. Can I tap it?

  9. Cashier

    Sure, just tap it here. OK, that went through.

  10. You (customer)

    Thank you. Could I have a receipt, please?

You speak 5 lines as You (customer); Cashier is read aloud for you.

Speech recognition is done by your browser (in Chrome and Edge this uses the browser maker's online service). Nothing is stored by AltFTool.

Your turn: speak freely

Answer out loud in your own words. There is no score here: aim for full sentences and fewer filler words.

  1. 1. Tell the cashier how you want to pay and ask for a receipt.

  2. 2. Answer: 'Do you need a bag?' and 'Do you have a loyalty card?'

  3. 3. Say a price out loud: $23.40, $8.99 and $105.50.

Quick quiz

Choose an answer to see if you are right and why.

  1. 1. What is 'change'?
  2. 2. How do you say you want to use a card?
  3. 3. How do people usually say $23.40?
  4. 4. What is a 'receipt'?

0 of 4 answered

Common mistakes

  • Avoid: Can I pay with cash money?

    Say: Can I pay in cash?

    'Cash' already means money, so 'cash money' is not needed.

  • Avoid: Can I have the recipe?

    Say: Can I have the receipt?

    A recipe is for cooking; a receipt shows what you paid.

  • Avoid: I pay for card.

    Say: I'll pay by card.

    Use 'by card' or 'with a card', and 'in cash'.

Tips

  • Listen for the total and say it back if you are not sure.
  • Learn how prices are said quickly, such as 'twenty-three forty'.
  • Keep your card or phone ready; checkout conversations move fast.

Questions about this lesson

How do you say prices in English?

For $23.40 people usually say 'twenty-three forty' or 'twenty-three dollars and forty cents'.

Is it 'pay by card' or 'pay with card'?

Say 'pay by card' or 'pay with a card'. For cash, say 'pay in cash' or 'pay with cash'.

Finish the lesson

Finish the practice studio and the quiz and this lesson is marked complete for you.

Next lesson: Returning an item to a store

All shopping & money lessonsAll beginner lessonsTalkNLearn home