Blithe
I think Abe mentioned that "Shop" is only used as a verb and not a noun. We always go to the shops. In the UK, a "store" is a place you keep things.
(I do believe that Walmart has wheedled its way into the UK though, the audacity of it:rant:)
For interest, what British programmes has she been watching?
I'm so sorry you too are experiencing Walmart.;)
Charlie & Lola is the favorite cartoon at the moment . There are other Brit childrens shows but I don't know them off hand.The grand kids don't watch TV when here, they are much too busy having dolly stroller races down my large hallway & rearranging everything thing not nailed down they can get their chubby little hands on.
Our family (at least the females) uses shop either way.As my husband says, when you live in an estrogen rich environment there is just going to be a lot of British Lit , TV, & movies and it shows in our language & spelling.
Oh, 'very dear" I grew up saying about something costly! Lost the habit when I married & moved. Always heard it from my grandmom as she shook her head over something at the store.
I am slowly getting my native speak back , since moving to near where I was raised. My family is always amazed I can read , pronounce & spell all the place names that were written by Germans of the native american names. Conshohocken & Schuylkill are the worst! When they visit and are driving from Philly out , I tell them follow all the signs you can't read! if you try to read them you'll miss your turns. Maybe a little like driving into Whales?
Blithe