Vocabulary [MALL]: Mall Stroll: Engaging Verbs for Shopping Adventures

Teaching Material

A stroll through a busy mall can be an exciting way to spend your afternoon. As you enter, you might browse different shops, from trendy clothing boutiques to tech stores packed with the latest gadgets. Feel free to explore the aisles and look at new items on display. You may want to try on a few outfits to see if they suit your style before you purchase anything. Comparing prices between similar products can help you save money, too. If you change your mind later, some stores allow you to return or exchange items with a receipt. Don’t forget to hunt for deals during sales seasons—this is a great chance to splurge on something special. For a quick treat, many stalls let you sample new snacks or drinks. If you find a good bargain on essentials, consider stocking up on household items. Once you’re done, head to the counter to check out your purchases. A mall visit can be fun, social, and full of interesting discoveries, so take your time and enjoy the experience!

Alternatives

Let's take a look at the vocabularies for each of the sentences above:

1. As you enter, you might browse different shops...
• browse (verb) - to look casually through items
• look around - Use 'look around' in casual settings when you want to suggest exploring places or items in a relaxed manner without a specific goal in mind.
• peruse - Opt for 'peruse' in more formal contexts when you wish to imply a more detailed or thoughtful examination of items or documents.
2. Feel free to explore the aisles...
• explore (verb) - to investigate or look into carefully
• investigate - Use 'investigate' when you need to emphasize a more thorough or systematic approach to examining items, often in formal or academic contexts.
• delve into - Choose 'delve into' when you want to suggest going deeply into a topic or product details. It suits semi-formal writing or advanced conversation.
3. You may want to try on a few outfits to see if they suit your style...
• try on (phrasal verb) - to put on clothing or accessories to check fit or style
• slip into - Use 'slip into' to convey putting on clothes quickly or easily, often in casual or slightly playful contexts focusing on comfort and ease.
• test out - Opt for 'test out' when highlighting the idea of experimenting to see if something meets your needs, suitable for clothes, gadgets, or tools.
4. …before you purchase anything.
• purchase (verb) - to buy something
• buy - Use 'buy' for a straightforward, everyday term referring to exchanging money for goods or services. It's widely used in casual conversation.
• acquire - Choose 'acquire' in more formal contexts, especially when emphasizing the act of obtaining or gaining possession of an item or asset.
5. Comparing prices between similar products can help you save money...
• compare (verb) - to examine the similarities or differences between items
• contrast - Use 'contrast' when specifically focusing on pointing out differences rather than similarities, suitable in both casual and formal contexts.
• weigh - Choose 'weigh' to describe carefully considering options or measuring the pros and cons, commonly used in discussions of choices or decisions.
6. If you change your mind later, some stores allow you to return or exchange items...
• return (verb) - to take an item back to the store
• take back - Use 'take back' in everyday settings, especially when referencing physically bringing an item back to a place for a refund or replacement.
• bring back - Choose 'bring back' similarly to emphasize physically transporting an item back, while also suggesting a sense of correction or resolving an issue.
7. If you change your mind later, some stores allow you to return or exchange items...
• exchange (verb) - to swap one item for another
• swap - Use 'swap' in informal contexts to suggest a straightforward trade of one thing for another, whether in a store or in personal transactions.
• trade - Choose 'trade' to emphasize a mutually beneficial exchange, either of goods or services, suitable for everyday or semi-formal language.
8. Don’t forget to hunt for deals during sales seasons…
• hunt (verb) - to search intently for something
• search - Use 'search' for a neutral term indicating looking for something thoroughly, applicable in casual or formal contexts without strong emotion.
• seek out - Choose 'seek out' for a slightly more formal or determined tone when you are actively trying to find something specific, such as a bargain or rare item.
9. …this is a great chance to splurge on something special.
• splurge (verb) - to spend more money than usual on something special
• indulge - Use 'indulge' when you want to imply giving in to a desire or treating yourself to something enjoyable, common in both casual and formal contexts.
• go all out - Choose 'go all out' for a fun, informal way to describe making a big effort or spending more than usual for enjoyment or special occasions.
10. For a quick treat, many stalls let you sample new snacks...
• sample (verb) - to try or taste something in small amounts
• try - Use 'try' in casual contexts to indicate testing or experiencing something, from food to a new activity, without any strong commitment.
• give it a whirl - Opt for 'give it a whirl' in very informal settings to convey a sense of fun or adventure in trying something out for the first time.
11. If you find a good bargain on essentials, consider stocking up...
• stock up (phrasal verb) - to buy a large quantity of items for future use
• load up - Use 'load up' informally to describe gathering a lot of supplies or products, often all at once. It suggests stocking more than the usual amount.
• amass - Choose 'amass' in formal or literary contexts to emphasize collecting a large number or quantity of something over time.
12. Once you’re done, head to the counter to check out your purchases.
• check out (phrasal verb) - to pay for items at the register and finish shopping
• pay - Use 'pay' for a simple and direct term in everyday speech, focusing on the act of giving money for goods or services.
• settle the bill - Choose 'settle the bill' in both casual and formal contexts to emphasize completing the payment. It’s especially common in restaurant or service scenarios.