Inquiring About Book Condition/Price
A customer finds a book of interest and asks the bookseller about its condition (e.g., any damage, missing pages) and the price.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
condition
The state or quality of something, like a book. In this context, it means how good or damaged the book is. Useful when checking items in stores.
worn
Damaged or faded from use, like old clothes or book covers. Here, it describes the book's cover that looks old but not broken. Common for describing second-hand items.
binding
The part of a book that holds the pages together, like the spine. 'Solid binding' means it's strong and not falling apart. Important for book shoppers to know.
highlights
Markings in a book where someone has underlined important parts with color, like yellow. In used books, no highlights mean it's clean. Useful for students buying books.
margins
The empty spaces at the edges of book pages. 'Notes in the margins' means handwriting there. Checking this helps see if the book was annotated by previous owners.
intact
Complete and undamaged, with nothing missing. 'Pages intact' means all pages are there. Good word for describing condition in shopping situations.
well-preserved
Kept in good condition over time, not much damage. For old books, it means it's surprisingly nice. Useful when praising the quality of vintage items.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Could you tell me a bit about its condition?
This is a polite way to ask for information about the quality of an item. Use it in stores when you're interested in something second-hand. The structure 'Could you tell me...' is formal and indirect, good for intermediate learners to sound courteous.
It's a bit worn on the cover, but the binding is still quite solid.
This sentence describes pros and cons of an item's condition using 'but' to contrast. 'A bit worn' softens the negative, and 'quite solid' emphasizes the positive. Useful for giving honest descriptions in sales or reviews.
Are there any highlights or notes in the margins?
A yes/no question to check for markings in a book. 'Any' is used for asking about existence in questions. Practical for buyers of used books or notebooks to ensure they're clean.
No highlighting or notes that I can see, which is great for a used book of this age.
This explains the condition positively with a relative clause 'which is great...'. 'That I can see' adds certainty. Use this pattern to reassure someone about quality, especially for older items.
What's the price for this one?
A simple, direct question to ask about cost. 'This one' refers to the specific item. Very common in shopping; intermediate learners should practice it for everyday purchases.
We have it priced at $25. We think it's a fair price for a copy this old and well-preserved.
This states the price and justifies it with 'for a copy this old...'. 'Fair price' means reasonable. Useful for sellers to explain value; the structure shows opinion with 'we think'.