Woman: Is there a shopping centre near here?
Man: If you want to do a lot of shopping, it’s a good idea to go to a shopping centre, which has most kinds of shops inside. To ask if there is one nearby, you simply put “Is there…?” at the start of the question.
Now listen to an example of this phrase:
Woman: Excuse me, is there a shopping centre near here?
Man: Yes there is. If you take the tram over there, and get off at the last stop, there is a very large shopping centre, where you can buy everything.
Woman: Thank you.

Woman: Where can I buy an adaptor?
Man: The phrase “Where can I buy ….?” Is useful to ask for different things.
An adaptor is a device that allows you to connect pieces of electrical equipment to a socket that has a different electricity supply. They are essential if you travel, to recharge your mobile phone etc.
For example:
Woman: We must get an adaptor, the battery on my mobile phone is nearly finished.
Man: Mine too, let’s ask at the information point where we can buy one.
Woman: Do you remember where it is? This shopping centre is gigantic.
Man: There are lots of them, look there’s one there.
Woman: Hello, how can I help you?
Man: Hello, where can I buy an adaptor please?
Woman: You need to go to an electrical shop, there’s one on the second floor called “Dixons.”
Man: Thank you very much.

Woman: Can you send the books directly to my address in Italy?
Man: Many book shops in England provide a postal service to other countries, for a small fee, to find out if the shop provides this service, you use this phrase.
Listen to this short conversation:
Woman: That’s £42 please.
Man: Can you send the books directly to my address in Italy?
Woman: Certainly, there’s a 10% additional fee, but, at least you don’t have to carry them. Could you write me your name and address on this form please.

Woman: Of course. Certainly.
Man: Both “of course” and “certainly” are polite forms of saying “yes.”
For example:
Woman: Can you show me what kind of adaptor I need for an Italian plug please?
Man: Of course.

Woman: Now you will listen to a conversation between two tourists in a shopping centre.
Woman: Is there an information point near here?
Man: Yes, if you walk straight on for about 50 metres, there’s one right in front of you.
Woman: Thank you.
Woman: Hello, how can I help you?
Man: Where can I buy an adaptor please?
Woman: Ok, well if you look at this map, you are here now, and you need to go up on to the 1st floor, and there’s an electrical shop on your left.
Man: Is there a book shop nearby also?
Woman: Yes, it’s also on the first floor, if you take this map with you, it will help you find your way around.
Man: Thank you.
Woman: Let’s go to the book shop first, I love them in England, they have so many books, and normally a coffee shop as well, so we can sit and look at the map.
Man: Okay, let’s go.
Woman: These books weigh a lot, I hope they have a postal service, or they’re going to add another 4 kilos to our luggage.
Man: How can I help you?
Woman: I’d like these books please, but can you send them directly to my address in Italy?
Man: Of course. Just fill in this form here please.