Online Grocery Delivery

intro

Imagine this: You’re about to run low on food, and you’re too tired to go to the store. What do you do? Online grocery delivery! A personal shopper will go to the store, pick up food, and bring it to your home. This service is becoming more and more popular around the world. It’s a great way for busy people to save time.

A good personal shopper is someone you can trust. For example, this person should always pick out fresh produce. They should not deliver moldy fruit or dented cans. Using an online grocery delivery service can be easy and fun. You get the best foods and avoid the inconvenience of going to the store yourself. Just don’t forget to tip your personal shopper!



Romeo is feeling ill and wants to use online grocery delivery. Listen to this English lesson to find out why Dominique doesn’t think that’s a good idea.

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Dialogue

Dominique: So, how do you feel about online grocery delivery?

Romeo:  I’m glad that you brought that up, because I am sick. I am not about to go out there, in the rain, to the grocery store, to bring back some milk and eggs.

Dominique:  You trust somebody else to pick up your produce?

Romeo:  Yeah. As long as they know how to pick out the type of veggies and fruits that I want, I have no problem with them picking them out.

Dominique:  What if they’re dented? You get dented cans or moldy fruit…

Romeo:  Then you don’t tip them.

Dominique:  But then you still have the bad food.

Romeo:  Then you make them go take it back.

Dominique:  Then it’s an inconvenience. See, if you went to the store yourself, I mean, you’d be able to pick up everything correctly the first time.

Romeo:  Right. But think about it…. if you have your own personal shopper, you guys establish an understanding. There’s communication there.

Dominique:  Yeah, see, I have trust issues so, I just, I couldn’t. It wouldn’t work for me.

Romeo:  How about the delivery window?

Dominique:  No, because I’m still not picking out my items myself.

Romeo:  Well, I don’t know what you’re going to do when you run low on food. I’m loving having them just show up at my door.
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Discussion

Romeo and Dominique have different opinions about online grocery delivery. Romeo thinks it’s a great idea. He doesn’t want to go pick up food at the store. He’s sick right now, the weather is rainy, and he’s about to run low on food. It might cost a little extra money for the service, and he might also have to tip his personal shopper, but he’s ready to order his groceries online.

Dominique doesn’t want to use online grocery delivery. She doesn’t trust another person to pick out her food. She is afraid that her personal shopper will give her moldy produce and dented cans. Instead of something that makes life easier, Dominique thinks that online grocery delivery is an inconvenience. She also doesn’t want to go to the store and pick up food at a delivery window because she doesn’t trust this service either.

Do you buy food at a store? Or do you use an online grocery delivery service?

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Grammar Point

Phrasal Verbs

Dominique is surprised that Romeo likes online grocery delivery services. She says, “You trust somebody else to pick up your produce?” Dominique uses a phrasal verb.

Phrasal verbs include a verb + a preposition or adverb that changes the original meaning of the verb. For example, a lot of phrasal verbs use the preposition “out.” Examples include break out (get away from), hand out(give to people), and, of course, make out (kiss a lot).

Some phrasal verbs are non-separable, meaning the preposition must directly follow the verb. For instance, you can say “I dropped by the bar,” but not “I dropped the bar by” because drop by is non-separable.

On the other hand, drop off is separable. You can say, “I have to drop off my son at school,” or, “I have to drop my son off at school.” The phrasal verb that Dominique uses is also separable. She can say “You trust somebody else to pick up your produce?” or “You trust somebody else to pick your produce up?”

Which is correct, “Yesterday we picked out a name for our new business,” or, “Yesterday we pick outed a name for our new business”?

Vocab

about to expr.

Definition

on the verge of; ready to; going to

Example

I was about to jump in the shower when you called.

run low on expr.

Definition

only have a small amount of something; need more of something

Example

If we run low on food, I usually stop at the neighborhood store on the way home from work.

pick up v.

Definition

go get something from another place

Example

I have to pick up Jane’s birthday cake at the store. I’ll be back in 20 minutes.

trust v.

Definition

believe in; know a person will do the right thing

Example

My best friend would never tell my secrets. I really trust her.

pick out v.

Definition

select, choose

Example

I love to pick out clothes for other people.

produce n.

Definition

raw vegetables and fruits

Example

I don’t get produce at the supermarket because it’s better at the farmer’s market.

moldy adj.

Definition

rotting; covered with slime or fungus

Example

I left the cherries on the table and now they’re moldy. No one wants to eat them now!

dented adj.

Definition

covered with indents; having a not-flat surface because it was dropped or damaged

Example

You shouldn’t buy dented cans of food. They could be dented because someone dropped them, or because the food inside is bad.

inconvenience n.

Definition

small problem; hassle

Example

I prefer to pay all of my bills online. Writing a check is an inconvenience.

tip v.

Definition

give a small amount of money for someone for their services

Example

I tip very well because I once worked in a restaurant.

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