English for Beginners: At the Pharmacy
Dialogue
Alice: Oh, Bob, I really need to pop into this pharmacy for a second.
Bob: Alice! Are you okay? What’s wrong? Do you have a fever? Is it serious?! You look… fine, actually. But maybe it’s an invisible sickness!
Alice: (Laughing) No, Bob, I’m perfectly fine! I just ran out of my special ‘happy feet’ cream. My feet get so tired after work.
Bob: Happy feet cream? Is that like… medicine for sad feet? Do they sing? Or dance?
Alice: It just makes them feel good! It’s a special cooling cream. Excuse me, do you have any foot cream?
Pharmacist: (Walks over) Hello! Yes, we have many kinds. Are you looking for something specific, like a cooling cream or a moisturizer?
Alice: Yes, a cooling cream, please. Something for tired feet.
Pharmacist: I see. We have this one. It’s very popular. It has mint and eucalyptus. Would you like to try it?
Alice: Oh, perfect! That sounds lovely. How much is it?
Pharmacist: It’s 9 dollars and 50 cents.
Bob: Wow, 9 dollars for happy feet! Mine are usually happy for free. Maybe I should get some. Do they make your whole body happy?
Alice: (Rolling her eyes good-naturedly) Just the feet, Bob. Just the feet. Yes, I’ll take it, please.
Pharmacist: Great! Anything else today?
Alice: No, thank you! That’s all.
Bob: So, Alice, after this, are we going to see your feet do a little happy dance?
Current Situation
Alice and Bob are friends who are visiting a pharmacy. Alice needs to buy a specific item: a special cream for her tired feet. Bob is with her and is a bit humorous and dramatic, making jokes and asking silly questions about the foot cream. The pharmacist helps Alice find the right product and tells her the price. Alice buys the cream, and Bob continues to joke about her “happy feet.”
Key Phrases
- I need to… – Used to say something is necessary or important for you to do.
I need to buy some milk. - Are you okay? – A common way to ask if someone is feeling well.
You look a little pale. Are you okay? - I ran out of… – Means you used all of something and now have none left.
Oh no, I ran out of coffee! - Excuse me. – Used to get someone’s attention politely.
Excuse me, where is the exit? - Do you have…? – A question used to ask if a place or person possesses something.
Do you have any apples? - How much is it? – Used to ask about the price of an item.
I like this shirt. How much is it? - That sounds lovely/perfect. – Used to express that something sounds good or pleasing.
A cup of tea? That sounds lovely! - I’ll take it, please. – Used to tell someone you want to buy the item they showed you.
This book looks interesting. I’ll take it, please. - Anything else today? – A question a shop assistant asks if you want to buy more things.
Here is your change. Anything else today? - That’s all / No, thank you. – Used to say you don’t need anything more.
“Anything else?” “No, thank you, that’s all.”
Grammar Points
1. Using “I need…”
We use “I need” to express something that is necessary for you. It can be followed by:
- A noun: I need a foot cream. (What do you need?)
- The word “to” + a verb: I need to buy a foot cream. (What do you need to do?)
In the dialogue, Alice says: “I need to pop into this pharmacy.” and “I really need my special ‘happy feet’ cream.”
2. Asking “Do you have…?” and “How much is it?”
These are very important questions for shopping!
- Do you have…?: Use this to ask if a shop sells a particular item.
Example: Do you have any pain relievers? - How much is it?: Use this to ask for the price of one item.
Example: How much is this apple? - How much are they?: Use this to ask for the price of multiple items.
Example: How much are these shoes?
In the dialogue, Alice asks: “Do you have any foot cream?” and “How much is it?“
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the sentences using words from the box below. (Some words may be used more than once.)
need, how, have, ran, is, to, okay
- Alice: Bob, I ______ to go to the pharmacy.
- Bob: Are you ______?
- Alice: I ______ out of my special cream.
- Alice: Excuse me, do you ______ any foot cream?
- Pharmacist: ______ much ______ it?
- Alice: I ______ to buy some medicine.
- Bob: Do you ______ any happy shoes?
Answers for Exercise 1:
- need
- okay
- ran
- have
- How, is
- need
- have
Exercise 2: True or False
Read the sentences and decide if they are True (T) or False (F) based on the dialogue.
- Alice is very sick. (T/F)
- Alice wants to buy some ‘happy feet’ cream. (T/F)
- Bob thinks the cream will make his feet sing. (T/F)
- The pharmacist says the cream costs 9 dollars and 50 cents. (T/F)
- Alice buys many different things. (T/F)
Answers for Exercise 2:
- F (She’s perfectly fine, just needs cream.)
- T
- T (He asks, “Do they sing? Or dance?”)
- T
- F (She says, “No, thank you! That’s all.”)
Exercise 3: Match the Question to the Answer
Draw a line or write the letter for the correct answer.
- Excuse me, do you have pain relievers?
- How much is this soap?
- I ran out of toothpaste.
- Are you okay?
- Anything else today?
- ______ Yes, it’s 3 dollars.
- ______ No, I’m just tired.
- ______ Oh, you need to buy some!
- ______ Yes, we do. They are over there.
- ______ No, thank you, that’s all.
Answers for Exercise 3:
- b. Yes, it’s 3 dollars.
- d. No, I’m just tired.
- c. Oh, you need to buy some!
- a. Yes, we do. They are over there.
- e. No, thank you, that’s all.
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