The word "shop" is used when people buy things that they want or need. It’s a simple word; however, among people who speak English as a second language, it’s often misused.
In these sentences, "shop" is used as a verb:
Do you shop on the weekends or during the week?
Where do you shop?
I’m shopping for a new jacket.
Cara never shops at that store anymore.
Bob rarely shops for clothes. He already has a lot of things to wear.
In these sentences, "shop" is a noun:
Barbara owns a flower shop. She’s a florist.
Joe owns a barber shop. He’s a barber.
The shops and restaurants in this town are very popular among tourists.
An antique shop is a great place to find furniture that’s well made and retains its value.
Shopping on the day after Thanksgiving is very popular among many Americans. (This sentence uses a gerund.)
Where do you like to go shopping? (This question uses "shop" as a gerund.)
Where do you like to shop? (This question uses "shop" as an infinitive.)
To shop around is a popular way of saying that a person is checking out the market, looking around for a new place with which to do business, or looking for a new product:
We’re shopping around for a new insurance company.
If you want to find the best deal on a computer, you should shop around first.
