Aprovechar las mejores ofertas del año requiere conocer el vocabulario correcto y saber construir oraciones que expresen tus preferencias de compra. Aquí aprenderás las promociones más comunes en inglés, cómo funciona el sustantivo money y cómo usar los conectores and, but y or para hablar con confianza sobre tus hábitos de consumo.
What are seasonal discounts and common promotions?
A seasonal discount is a special price reduction that happens at a specific time of the year [0:18]. Stores reduce the original price so you can get what's called a great deal. Throughout the year you'll find several types of promotions worth knowing:
- Everything on sale: every item in the store or online has a reduced price [0:48].
- Buy one, get one free: you pay full price for one product but receive another one at no cost, essentially paying 50% off [0:55].
- Black Friday: the Friday after Thanksgiving Day, known for amazing discounts, though shoppers can get a little competitive [1:08].
- Up to 75% off: a deep discount you'd typically find during Black Friday, removing 75% of the original price [1:27].
- Flash sale, today only: a time-limited offer you cannot find the next day [1:38].
- Free delivery: your shipping costs are covered when you buy online [1:48].
- Hot deal, 50% off: a very common online promotion where you get a product for half its price [2:00].
When you see a price tag like $9.99, remember to say nine ninety-nine rather than reading each digit separately [2:10].
When do stores offer the best deals?
Different moments during the year bring different opportunities. Recognized holidays like Easter fill stores with colorful eggs and bunnies, and the day after Easter those products go on discount [2:28]. Christmas is considered the best season for businesses because sales peak [2:42].
What are semi-annual and back-to-school events?
Semi-annual events happen around June and July [2:55]. Stores want to clear out spring and summer collections before winter arrives, so prices drop significantly. Back-to-school season, around July and August, offers special prices on supplies to help parents prepare for the new school year [3:08].
What about non-traditional holidays?
Days like Earth Day aren't typical gift-giving occasions, but stores may offer small items such as pins to remind people of the holiday's importance [3:22]. These non-traditional dates can still bring unexpected promotions.
How does the word money work as an uncountable noun?
The word money is an uncountable noun, which means you pair it with much instead of many [3:40]. You can count dollars — one dollar, two dollars, three dollars — but you cannot say one money, two money. The correct questions to ask about a price are:
- How much is it?
- How much does it cost?
This distinction is essential for sounding natural when shopping in English [3:56].
How do you use and, but, and or to talk about shopping?
Basic connectors help you build clear, confident sentences. Here are three practice examples from the lesson:
- "I'm not sure if I should buy a sweater now or wait for their winter clearance." The connector or presents two options [4:10].
- "I love those shoes and they're on sale, but they don't have them in my size." The connector but introduces a contrasting situation [4:28].
- "I'm getting both a new phone and a new laptop." The connector and joins two items you plan to buy [4:46].
Notice how or offers alternatives, but signals contrast, and and adds information or items together. Mastering these three connectors lets you describe your buying habits with precision.
Now it's your turn: write three sentences using and, but, or or about something you plan to buy soon. Share them in the comments and practice building your shopping vocabulary every day.
