Week 29, Lesson 58, Thursday
Try things on in a shop
A shop conversation has five moves: try it on, find the fitting room, too big or too small, another size, I'll take it.
1Recap 5 minutes
Three questions from Monday, before anything new.
2Goal 1 minute
I can try clothes on, ask for another size and buy what I choose.
3The lesson 20 minutes
In this lesson
- In the shop
- Too big, too small
- Buying
In the shop
In the fitting room. Read the dialogue first.
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Вам помо́чь? | Can I help you? |
| Мо́жно приме́рить? | Can I try it on? |
| Где приме́рочная? | Where is the fitting room? |
| Есть разме́р побо́льше / поме́ньше? | Is there a bigger / smaller size? |
Too big, too small
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ку́ртка мне мала́. | The jacket is too small for me. |
| Сви́тер мне вели́к. | The jumper is too big for me. |
| Брю́ки мне велики́. | The trousers are too big for me. |
| Э́то вам идёт! | It suits you! |
мал, мала́, мало́, малы́ and вели́к, велика́, велико́, велики́: they agree with the clothes; the person takes мне.
Buying
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Я возьму́ э́ту ку́ртку. | I'll take this jacket. |
| Мо́жно оплати́ть ка́ртой? | Can I pay by card? |
What you take or try on takes -у: э́ту ку́ртку, си́нюю руба́шку.

4Listen and say 5 minutes
Sound of the lesson: Short and stressed
мала́ and велика́ put the stress on the ending; вели́к keeps it in the middle.
- мала́ [ma-LA] Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)
- велика́ [vi-li-KA] Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)
5Phrases and words 5 minutes
Phrases to learn whole
Learn each one as a single unit, the way you would learn a word. They come back in your Daily 10.
- Мо́жно приме́рить?Can I try it on?
- Есть разме́р побо́льше?Is there a bigger size?
- Я возьму́ э́то.I'll take it.
Words to read aloud
Read each one aloud, then open it to check.
магази́н
продаве́ц
shop assistant
Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)Мо́жно приме́рить?
Can I try it on?
приме́рочная
fitting room
Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)разме́р
побо́льше, поме́ньше
a bit bigger, a bit smaller
мал, мала́
too small
вели́к, велика́
too big
Я возьму́ …
I'll take …
Мо́жно оплати́ть ка́ртой?
Can I pay by card?
Э́то вам идёт.
It suits you.
6Class exercises 15 minutes
Checked instantly. Get one wrong and you can try it again.
Role-play
Take one card each. Swap roles for a second round.
You
- Try something on, ask for another size, and buy it.
Екатери́на
- Play the shop assistant; say once that your size is sold out.
7Your turn 5 minutes
Ask to try something on, and say it's too small.
See a model answer
Мо́жно приме́рить э́ту руба́шку? Она́ мне мала́. Есть разме́р побо́льше?
Saved as you type. It goes to Екатери́на together with Homework 58.
8Mini questionnaire required, 80% to pass
9Feedback 5 minutes
10Check your goal 1 minute
I can try clothes on, ask for another size and buy what I choose.
Can you do this now? Be honest: the answer decides your next step.
11Homework
Homework 58 on Friday: in the shop.
I can try clothes on, ask for another size and buy what I choose.