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A2At the Supermarket

Queue Up: Waiting in Line at the Shop

Phrasal Verb: queue up |Grammar: Present Continuous

Objective

Students will learn to use the phrasal verb 'queue up' in the present continuous tense to describe waiting in line at the supermarket.

Article

At the supermarket, many people are queueing up to pay for their shopping. When you queue up, you stand behind other customers and wait your turn. Right now, the customers are queueing up at the checkout counters. Some people are queueing up with full trolleys, while others have only a few items. The cashier is scanning the items as the customers are queueing up patiently. Sometimes, people are queueing up quickly because there are many open tills. Other times, they are queueing up slowly because the store is very busy. It is important to queue up in an organised way to avoid confusion. While people are queueing up, they are often talking quietly or looking at their phones. Queueing up is a normal part of shopping at the supermarket.

Grammar Explanation

Meaning

To 'queue up' means to stand in a line and wait for your turn, especially when buying something or waiting for a service.

Grammar Note

The present continuous tense describes actions happening right now, using the structure: subject + 'am/is/are' + verb + 'ing'. For example, 'They are queueing up.'

Usage Tips

  • Use 'queueing up' to talk about waiting in a line right now.
  • Remember to use the correct form of 'to be' with the subject.
  • 'Queue up' is often used in places like shops, bus stops, or events.

Examples

People are queueing up at the checkout to pay.

Waiting in line at the supermarket counter.

I am queueing up behind you with my basket.

Standing behind someone in line.

The customers are queueing up quickly because there are many tills open.

Waiting fast in line due to many cashiers.

She is queueing up with her children in the supermarket.

A mother waiting in line with her kids.

We are queueing up patiently even though the line is long.

Waiting calmly in a long line.

Dialogue

Context: Two friends are at the supermarket checkout, waiting in line.

A:
Look, people are queueing up at that till. It looks busy.
B:
Yes, I am queueing up here because this line is shorter.
A:
Are you queueing up with many items today?
B:
No, just a few things. It should be quick.
A:
Good. I am queueing up behind you. Let’s hope the cashier is fast.
B:
I hope so too. Everyone is queueing up patiently.

Vocabulary

Queue
A line of people waiting for something
Example: There is a long queue at the supermarket entrance.
Synonym: line
Checkout
The place to pay for goods
Example: She is paying at the checkout.
Synonym: cashier
Trolley
A cart to carry shopping in a store
Example: He is pushing a trolley full of groceries.
Synonym: cart
Customer
A person who buys goods or services
Example: The customers are waiting patiently.
Synonym: buyer
Cashier
The person who takes payment in a shop
Example: The cashier is scanning the items.
Synonym: checkout assistant
Patience
The ability to wait calmly
Example: He shows patience while queueing up.
Synonym: calmness
Turn
One’s chance to do something in order
Example: It is my turn to pay now.
Synonym: chance
Busy
Full of activity or people
Example: The supermarket is busy this evening.
Synonym: crowded
Wait
To stay until something happens
Example: We are waiting in line to pay.
Synonym: stay
Line
A row of people or things
Example: There is a line at the checkout.
Synonym: queue

Tips

  • Always use the correct form of 'to be' with 'queueing up' for the present continuous.
  • Remember that 'queue up' is mainly used in British English; in other places, people say 'stand in line'.
  • Do not use 'queue up' in the simple present to describe actions happening now.

Summary

In this lesson, you learned the phrasal verb 'queue up' which means to wait in line. You practised using it in the present continuous tense to describe actions happening now, especially at the supermarket checkout. Remember to use 'am/is/are' + 'queueing up' for correct grammar.

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