Use shopping transactional language to buy items in a market or shop
F6Lesson 6 of 12◇ Core language
Shopping in Town — Markets, Shops and Buying Things
التَّسَوُّق في المَدينة — الأَسواق والمَحلَّات والشِّراء
My Town & Transport · Travel and the local area
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Learning Objectives
Focus on these outcomes rather than trying to memorise everything at once.
Understand Arabic price expressions and negotiate using أَغلى/أَرخَص
Role play a shopping transaction in Paper 3 format
Lesson outline
- 8 minStarterSouk experience
- 12 minMain 1Shopping vocabulary and price structures
- 20 minMain 2Shopping role play — souk and Paper 3 format
- 8 minMain 3Shopping list writing task
- 10 minPlenaryBest bargaining line
Exam connection: Listening: direction-giving, transport announcements, city descriptions (Paper 1 all formats) | Reading: Arabic signs/notices (Paper 2 Q2), transport timetable (Paper 2 Q1), descriptive article (Paper 2 Q3/Q6) | Writing: 80–100 words town and transport email/article (Paper 4 Q3) | Speaking: directions role play + ticket buying + shopping + topic conversation on town and transport
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Vocabulary
Tap each card to reveal the meaning, category and example.
Three-step recall
- Say the Arabic aloud.
- Cover the meaning and recall it.
- Use six items in your own spoken or written sentences.
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Quizzes
Use the two short checks. Errors show you what to revise next.
Quiz 1 — Meaning check
0 / 61. What does المُساوَمة mean?
2. What does يَتَسَوَّق mean?
3. What does غالٍ/غالِيَة mean?
4. What does يَدفَع mean?
5. What does سِعر مُناسِب mean?
6. What does رَخيص/ة mean?
Quiz 2 — Match Arabic and English
العربية
English
Matched: 0 / 6
Stretch challenge
Choose three matched items and combine them into one accurate sentence or short exchange.
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Grammar
Read the rule, notice the pattern and then produce your own examples.
Core rule / strategy
يَشتَري (Form VIII: buys — root ش-ر-ي): أشتري، يشتري، تشتري. Price questions: كم ثمنُه (m.) / كم ثمنُها (f.) — the possessive suffix matches the gender of the item. بكم هذا/هذه? — simpler colloquial form. Comparative for prices: أغلى من (more expensive than), أرخص من (cheaper than) — these irregular comparatives from the أَفعَل system are introduced here in the practical context of shopping where the meaning is immediately clear.
Notice the pattern
- كم ثمنُها؟ هذا غالٍ جداً.
Accuracy checklist
- Check the subject and verb or noun/adjective agreement.
- Check gender, number and tense or time frame.
- Use the lesson structure in a complete, meaningful sentence.
- Read the sentence aloud and correct anything that sounds incomplete.
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Skills Practice
Practise listening, reading, speaking and writing with the same lesson language.
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Listening
Listen twice: first for the main idea, then for details.
كم ثمنُها؟ هذا غالٍ جداً.
- What is the main topic?
- Write three Arabic words you recognise.
- What one detail can you hear or infer?
Teacher/partner guidance and possible answer
Read the Arabic text naturally twice. A successful answer identifies the lesson topic, any three accurate key words and one relevant detail from the text.
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Reading
Underline known words before answering.
كم ثمنُها؟ هذا غالٍ جداً.
- What is the main topic of the text?
- Find two words or phrases connected with “Shopping in Town — Markets, Shops and Buying Things”.
- What specific detail can you identify?
- Which grammar structure from this lesson appears, or could be added?
Reading support
Start with names, numbers, repeated words, connectors and familiar verb patterns. You do not need to translate every word.
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Speaking
Build your answer, then ask a follow-up question.
- Explain the topic “Shopping in Town — Markets, Shops and Buying Things” in your own words.
- Use at least five items from the vocabulary section.
- Give an opinion or personal example and justify it.
- Ask and answer two follow-up questions with a partner.
Useful frame:في رَأيي... لِأَنَّ... أَيضاً... وَمِن جِهَةٍ أُخرى...
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Writing
Plan, write, check and improve.
Task: Write about Shopping in Town — Markets, Shops and Buying Things. Use at least eight vocabulary items, the lesson grammar and two connectors. Target: 40–60 words.
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Activities
Complete the activities in order, or choose the one that addresses your weakest area.
