At the Food Court (J7B)
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EN: Use 'How much is...' to ask for the price of a single item or a singular noun phrase (like 'a bowl of noodles').
How much is a cup of tea?
EN: In many English-speaking countries, food courts or casual diners are popular places to get quick, affordable meals like a bowl of noodles. Asking 'How much is...' is the standard, polite way to inquire about prices before ordering.
EN: Use 'It is' followed by a price to state how much something costs. Use 'It is' followed by an adjective to describe its quality or taste.
It is ten dollars. It is very sweet.
EN: In English-speaking countries, prices are often stated simply with 'It is [amount]' or just the amount itself. 'Tasty' is a very common, casual way to praise food in daily conversations.
EN: Use 'How many' followed by a plural countable noun to ask about the quantity of something.
How many books do you have?
EN: In English-speaking cultures, it is very common and friendly to add the person's name (like 'Emma') at the end of a question or sentence to make the conversation feel more personal.
EN: To talk about quantities of liquids (like tea, water, or coffee), we use the pattern: [number] + [container/unit] + of + [liquid]. For example, 'two cups of' or 'one bottle of'.
I want three cups of green tea.
EN: Bubble tea originated in Taiwan in the 1980s and has become a massive global phenomenon. In English-speaking countries, it is commonly referred to as 'bubble tea', 'boba tea', or simply 'boba'.
EN: Use 'How much is...' to ask for the price of a single item (singular noun).
How much is the apple juice?
EN: Use the pattern '[Price] for [Quantity]' to state the cost of a specific amount of something.
It is ten dollars for three apples.
EN: In English-speaking countries, food prices are often quoted per piece, per slice, or per serving. Using 'for' is a very common and polite way to clarify the unit price to customers.
EN: Use 'How much' followed by an uncountable noun (like 'rice', 'water', or 'money') to ask about the quantity of something we cannot easily count.
How much water do we need?
EN: To count uncountable nouns like 'rice', we use a container or measure word pattern: [number] + [container/measure word] + of + [uncountable noun]. For example, 'two bowls of rice'. You can also add adjectives like 'big' before the container.
She wants three cups of tea.
EN: In Asian dining culture, rice is a staple food and is typically served in individual bowls. When sharing dishes family-style, it is common to order a specific number of bowls of rice for the table based on the number of people.
EN: Use 'How many' followed by a plural countable noun to ask about the quantity of something.
How many apples do you have?
EN: In English-speaking food culture, 'an order' refers to a standard serving size of a dish (like a plate of dumplings or a portion of fries), rather than just the act of requesting food.
EN: We use 'There are' to say that more than one person or thing exists in a place. It is followed by a plural noun.
There are five apples on the table.
EN: In English-speaking food culture, especially when ordering Asian food like dumplings, an 'order' refers to a standard serving size or portion. Unlike some Western dishes sold individually, dumplings are almost always sold in set portions (an 'order') containing a specific number.
EN: Use 'That is a + adjective + noun' to express your opinion or reaction to something that was just mentioned.
That is a great idea!
EN: In English-speaking countries, 'a good deal' is a very common informal expression used when you get high-quality goods or services for a low price. In restaurants, 'an order' refers to a single serving of a specific dish.
EN: Use 'Let's' (short for 'Let us') followed by a base verb to make a suggestion or invite someone to do something together.
Let's play tennis this afternoon.
EN: In Western dining culture, sharing food is less common than in Asian family-style dining, but ordering a few shared items like soup or appetizers for the table is a friendly way to enjoy a meal together, especially in casual settings like food courts.
EN: When talking about yourself and someone else as the subject, always place the other person first (e.g., 'My friends and I', 'You and I'). Use the base form of the verb (love) because the subject is plural.
My brother and I play soccer every weekend.
EN: A 'food court' is a common dining area in shopping malls or department stores with many different food stalls. In Western culture, food courts are popular for quick, casual, and affordable meals with friends, similar to night markets or food plazas in Asia.
EN: We use 'There are' followed by a plural noun to say that more than one person, animal, or thing exists in a place.
There are many books on the desk.
EN: In many Asian cultures, food courts and night markets are popular social hubs where people gather to enjoy a wide variety of affordable and delicious local dishes.
EN: Use 'How much is...' to ask for the price of a singular item or an uncountable noun.
How much is a cup of black coffee?
EN: Beef noodles are a highly popular and iconic comfort food in Taiwan, often found in local food courts and night markets at very affordable prices.
EN: We use 'and' to connect two similar ideas or extra information in a single sentence.
The food is cheap, and it is delicious.
EN: Use 'How many' followed by a plural countable noun to ask about the quantity of something.
