Grocery shopping
Fare la spesa
- Write a grocery list for daily food and drinks.
- Ask a shop assistant about a product in the supermarket.
- Forms of courtesy: Scusa and Scusi
- The imperative: 'Andiamo'
This lesson focuses on everyday shopping language in Italian, teaching useful vocabulary like il succo, la carne, and il carrello della spesa, alongside polite forms such as "Scusa" and "Scusi" and the imperative verb "Andiamo" to navigate grocery shopping scenarios.
Vocabulary (15) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercise 1: Reorder sentences
Instruction: Make correct sentences and translate.
Exercise 2: Match a word
Instruction: Match the translations
Exercise 3: Cluster the words
Instruction: Match the words to the correct category to learn well the objects and people you find while shopping.
Alimenti da comprare
Luoghi e persone nel supermercato
Exercise 4: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
La cassa
The box
2
Il supermercato
The supermarket
3
La verdura
The vegetables
4
I biscotti
The biscuits
5
Il mercato
The market
Esercizio 5: Conversation exercise
Istruzione:
- Describe the items on the shopping list. (Describe the items on the shopping list.)
- Ask the shop assistant for the location of the products. (Ask the shop assistant for the location of the products.)
- Pay for your products at the checkout. (Pay for your products at the checkout.)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
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Dove si trova/si trovano...? Where is / are ...? |
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Potresti aiutarmi un momento, per favore? Could you help me for a moment, please? |
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Potrei avere una ricevuta? Could I have a receipt? |
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Questo prodotto è in offerta? Is this product on sale? |
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Posso pagare in contanti / con la carta? Can I pay in cash / by card? |
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Hai una borsa? Do you have a bag? |
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Il prezzo è corretto? Is this price correct? |
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Posso aiutarti? Can I help you? |
| ... |
Exercise 6: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 7: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. ___ il carrello per iniziare a fare la spesa.
(___ the cart to start shopping.)2. ___, dove posso trovare la frutta fresca?
(___, where can I find fresh fruit?)3. ___ il pane alla panetteria prima di pagare alla cassa.
(___ the bread at the bakery before paying at the cashier.)4. ___, hai preso il succo che ti piace?
(___, did you take the juice you like?)Exercise 8: Grocery Shopping at the Supermarket
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Prendere - Take
Presente
- io prendo
- tu prendi
- lui/lei prende
- noi prendiamo
- voi prendete
- loro prendono
Andare - Go
Presente
- io vado
- tu vai
- lui/lei va
- noi andiamo
- voi andate
- loro vanno
Exercise 9: Forme di cortesia: Scusa e Scusi
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: Forms of courtesy: Scusa and Scusi
Show translation Show answersscusi, Scusi, Scusa
Grammar Share Copied!
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Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Prendere to take Share Copied!
Presente
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| (io) prendo | I take |
| (tu) prendi | You take |
| (lui/lei) prende | he/she takes |
| (noi) prendiamo | we take |
| (voi) prendete | You take |
| (loro) prendono | they take |
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Lesson Overview: Grocery Shopping in Italian
This lesson introduces you to essential vocabulary and phrases for doing grocery shopping in Italian. You will learn polite forms of address, imperative forms to invite or suggest actions, and practical expressions to communicate effectively in places like supermarkets and markets.
Key Grammar Points
- Polite forms: "Scusa" (informal) and "Scusi" (formal) for politely getting someone's attention or apologizing.
- Imperative form: Example: "Andiamo" means "Let's go," used to suggest going somewhere together.
Important Vocabulary
Words are grouped into categories to help organize your learning:
- Items to buy: il succo (juice), i biscotti (cookies), la carne (meat), la frutta (fruit), la verdura (vegetables).
- Places and people in the supermarket: il carrello della spesa (shopping cart), il cassiere (cashier), la cassa (checkout), il supermercato (supermarket).
Useful Expressions and Example Sentences
- "Scusa, dove posso trovare la frutta fresca?" — "Excuse me, where can I find fresh fruit?"
- "Scusi, avete il succo d’arancia naturale?" — "Excuse me (formal), do you have natural orange juice?"
- "Andiamo al supermercato a prendere il pane e i biscotti?" — "Shall we go to the supermarket to get bread and cookies?"
- "Scusi, quanto costa questo pesce fresco?" — "Excuse me, how much does this fresh fish cost?"
Dialogues and Role-Playing
The lesson offers suggested dialogues to practice everyday conversations, like asking about product locations, making shopping lists, and paying at the checkout. For example:
- "Scusi, dov'è la farina?" — "È nel reparto della dispensa, vicino allo zucchero."
- "Andiamo a fare la spesa?" — "Sì, scrivo la lista: pane, latte e uova."
Verb Conjugations
Focus on the present tense of important verbs such as prendere (to take/get) and andare (to go). For example:
- io prendo, tu prendi, lui/lei prende, noi prendiamo, voi prendete, loro prendono
- io vado, tu vai, lui/lei va, noi andiamo, voi andate, loro vanno
Instruction Language vs. Italian Notes
Unlike English, Italian uses different polite forms depending on context: "Scusa" is informal, used with friends or peers, while "Scusi" is formal and respectful, suitable when addressing strangers or elders. The imperative "Andiamo" literally means "Let's go," which is often used to suggest going somewhere together. Such nuances are key for polite and natural communication.
Useful comparative phrases:
- Thank you / Thanks: "Grazie" in Italian is straightforward and the same regardless of formality.
- Please: While "Per favore" means "please," polite attention mostly relies on "Scusa/Scusi" for 'excuse me.'
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