Discussing a Major Purchase
A family talks about an upcoming large purchase, such as a car or an appliance, comparing brands, features, prices, and payment options.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
refrigerator
A refrigerator is a large kitchen appliance used to keep food and drinks cold. In this dialogue, it's the item the family is planning to buy.
contenders
Contenders means the main competitors or top choices in a comparison. Here, Samsung and LG are the top contenders for refrigerators.
pricing
Pricing refers to the cost or price of something. It's used when discussing how much items cost, like comparing prices of different models.
deals
Deals are special offers or discounts that make buying cheaper. People look for good deals when shopping to save money.
capacity
Capacity means the amount of space something can hold, like the size inside a refrigerator for storing food.
energy efficiency
Energy efficiency means using less electricity while still working well, which saves money on bills and is good for the environment.
financing
Financing is a way to pay for something over time, like monthly payments instead of all at once, often with interest or without.
APR
APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate, which is the interest rate you pay on loans or financing. 0% APR means no interest.
promotions
Promotions are special sales or discounts offered by stores to encourage buying, like extra deals on weekends.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Our old one is really on its last legs.
This is an idiomatic expression meaning something is almost broken or worn out and about to stop working. It's useful for talking about old appliances or items in everyday conversations. Use it when describing things that need replacing soon.
I've been doing some research.
This sentence uses the present perfect continuous tense to show ongoing action up to now. It's a common way to say you've been looking into information, like prices or products, before making a decision. Useful for shopping or planning discussions.
Did you find any good deals?
This is a simple past question asking if someone discovered discounts. It's practical for inquiring about savings when comparing purchases. The structure 'Did you find + any + adjective + noun?' is common in consumer talks.
What are the main differences between the $2,500 Samsung and the $2,200 LG?
This question compares two products by price and brand, focusing on key differences. It's useful for making informed buying decisions. Note the use of 'between' for two items and specific details like prices for clarity.
Energy efficiency is important.
This declarative sentence states a fact or opinion simply with 'is + adjective.' It's helpful when discussing practical benefits of products, like saving money on utilities. Use it to prioritize features in comparisons.
Are there any 0% APR financing deals?
This yes/no question asks about interest-free payment options. The structure 'Are there any + noun + deals?' is common in financial discussions. It's practical for big purchases to avoid extra costs.
It's a good balance of features, capacity, and price.
This sentence uses 'balance of' to mean a fair mix of qualities. It's useful for evaluating products, showing how to weigh pros and cons. The structure helps in giving balanced opinions during decisions.
Let's go to Best Buy this weekend and check it out in person.
This suggestion uses 'Let's + verb' for proposing actions together, followed by 'and' for additional ideas. 'Check it out in person' means to see and test something physically. Great for planning shopping trips.