How many apples do you have?
EN: In Taiwan, dumplings are a very common, affordable, and popular street food, often priced individually (e.g., 5 to 7 TWD per dumpling), making it easy to buy a specific number based on your budget.
EN: Use 'can' followed by the base form of a verb to talk about ability or possibility in the present.
I can make delicious dumplings.
EN: In Taiwan and many Asian cultures, dumplings are a popular, affordable comfort food often sold in food courts or small stalls, where you can easily get a filling meal for a very reasonable price.
EN: Use 'so' to connect a cause (reason) to an effect (result). The pattern is: [Cause], so [Effect].
It is raining, so I need an umbrella.
EN: Bubble tea (also known as boba tea) originated in Taiwan in the 1980s and has become a globally popular beverage. In Taiwan, it is a very common and affordable daily treat, often purchased at local food courts or street stalls.
EN: Use the conjunction 'so' to connect a cause (reason) to an effect (result). It shows that the second action happens because of the first action.
It is raining, so I take an umbrella.
EN: In many Asian cultures, sharing food family-style is a common way to bond and show friendship. This sentence reflects the warm, communal dining experience of sharing multiple dishes among friends.
EN: Using 'always' with the verb 'to be' (is/am/are) to describe a constant state or habit. 'Always' is placed after the 'be' verb.
He is always happy.
EN: Sharing food with friends is a universal way to build relationships. In many English-speaking cultures, casual dining at food courts or sharing small plates (like tapas or family-style meals) is a popular, low-pressure way to socialize.
EN: Use 'How much is...' to ask about the price of a single item (singular noun).
How much is this apple?
EN: Bubble tea (also known as boba milk tea) originated in Taiwan in the 1980s and has become a globally popular beverage. In English-speaking countries, it is commonly referred to as 'bubble tea' or 'boba'.
EN: Use the coordinating conjunction 'and' to connect two simple sentences that share the same subject ('it'). This helps make your speech flow more smoothly.
The apple is sweet, and it is cheap.
EN: In Taiwan, bubble tea is a very common and affordable drink, often priced around thirty to sixty NT dollars. Describing a drink as 'fresh' usually means the ingredients (like tea leaves or milk) are of good quality.
EN: Use 'How many' followed by a plural countable noun (like 'bowls') to ask about the quantity of something.
How many cups of tea do you want?
EN: Use 'for everyone' to show that something is intended to be shared by or distributed to all people in a group.
I bought some cupcakes for everyone.
EN: Use 'How much is...' to ask for the price of a single item or an uncountable noun (like a plate of food).
How much is a cup of black coffee?
EN: In English-speaking countries, food portions like 'a plate of' or 'a bowl of' are commonly used to make uncountable nouns like 'rice' or 'soup' countable when ordering food.
EN: Use the pattern 'It is [price] for [quantity/item]' to state the price of a specific portion or item.
It is ten dollars for three apples.
EN: In many Asian food courts or local diners, dishes like fried rice or noodles are often offered in different sizes (small/big). Using 'for a big plate' is a common way to specify which portion size the price refers to.
EN: Use 'look + adjective' to describe how something appears. When the subject is plural (like 'buns'), use the base verb 'look' without adding '-s'.
These apples look fresh.
EN: In English-speaking food markets or food courts, 'How much are they?' is a very common and polite way to ask for the price of multiple items, such as buns, dumplings, or fruits.
EN: Use the pattern 'price + for + quantity' to state how much a specific number of items costs.
They are ten dollars for three.
EN: In English-speaking countries, pricing items in groups (e.g., 'two for twenty dollars' or 'twenty dollars for two') is a very common way to offer bulk discounts or standard pricing for small items like buns, donuts, or fruit.
EN: Use 'How many' followed by a plural countable noun to ask about the quantity of something. 'Should' is a helper verb used to ask for suggestions or advice.
How many cups should we buy?
EN: In English-speaking restaurants, 'order' can be used as a noun to mean a portion of food (e.g., 'an order of fries'). 'Get' is a very common, casual alternative to 'buy' or 'order' when choosing what to eat.
EN: Use the pattern '[Subject] + be verb + enough for [someone]' to show that an amount or quantity is sufficient for a specific person or group.
One pizza is enough for us.
EN: In Western dining culture, sharing food is becoming more common in casual settings, but ordering individual portions is still the standard. Expressing that a certain number of orders is 'enough for us' is a polite way to tell the server or group that you do not need to order more.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
A transaction that is beneficial to the buyer; a bargain.
A cold, frothy drink made with iced tea, sweetened milk, and chewy tapioca pearls.
Rice fried with meat, vegetables, and eggs.