Shadowing Practice: English Mistakes at the Supermarket - Learn English Speaking with Video

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132 sentences
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Hello, I'm looking for group of grapes.
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I'm sorry.
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I'm looking for a bouquet of grapes.
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Oh, you're looking for a bunch of grapes.
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Oh, yeah, a bunch of grapes.
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and a bunch of lettuce.
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A head of lettuce.
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a head of lettuce.
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Hi everyone, I'm Giovanna and in this video I will teach you some fixed expressions native speakers use at the supermarket.
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expressions to describe a part or unit of something.
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They're common in daily life and learning them will make you sound more fluent.
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These expressions also have a fancy name.
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Partitive expressions or collective nouns.
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Remember this rule.
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We use a bunch for a group of things that are attached, tied, or gathered together.
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This is a bunch of grapes because grapes naturally grow together on one stem.
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That's why we also say a bunch of bananas.
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a bunch of carrots, a bunch of flowers, and a bunch of parsley,
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because they grow together in a bunch or are bunched or tied together. when sold.
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Oh, but What about a head of lettuce?
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Because it looks like my head.
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Exactly.
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Because lettuce and things like cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli grow in a round, compact ball.
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That ball looks like a head.
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If they look like a head, we say a head of broccoli.
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a head of cabbage or a head of lettuce.
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Cool.
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I also need a bunch of apples.
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Apples don't grow together and are hard to tie together, so they're usually not sold as a bunch.
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Here in the US, apples usually come in a bag, so we say a bag of apples.
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If you want a very large quantity of apples or another food, like if you own a grocery store,
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or a restaurant, you can buy a bushel.
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For example, a bushel of apples.
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How are apples sold in your country?
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in a bag.
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in a crate.
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This in the picture is a crate.
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Or does it come in a tray?
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Let me know in the comments.
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These expressions are driving me crazy.
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I will leave everything and go home.
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I'm sorry about the expressions.
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Make sure you take notes so you don't forget them because they can be tricky.
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And you can say a bag of apples a bag of oranges and a bag of kiwis, because they're usually sold in bags.
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So I need a bag of apples.
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And one papaya.
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No, a head of papaya.
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No, it doesn't look like a head.
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You were right.
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We say one papaya.
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Papayas don't look like a head and they don't grow together.
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So they're counted normally.
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One papaya, one avocado, one pear and so on.
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Perfect!
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So I'll grab one papaya and one bread.
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You can't grab one bread.
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The noun "bread" is uncountable, so we always treat it as a singular word.
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What you can say is a loaf of bread.
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This is a loaf of bread and then you can count the loaves one loaf of bread,
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two loaves of bread, three loaves of bread and so on.
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You can also say a bread roll. or a bun.
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I'd like two buns, I'd like three buns, I'd like five rolls.
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I'd like six rolls and so on.
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Oh, I need a loaf of bread.
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Here you are!
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Avocado, one hair.
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Wait a second!
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How will I remember everything in this video?
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Too many rules!
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I think I will forget!
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Not if you use the right tool.
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What tool?
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Opera, the best browser for your needs browser yeah a browser is an application you use to access websites
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but this one does more look
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with opera ai you can summarize the video you're watching
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so you won't forget what you learned no need to worry
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about writing everything writing everything down no after you finish watching you
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it automatically understands the page you're on so you don't need to copy paste
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and send any links you can also ask questions
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and get instant answers questions like this uh
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if red is uncountable how do we count it wow
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and it even helps you with your schedule i keep my google calendar in gmail right
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thing with one click without opening new tabs
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so it basically helps me learn smarter not harder yes
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but my favorite feature is the video scale why it gives
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me total control over what i watch i just hover over the video
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click the video skip button and I'm taken straight to the end.
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But is it free?
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Absolutely!
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I added a link to the description of this video.
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Try opera today!
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Could you also help me find a head of garlic?
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I'm right, aren't I?
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Yes!
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Garlic is usually sold by the head or flow or minced impact.
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So three heads of garlic, please.
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Sure.
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Here you are.
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Oh, three heads of garlic.
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I think I'm ready to pay them now.
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You can just say: "I'm ready to pay".
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"I'm ready to pay".
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Do I need to...
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Wee -wee -wee -wee!
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Wee everything?
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No, that's not necessary.
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You just need to go to the self -checkout and it will weigh them for you.
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Let me show you.
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So you tap produce here and select the ones you'll be paying for.
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Now let's see if you remember.
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We say - A. of grapes.
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- Oh.
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of grapes Um...
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A group...
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No, no, no, no, not a group.
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A bunch of grapes.
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Correct. of lettuce.
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A. of lettuce.
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- Oh, I know that one.
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A head of lettuce.
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because it looked like my head What about papayas?
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Normal.
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Just say one papaya.
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You learned a lot of things today.
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Thank you so much so much!
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You saved my life!
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No, no, you saved my Food!
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You saved my food!
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Thank you so much!
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I saved your next meals!
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No worries, I'm always here to help.
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Why Practice Speaking with This Video?

Engaging with everyday scenarios, such as shopping at the supermarket, provides a practical context for learning English. By watching this video, you will not only learn English with YouTube but also pick up essential expressions used by native speakers. This immersive experience fosters confidence in speaking, enabling you to engage in English speaking practice effectively. The context of the supermarket helps solidify your understanding of unit expressions, enhancing your ability to converse naturally about groceries and food.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

The video introduces several important structures that are common in English. Below are a few key expressions you will learn:

  • A bunch of: Used for items that are gathered together, such as "a bunch of grapes" or "a bunch of bananas." This expression highlights the concept of countable units in a collective form.
  • A head of: This term refers to things that grow in a compact form, like "a head of lettuce" or "a head of cabbage." Understanding this term helps convey clarity and precision in your speech.
  • A bag of: Commonly used for items sold in bags, like "a bag of apples" or "a bag of oranges." This phrase is particularly useful in grocery shopping contexts.
  • A bushel of: Refers to larger quantities, typically used in commercial contexts, like "a bushel of apples." Knowing this expression is advantageous for discussing bulk purchases.

By practicing these expressions, you will develop a sound grasp of partitive expressions, which in turn will help you improve your English pronunciation and fluency.

Common Pronunciation Traps

While watching the video, pay attention to certain words that can be challenging to pronounce correctly. For instance:

  • Graves vs. grapes: A common mistake might be confusing "grapes" with "graves." Ensure you emphasize the ‘p’ and 's' to pronounce this fruit correctly.
  • Bushel: This word may not be used often in everyday conversation, leading to mispronunciation. Pay extra attention to the soft ‘sh’ sound in the middle.
  • Head of vs. bag of: A potential trap lies in the need to clearly articulate the ‘h’ in "head" to distinguish it from "bag." This is essential for being understood in conversational settings.

As you practice shadow speaking along with the video, aim to mimic the pronunciation and intonation of the speaker. This technique will significantly enhance your ability to shadow speech and engage in dialogues confidently.

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

StructureIn the video
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does itare attached · are bunched · is usually sold
Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or predictionwill teach · will make · will leave
Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around nowI'm looking · you're looking · are driving
Obligation: must / have to / need to saying that something is necessaryneed to copy · need to go

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →