Looking for a Book in a Store｜English Shopping Expressions

When traveling or studying abroad, you may want to stop by a bookstore and look for local books.

Whether it is a guidebook, a novel, a language textbook, or a picture book as a souvenir, finding the exact book you want in a large bookstore is not always easy.

At such times, if I can approach a store clerk and say in English, “I’m looking for a book called ～,” I will be guided smoothly to the right section.

In this lesson, I will introduce useful English expressions for looking for books in a bookstore, phrases to ask about specific genres, and tips for making polite inquiries.

Dialogue

A

Excuse me, I’m looking for a book called “The London Secret.”

B

Let me check… Yes, we have it. It’s in the fiction section, over there.

A

Great! Do you have it in paperback?

B

Yes, we have both hardcover and paperback.

A

I’ll take the paperback one. Thank you.

B

You’re welcome. Let me know if you need anything else.

Grammar and Expression Points

1. The Grammar of “I’m looking for ～”

The expression “I’m looking for ～” means “I am searching for ～.”

The verb look by itself means “to see,” but look for has the different meaning of “to search for” or “to seek.”

Because it uses the present continuous tense (be + verb-ing), the action of searching is understood as happening right now.

2. How to Use “called ～”

The word “called” is a past participle meaning “named” or “known as.” It is often used to describe or identify a noun.

This structure is frequently used when giving specific names in English.

Although “named” can be used in the same way, “called” is more common in everyday conversation.

3. How to Use “Do you have it in paperback?”

This polite question asks whether a specific item (in this case, a book) is available in a particular format or version.

Here, “in” does not mean “inside” but rather “in the form of” or “in the type of.”

4. Polite Service Expression: “Let me check.”

The phrase “Let me ～” means “Please allow me to ～.” It is a polite way of offering assistance.

Compared with “I’ll check ～,” this sounds softer and more courteous, which is why it is often used in customer service English.

5. Polite Follow-Up: “Let me know if ～.”

The phrase “Let me know if you need anything else.” is a polite way to close the conversation, meaning “Please tell me if you need anything else.”

This expression is frequently heard in hotels, restaurants, and shops. It is very practical for travelers to know.

Summary

Izumi

Author

「English Morning｜基礎から学ぶ英語講座」を運営している泉（Izumi）です。このサイトでは基礎から応用まで、英語の文法を解説しています。