Niveau CECR : [B1]
Read/Listen first
In many small shops you still can’t pay by card, but larger places take contactless easily. Some people prefer cash for tiny amounts; others find a quick tap faster and cleaner. Street performers even use small devices so you can donate with one touch. When you compare habits across countries, rules, fees, and culture make a difference. If a sign says card only, you don’t need coins; if it says cash only, you must plan ahead. Knowing both options makes travel simpler and avoids awkward moments at the till. People compare days, notice small changes, and decide what to wear or bring. Simple observations turn into friendly talk, and practice grows naturally. The situation is easy to imagine and helps fluent, confident speaking. These everyday lines are useful at work, while travelling, or with neighbours. You can repeat key chunks and play with alternatives to build range. This keeps the language simple, natural, and easy to reuse. This keeps the language simple, natural, and easy to reuse.
⚡ Learning goals
- Explain preferences using can/can’t and present simple habits.
- Compare payment options and give reasons for convenience.
- Use too/enough to comment on amounts and limits.
✨ Grammar Points — 4 Structures
1️⃣ Can / can’t for possibility
Rule: Use can/can’t to talk about what is possible or allowed.
Examples: You can pay by card here → You can’t use cash in this kiosk → You can tap to donate.
Practice prompt: Make a sentence with this pattern.
✅ You can’t pay cash at this stand.
Exercise: Choose: “You _____ pay by card.” (can/can’t)
✅ You can pay by card.
Common pitfall + fix: Match meaning to the sign in context.
1️⃣ Present simple for habits
Rule: Use present simple to describe regular payment habits.
Examples: I usually pay by card → We often use cash for small buys → They never carry coins.
Practice prompt: Make a sentence with this pattern.
✅ I often pay contactless.
Exercise: Pick the correct adverb position: “I often pay by card.”
✅ I often pay by card.
Common pitfall + fix: Adverbs of frequency go before main verb.
1️⃣ Comparatives for convenience
Rule: Use -er/more to compare options.
Examples: faster than cash → more convenient for travel → safer than carrying coins.
Practice prompt: Make a sentence with this pattern.
✅ Contactless is faster than cash.
Exercise: Complete: “Card is ______ than coins.”
✅ Card is faster than coins.
Common pitfall + fix: Use than after comparatives.
1️⃣ Too / enough
Rule: Use too/enough to judge quantity or suitability.
Examples: too many fees → not enough coins → small enough to tap quickly.
Practice prompt: Make a sentence with this pattern.
✅ I don’t have enough cash today.
Exercise: Fill: “The bill is ______ small for card.”
✅ too
Common pitfall + fix: *Too* before adjectives; *enough* after.
✍️ Vocabulary (6 entries)
contactless
Meaning: a quick card payment by tapping
Synonyms: tap-to-pay, NFC, touch pay
Chunk/Idiom: ““pay contactless””
Example: We paid contactless at the kiosk.
Morphology: adjective/noun; neutral
Self-practice: Say it aloud with your own variation.
till
Meaning: the place where you pay in a shop
Synonyms: checkout, register, counter
Chunk/Idiom: ““queue at the till””
Example: We waited at the till.
Morphology: noun; plural tills; neutral
Self-practice: Say it aloud with your own variation.
fee
Meaning: an amount of money you pay for a service
Synonyms: charge, cost, expense
Chunk/Idiom: ““card fees””
Example: Small card fees may apply.
Morphology: noun; plural fees; neutral
Self-practice: Say it aloud with your own variation.
coin
Meaning: a small piece of metal money
Synonyms: change, cash, metal money
Chunk/Idiom: ““carry coins””
Example: I rarely carry coins.
Morphology: noun; plural coins; neutral
Self-practice: Say it aloud with your own variation.
device
Meaning: a small machine used for a purpose
Synonyms: gadget, terminal, unit
Chunk/Idiom: ““payment device””
Example: The device accepts cards.
Morphology: noun; plural devices; neutral
Self-practice: Say it aloud with your own variation.
donate
Meaning: to give money to help someone
Synonyms: give, contribute, support
Chunk/Idiom: ““donate with one tap””
Example: You can donate with one tap.
Morphology: verb; -s/-ed/-ing forms; neutral
Self-practice: Say it aloud with your own variation.
☁️ Examples (+ audio)
- You can pay contactless at this kiosk.
- I often use cash for tiny amounts.
- Card is faster than coins in most places.
- Some stands can’t take cash at all.
✏️ Exercises
1) Grammar
-
Which is correct?
1) You can’t pay contactless. 2) You can pay contactless. 3) You can pay contactlessly.
✔︎ Answer: You can pay contactless. — Common collocation: pay contactless. -
Choose the best comparison:
1) Card is more fast. 2) Card is faster. 3) Card is fastly.
✔︎ Answer: Card is faster. — Use -er with short adjectives. -
Fill with the best answer: I don’t have ______ coins for the bus.
→ Solution: enough — Use enough for sufficient quantity. -
Fill with the best answer: This bill is ______ small for card here.
→ Solution: too — Use too to express excess/limit.
2) Vocabulary & Comprehension
-
A till is:
1) a bus stop 2) a shop checkout 3) a type of coin
✔︎ Answer: a shop checkout — Till = checkout/cash register. -
Device means:
1) a small machine 2) a paper receipt 3) a coin tray
✔︎ Answer: a small machine — General word for gadget/unit. -
Fill with the best answer: Small card ______ may apply.
→ Solution: fees — Fee collocates with card. -
Fill with the best answer: Street artists use a payment ______.
→ Solution: device — Device accepts card taps.
⚙️ Integrated content
Mini-dialogue — Natural situation
A: Can I pay by card here?
B: Yes, tap the device—cash isn’t accepted.
A: Great, that’s faster than counting coins.
Why this matters
Knowing payment options avoids delays and awkward moments when travelling or shopping.
Verb & Adjective Pack (ready-to-use chunks)
• pay contactless → “We paid contactless at the kiosk.”
• carry coins → “I rarely carry coins.”
• queue at the till → “There’s a long queue at the till.”
• card fees → “Small card fees may apply.”
️ Try and compare — guided production + model answers
Exercise 1 — Fill the blank: “This kiosk is card-only, so you ______ use coins.”
→ ✔︎ can’t
Exercise 2 — Self-correction: You said: “Card is more fast.”
→ Better: “Card is faster.”
Exercise 3 — Practice aloud: Give three short reasons why you prefer card or cash.