Starter8 min
Souk experience
Study a vibrant image of an Arabic souk (Marrakesh or Khan El-Khalili in Cairo). "What do you see? What would you want to buy? How do you think shopping is different in a traditional Arabic market compared to a UK supermarket?" Discuss for 90 seconds. Key point: المساومة (bargaining) is a cultural practice in many Arabic-speaking markets — the price is often negotiable. In a UK supermarket, it is not. This cultural difference immediately makes the shopping language feel authentic and purposeful.
Main 112 min
Shopping vocabulary and price structures
Present shopping vocabulary. Focus on price question structures: كم ثمنُه؟ (m. item) vs كم ثمنُها؟ (f. item) — the possessive suffix must match the item's gender. Drill: teacher or partner holds up a flashcard of an item, You ask the correct price question. Then comparatives: أغلى من، أرخص من — Write 4 comparison sentences: "البرتقال أرخص من الفراولة. الجبن أغلى من الخبز." These price comparatives also appear in F5 food vocabulary context — natural integration.
Main 220 min
Shopping role play — souk and Paper 3 format
5 prompts (Paper 3 format): 1) Greet the seller and ask the price of an item. 2) React to the price (too expensive/reasonable) and ask for a discount. 3) Suggest a lower price for negotiation. 4) Ask for the quantity (half kilo/two pieces). 5) Pay and thank the seller. Pairs practise with the price list (items with starting prices). Student A (customer) must use كم ثمنُه/ها correctly based on the item's gender. teacher or partner listens to 4 pairs — checking gender agreement in price question (this is the most common error at this stage).
Main 38 min
Shopping list writing task
Write an Arabic shopping list for a recipe: they need to buy 6 food items (from F5) in a souk. For each item: write the Arabic name, the quantity (using كيلو من/نصف كيلو/قطعة)، and estimate the price (in Arabic-Indic numerals). Calculate the total. Write one sentence: "سأشتري... وسأدفع... درهماً." (using Moroccan dirham or Egyptian pound as currency — cultural authenticity). Cross-unit integration: food vocabulary (F5) + shopping language (today) + numbers and currency (F1).
Plenary10 min
Best bargaining line
Each student writes the best Arabic sentence for negotiating a lower price — something a skilled bargainer would say. Examples: "هذا غالٍ جداً. لا أملك سوى عشرين درهماً." Share 8 with class. Class votes: most persuasive / most culturally appropriate / best Arabic. teacher or partner highlights: using comparatives (هذا أغلى من...) and polite requests (هل يمكن تخفيض السعر?) together is sophisticated transactional language that earns full marks in Paper 3 role plays.
Useful resources
- Arabic souk picture set
- Shopping dialogue model
- Price negotiation role play cards
- Market item price list (in Arabic-Indic numerals)
Stretch / heritage-reader challenge
Heritage readers: write a scene (80+ words) set in a traditional Arabic souk — a dialogue between a skilled bargainer and a merchant. Include: cultural elements of bargaining etiquette, specific products typical of that country's souk (e.g. Moroccan argan oil, Egyptian spices, Lebanese cedar wood), and authentic price negotiation language.
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Plenary
Finish with a quick check and one clear next step.
Key takeaways
- Use shopping transactional language to buy items in a market or shop
- Understand Arabic price expressions and negotiate using أَغلى/أَرخَص
- Role play a shopping transaction in Paper 3 format
- Grammar focus: يَشتَري (Form VIII: buys — root ش-ر-ي): أشتري، يشتري، تشتري. Price questions: كم ثمنُه (m.) / كم ثمنُها (f.) — the possessive suffix matches the gender of the item. بكم هذا/هذه? — simpler colloquial form. Comparative for prices: أغلى من (more expensive than), أرخص من (cheaper than) — these irregular comparatives from the أَفعَل system are introduced here in the practical context of shopping where the meaning is immediately clear.
Exit ticket
Price question gender accuracy (teacher or partner observation during role play). Shopping role play (Paper 3 mark scheme — teacher or partner scores). Shopping list writing (collected).
Optional follow-up
Write a dialogue (12 lines) in an Arabic market: you are buying gifts for your family. Buy at least 3 different items, negotiate on at least one price, and check the gender of each item before asking the price question. Include the total cost at the end.
Confidence check
How secure do you feel after this lesson?
Remember: quick revision works best when you revisit weak vocabulary and correct errors, not when you try to complete everything in one sitting.