Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we recommend. How this works.
🔒 Your group's name is saved only in this browser. Nothing is sent to us.
Classroom slides
Show these on a projector or TV. Use the arrow keys, or tap the right side of a slide to go forward and the left side to go back. Press ▶ to play the recording, F for full screen and P to play the slide's audio.
Everyday English · Lesson 2 · Starter · A1
Numbers, prices and paying
Understand prices, say numbers clearly and pay by card or cash.
Welcome, !
Warm-up · talk with a partner
What did you buy this week? Did you pay by card or with cash?
Key phrase 1 of 8
How much is it?
Ask the price.
Key phrase 2 of 8
It's four fifty.
$4.50 is usually said 'four fifty'.
Key phrase 3 of 8
Can I pay by card?
Ask to pay with a card.
Key phrase 4 of 8
Just tap your card.
Hold your card or phone on the machine.
Key phrase 5 of 8
Do you need a receipt?
The shop asks if you want the paper record.
Key phrase 6 of 8
Here's your change.
The money they give back when you pay cash.
Key phrase 7 of 8
Is there a surcharge?
An extra fee, often for cards on weekends or public holidays.
Key phrase 8 of 8
That's too expensive for me.
Polite way to say no to a price.
Conversation
Cashier and Ali
Listen to the whole conversation first. Then we go line by line.
Conversation · line 1 of 8
Cashier
Hi there. That's twelve ninety-five, thanks.
Conversation · line 2 of 8
Cashier: Hi there. That's twelve ninety-five, thanks.
Ali
Can I pay by card?
Conversation · line 3 of 8
Ali: Can I pay by card?
Cashier
Sure, just tap your card.
Conversation · line 4 of 8
Cashier: Sure, just tap your card.
Ali
Is there a surcharge?
Conversation · line 5 of 8
Ali: Is there a surcharge?
Cashier
No, not on weekdays.
Conversation · line 6 of 8
Cashier: No, not on weekdays.
Ali
Great.
Conversation · line 7 of 8
Ali: Great.
Cashier
Do you need a receipt?
Conversation · line 8 of 8
Cashier: Do you need a receipt?
Ali
No, thanks. Have a good day.
Your turn · role-play
Work with a partner
Student A is Cashier. Student B is Ali. Read the conversation together, then swap. Then try it again with your own details.
Your turn · say it 1 of 3
How much is it?
Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Your turn · say it 2 of 3
Can I pay by card, please?
Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Your turn · say it 3 of 3
No receipt, thanks.
Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.
Quiz · question 1 of 5
How do people usually say $7.80?
- A seven eighty
- B seventy-eight
- C seven point eight
✓ A: Prices are usually said in two parts: 'seven eighty'.
Quiz · question 2 of 5
What does 'tap your card' mean?
- A Put in your PIN
- B Hold your card on the machine
- C Give your card to the cashier
✓ B: Most payments in Australia are 'tap and go'.
Quiz · question 3 of 5
What is a surcharge?
- A A discount
- B An extra fee
- C A receipt
✓ B: Some places add a small surcharge for cards or on public holidays.
Quiz · question 4 of 5
Which number is 'fifteen'?
- A 50
- B 15
- C 5
✓ B: Fifteen = 15. Fifty = 50. Stress is different: fif-TEEN, FIF-ty.
Quiz · question 5 of 5
The cashier gives you money back. This is your…
- A receipt
- B change
- C card
✓ B: Change is the money you get back when you pay cash.
Good to know in Australia 🇦🇺
Australia doesn't use 1 and 2 cent coins, so cash totals are rounded to the nearest 5 cents. Card payments are charged the exact amount.
Well done, !
Practise at home
The same lesson, free, no sign-up:
englishcoaching.au/
Free lessons at englishcoaching.au
· englishcoaching.au
Teacher notes
Level: Starter · A1 · Time: about 60 minutes · You need: this page on a screen with sound, and one printed worksheet per learner.
Warm-up (5 minutes)
Show the warm-up slide and ask: "What did you buy this week? Did you pay by card or with cash?" Learners talk in pairs for two minutes, then a few share with the class.
Three steps
- Key phrases (15 minutes). Show each phrase, press ▶ and let learners listen once, then repeat together, then one by one. Check meaning with the note on the slide: "When would you say this?"
- The conversation (15 minutes). Play the whole conversation once with worksheets face down. Then go line by line while learners fill the gaps in part B of the worksheet. Check answers, then learners read it in pairs.
- Your turn and the quiz (20 minutes). Learners say the "Your turn" sentences with their own details, do the role-play below, then answer the quiz slides in pairs before you press "Show answer". Finish with part D of the worksheet (their own sentences).
Pair work
Student A is Cashier and student B is Ali. Pairs read the conversation, swap roles, then turn the worksheet over and do it again from memory, changing the details (names, times, places, prices). Stronger pairs add two lines of their own; newer learners can keep the worksheet in front of them.
Using the audio
- Every phrase and conversation line is recorded with natural AI voices: Cashier is read by Mel and Ali by Josh. Press ▶ on a slide or press P.
- Play each phrase twice: once to listen, once for the class to repeat. On the conversation slides, pause after each line so learners can repeat it.
- Test the sound before class. If the internet is slow, open the slides a few minutes early and play the first phrase once.
Good to know in Australia
Australia doesn't use 1 and 2 cent coins, so cash totals are rounded to the nearest 5 cents. Card payments are charged the exact amount.
After class
- Learners can do the full lesson at home, free and with no sign-up: Numbers, prices and paying. The last slide has a QR code to it.
- Running a course? Print certificates of participation when your group finishes a level.
Printable worksheet
One A4 worksheet per learner: the key phrases and the conversation with gaps, the quiz, and space for their own sentences. The answer key prints on a separate page.
Name: Date:
Everyday English · Lesson 2: Numbers, prices and paying
Understand prices, say numbers clearly and pay by card or cash.
A. Key phrases: fill the gaps
Word bank: card · change · expensive · fifty · much · receipt · surcharge
- How is it? (Ask the price)
- It's four . ($4.50 is usually said 'four fifty')
- Can I pay by ? (Ask to pay with a card)
- Just tap your . (Hold your card or phone on the machine)
- Do you need a ? (The shop asks if you want the paper record)
- Here's your . (The money they give back when you pay cash)
- Is there a ? (An extra fee, often for cards on weekends or public holidays)
- That's too for me. (Polite way to say no to a price)
B. Listen to the conversation and fill the gaps
- Cashier: Hi there. That's ninety-five, thanks.
- Ali: Can I by card?
- Cashier: Sure, tap your card.
- Ali: Is a surcharge?
- Cashier: No, not on .
- Ali: Great.
- Cashier: Do you a receipt?
- Ali: No, . Have a good day.
C. Quick quiz: circle the best answer
How do people usually say $7.80?
a) seven eightyb) seventy-eightc) seven point eight
What does 'tap your card' mean?
a) Put in your PINb) Hold your card on the machinec) Give your card to the cashier
What is a surcharge?
a) A discountb) An extra feec) A receipt
Which number is 'fifteen'?
a) 50b) 15c) 5
The cashier gives you money back. This is your…
a) receiptb) changec) card
D. My sentences
Finish these with your own details. Then write two more sentences you can use this week.
- How much is it?
- Can I pay by card, please?
- No receipt, thanks.
Free lesson with audio: englishcoaching.au/learn-english/everyday-english/numbers-prices-and-paying/ · Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.
Answer key · Lesson 2: Numbers, prices and paying
A. Key phrases
- How much is it?
- It's four fifty.
- Can I pay by card?
- Just tap your card.
- Do you need a receipt?
- Here's your change.
- Is there a surcharge?
- That's too expensive for me.
B. Conversation gaps
- twelve
- pay
- just
- there
- weekdays
- –
- need
- thanks
C. Quiz
- a) seven eighty
- b) Hold your card on the machine
- b) An extra fee
- b) 15
- b) change
englishcoaching.au/learn-english/everyday-english/numbers-prices-and-paying/
Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.
Frequently asked questions
How do I teach numbers, prices and paying to adult English learners?
Start with a warm-up question, present the 8 key phrases with the recorded audio, play the conversation line by line, let learners role-play it with their own details, and finish with the quiz. The teacher notes on this page give timings for a 60-minute class.
What level is this lesson?
Starter level, about CEFR A1. It is lesson 2 of 42 in our free Everyday English course, so you can follow the course week by week or pick the topics your learners need.
Do learners need an account?
No. Learners can do the same lesson at home for free, with no sign-up, at /learn-english/everyday-english/numbers-prices-and-paying/. Their progress is saved only on their own device.
Can I print the worksheet?
Yes. Press 'Print the worksheet' to print it or save it as a PDF on A4 paper. It has the key phrases and the conversation with gaps, the quiz, space for learners' own sentences and an answer key on a separate page.
Found this useful? Buy us a coffee on Ko-fi to help keep English Coaching free.