Whether you shop online every day or hardly ever, knowing the right vocabulary makes all the difference when browsing products, reading reviews, or talking about your shopping habits in English. This lesson covers the essential terms you need to feel confident shopping on the internet and expressing your preferences clearly.
What are the key roles in online shopping?
Every online purchase involves two sides. The person buying is called the customer, also referred to as the client or the buyer [01:10]. On the other side, the person or company selling the product is the seller [01:38]. When the seller is a company, we typically call them a business or a brand.
It's also important to distinguish between two types of platforms:
- Online store: a single seller's website or app where you purchase directly from one brand.
- Online marketplace: a platform with multiple sellers, giving you more options about products and who to buy from [02:05].
Both can be accessed through a website or by downloading an app to your phone [00:38].
How do browsing and product filters work?
The action of scrolling through products, swiping on your phone, and checking if there are any discounts is called browsing [02:30]. To make browsing easier, most platforms organize items into categories, which means grouping products that share similar features [02:50].
Some common categories include:
- Technology and electronics.
- Fashion and apparel.
- Beauty and personal care.
- Health care and fitness.
- Food and grocery.
- Pet supplies.
Beyond categories, you can use product filters to narrow down your search [03:25]. Filters remove anything unrelated and only show what matches your criteria. Common filters include:
- Brand: shop only from your favorite brand.
- Color, material, or size: find exactly what you need, like a leather jacket in your size [03:48].
- Theme: shop for a special occasion or holiday.
- Promotion: look for items on sale or browse the new collection.
- User rating and popularity: see what other buyers are purchasing frequently [04:08].
What should you check before buying a product online?
Filtering your options is a great start, but smart shoppers go further. Here are practical tips that every customer should follow [04:22]:
Why are product specifications important?
Always read the product specifications, which include the description, size, quantity, and material [04:30]. Skipping this step can lead to unpleasant surprises, like ordering furniture that doesn't fit through your door.
How do photos and price comparison help?
Never trust low quality photos. If the product doesn't look right online, it probably won't look right in person either [04:55]. Additionally, compare prices across different sellers to get the best deals. Filtering by price ensures you pay a fair amount for what you buy [05:10].
Why should you read verified customer reviews?
Online shoppers normally read verified customer reviews before making a purchase. Verified means someone confirmed that the reviewer actually bought and tested the item [05:30]. Most shoppers read between one and six reviews before deciding.
The lesson includes two sample reviews to practice comprehension:
- Munchy's mom shares that she hardly ever shops online and usually goes to the pet store in person [06:15].
- Fit for Life leaves a one-star review titled "Wrong product" and states they will never shop from that brand again [06:55].
How do you express shopping frequency in English?
A key part of talking about your online shopping habits is using frequency adverbs correctly. The lesson practices three levels:
- Always: you shop online all the time.
- Occasionally: you shop online sometimes.
- Hardly ever: you almost never shop online.
Other useful adverbs include often, rarely, and never. These words help you describe your preferences clearly when chatting with friends or writing a review.
Now it's your turn. Think about how often you shop online and what categories you browse the most. Try writing a short paragraph about your shopping habits and share it in the comments.
