Start Here
Work through each section. You get immediate feedback, hints, sounds, and a final score.
Vocabulary Matching
Match each shopping word to the correct meaning.
Product Faults
Label each picture. Choose the expression that describes the fault with the product.
Useful fault expressions
It is cracked. It is scratched. It is torn. The zip is broken. The button is missing. It does not switch on. The screen is cracked. The handle is broken. The colour has faded. The sole is coming off.
Reading
Read the complaint message. Then answer 5 questions.
Dear Customer Service,
I bought a pair of black shoes from your shop on Saturday. I wore them once, but the heel broke. I also found a mark on the side of one shoe.
I am unhappy because the shoes were expensive. I have the receipt. Could I please have a refund or an exchange?
Thank you,
Samira Ahmed
Listening
Press play. Listen and choose the shop or item. If speech does not play on your device, use this as teacher-led listening.
Listen and choose
Question 1 of 5
Speaking
Role-play: customer and shop assistant
Customer: You bought something. There is a problem. Ask for help politely.
Shop assistant: Ask questions and offer a refund, exchange, or repair.
Problem: The jacket zip is broken. Request: Could I exchange it?
Useful speaking language
- Excuse me, I have a problem with this...
- It is faulty because...
- Could I have a refund, please?
- Can I exchange it?
- Do you have the receipt?
Writing
Write a short letter or email of complaint about a faulty product.
Writing frame
Your letter
Writing checklist: self correction
Read your letter again. Tick each box when you have checked it.
Final Score
Complete the activities to see your feedback.
Final feedback summary
Extension tasks for fast finishers
- Write a second complaint about a faulty phone, bag, or coat.
- Make a dialogue with 8 lines between a customer and shop assistant.
- Design a shop poster with 5 useful shopping phrases.
- Record yourself reading your complaint letter aloud.
Upload and QR sharing
- Upload this single index.html file to GitHub Pages, Netlify, Neocities, or another free static host.
- Open the hosted page and copy the web address.
- Paste the web address into a free QR code generator.
- Download the QR code and add it to Teams, a slide, or a printed handout.
- Learners can also download the page and use it offline in a browser.
Vocabulary
- a paper that shows what you bought
- money back
- change it for another item
- not working or damaged
- changing room
- lower prices for a short time
- size
- shop assistant
- help for customers
- one thing you buy
Grammar
- I bought a jacket yesterday.
- Could I have a refund, please?
- is
- are
- because
- Can I exchange it?
- have
- work
- There is a mark on the bag.
- There are two problems.
Spelling
- receipt
- customer
- assistant
- centre
- jacket
- medium
- electronics
- cracked
- exchange
- politely
Punctuation
- I bought a coat yesterday.
- Can I exchange it?
- Hello, I have a problem.
- The jacket's zip is broken.
- Yes, I have the receipt.
- Do you have a larger size?
- The assistant's name is Sara.
- The phone case is cracked.
- Excuse me, can you help me?
- I can't use the headphones.
Sentence correction
- I bought a coat yesterday.
- The shoes are too small.
- Could I have a refund?
- I am unhappy because it is faulty.
- There is a mark on the phone.
- The zip does not work.
- Can I exchange it?
- I have the receipt.
- I would like to change it.
- The bag is broken.
Reading
- black shoes
- Saturday
- the heel
- The shoes were expensive.
- a refund or an exchange
Vocabulary matching
- receipt: a paper that shows what you bought
- refund: money back
- exchange: change it for another item
- faulty: not working or damaged
- changing room: a place to try on clothes
- customer service: help for customers
- sale: a time when prices are lower
- shop assistant: a person who works in a shop
Product faults
- It is cracked.
- It is scratched.
- It is torn.
- The zip is broken.
- The button is missing.
- It does not switch on.
- The screen is cracked.
- The handle is broken.
- The colour has faded.
- The sole is coming off.
Spelling article
On Saturday afternoon, Arif went to the shopping centre with his sister. He wanted to buy a jacket for his new job. First, he checked the price and looked for the correct size.
In the clothes shop, a shop assistant showed him the changing room. Arif tried on a blue jacket, but the sleeve was too short. He asked, "Do you have a medium size, please?"
Next, Arif bought a phone case from an electronics shop. When he got home, he saw that the case was cracked. He put the receipt in his bag because he wanted to take it back.
The next day, Arif went to customer service. He explained the problem politely and asked for an exchange. The assistant said sorry and gave him a new phone case.
Writing model
Dear Customer Service,
I bought a pair of black shoes from your shop. The problem is the heel broke. I am unhappy because the shoes were expensive.
Could I please have a refund or an exchange?
Thank you,
Samira Ahmed