Kinds of Shops

In England, most shops have easy names like 'toy shop' and 'book shop'. But there are a few shops with special names. Here are ten of them that you need to know.

Ten Expressions to Use In Speaking And Writing

1. Greengrocer's
2. Butcher's
3. Baker's
4. Chemist's
5. Stationer's / Stationery shop
6. Ironmonger's / Hardware shop
7. Florist's
8. Newsagent's
9. Off Licence
10. Corner shop

How To Use These Phrases In Your English

1. In 1, a greengrocer's sells fruit and vegetables. Sometimes they sell a few other things like eggs and milk.
2. In 2, a butcher's sells meat. Nowadays, most people buy their meat in supermerkets but you can still find a traditional butchers shop in most large towns.
3. In 3, a baker's sells bread and cakes and usually they make them in the same building.
4. In 4, a chemist's is where you go to buy drugs. We use the word 'pharmacy' sometimes in the UK, but we never say 'drug store'.
5. In 5, a stationer's is a shop that sells, paper, pencils, pens, printer cartridges and things for an office.
6. In 6, and ironmonger's is a shop that sells, nails, screws, tools and other heavy metal things. They also sell paint, glue and other useful things for the home.
7. In 7, a florist's is a shop that sells flowers. Most good florists also sell plants in pots and can send flowers to someone in another city.
8. In 8, we go to a newsagent's to buy newspapers and magazines. They also usually sell cigarettes and sweets.
9. In 9, an off licence is the name we give to a shop that sells alcohol. You can buy beer, wine, whisky, vodka and other strong drinks there.
10. In a 10, a corner shop is a small shop near your home that opens very long hours and sells food and important things. They are often expensive but they are very useful because they are near your home.