Warm-up
Home and Neighbourhood
Rooms, furniture, places nearby, directions
Today’s grammar
Talk first
- How many rooms are there in your home?
- What is your favourite place at home?
- What sound do you hear most often at home?
After this lesson you will be able to...
- Describe your home and your street in 8–10 sentences.
- Say where things are using prepositions.
- Give and follow simple directions.
- Use there is / there are in questions and answers.
Vocabulary
Words to learn
| living room | вітальня The living room is in the middle of the flat. |
| bedroom | спальня My bedroom is very quiet. |
| kitchen | кухня There is a big table in the kitchen. |
| bathroom | ванна кімната The bathroom is next to the bedroom. |
| stairs | сходи There are twelve stairs. |
| sofa | диван The sofa is soft. |
| shelf | полиця My books are on the shelf. |
| cupboard | шафа (кухонна) The cups are in the cupboard. |
Grammar
There is / There are
We use “there is” for one thing and “there are” for two or more things. It tells us that something exists in a place.
Negative: there isn’t, there aren’t. Questions: Is there…? Are there…? Short answers: Yes, there is. No, there aren’t.
With uncountable nouns we use “there is”: there is some milk, there is a lot of noise. We often use “a lot of”, “some” and “any”: There are some chairs. Are there any windows? There aren’t any stairs.
| There is a market near my house. |
| There are three bedrooms in our flat. |
| Is there a lift in your building? — No, there isn’t. |
| Are there any shops on your street? — Yes, there are a lot. |
Prepositions of place
These small words say where something is: in (inside), on (on top of a surface), under, next to, between, behind, in front of, opposite, near, at (a point, such as at the door).
Between needs two things: “The table is between the sofa and the window.” Opposite means across from: “The bakery is opposite the bank.”
To describe a room without looking at it, think about your hands and feet: “From the door, the bed is on my left, the desk is straight ahead and the shelf is behind me.”
| The keys are on the table. |
| The cat is under the bed. |
| The post office is next to the pharmacy. |
| My flat is on the second floor, opposite the lift. |
Giving directions
Use imperatives (the base verb, no subject): Go straight on. Turn left. Turn right. Cross the road. Take the second street on the left. Stop at the traffic lights.
Useful links: then, after that, until you reach, at the end of the street, on your left / right, it is about five minutes on foot.
| Go straight on until you reach the crossing. |
| Turn right after the bakery, then take the second street on the left. |
| The pharmacy is on your right, next to the bank. |
| Excuse me, how do I get to the station? |
Speaking
Easy — warm up your speaking
- What type of home do you live in?
- How many rooms are there in your home?
- Is there a garden or a balcony?
- What is your favourite room? Why?
- What is in your kitchen?
- What is next to your bed?
- Are there any shops near your home?
- Is there a park or a river in your area?
- Is your street quiet or noisy?
- Who lives in your building?
- How do you get to the nearest shop?
- What is the floor in your flat like: wooden, tiled, carpet?
Medium — say more
- Describe your home from the front door to the farthest room. Say what is on your left and right.
- Where do you keep important things, such as keys, phone and documents?
- How do you find things quickly in your home?
- Tell me about your neighbours and your neighbourhood.
- What sounds and smells are typical for your street?
- What is the best place in your town for a walk? How do I get there from your home?
- Is there a place in your town you visit often? Why?
- What is the most useful shop near your home?
- How is your home different from your grandparents’ home?
- What would you change in your flat or house if you could?
- Is it easy to move around your neighbourhood on your own? What helps?
- Which places in your town are friendly for everyone?
Deeper — explain and give reasons
- What does the word “home” mean to you?
- Do you prefer living in a city or in a village? Why?
- What makes a neighbourhood a good place to live?
- Should cities have more quiet places? Where?
- How could public transport and street crossings be made better for everybody?
- Would you like to live abroad? In what kind of home?
- What do you think your ideal home looks and sounds like?
- How has your neighbourhood changed in the last ten years?
More questions
- Is there a park near your home? What is it like?
- What is there in your street?
- How many windows are there in your living room?
- Which room do you like the most? Describe it.
- Is there a lift in your building?
- What is on the wall in your bedroom?
- Where is the nearest shop or supermarket?
- Is your neighbourhood quiet or noisy?
- Who lives next to you? Do you know them?
- Is there anything you want to change in your home?
- What is under your bed or in your wardrobe?
- How do you get to the city centre from your home?
Opinions and what-ifs
- Would you rather live in a flat or in a house? Why?
- Is it better to live in a big city or in a village?
- What makes a good neighbour?
- What would your dream home look like?
- Do you think people spend too much time at home these days?
- What is the most important thing in a home: size, price or location?
- Would you like to live in another country? Where?
- What is the best thing about your neighbourhood?