Housing, living
- Where do you live?
In a house / flat on the ground, first, second… floor… in a large / small block of flats. I live in a large / small / spacious / cramped…(detached / semi-detached house / flat / penthouse / studio)
- Do you have your own room in your house/ flat? Or do you share a room with someone?
I have my own room. I share with my brother / sister. We have bunk beds. I sleep on the top / bottom. We have separate beds. There’s a bookshelf / curtain separating our room.
- Can you describe your flat/house? E.g. rooms / parts
Our house / flat has [rooms] a bathroom / three bedrooms / entry hall / garage / guest room / kitchen / living room / lounge / spare room / study / toilet, [parts] balcony / porch / terrace / winter garden.
- What does your room look like? (decorations, furniture, etc..)
I have a bed in the corner / clothes stand / wardrobe / bookshelf against the wall… a desk near the window… a computer / television / lamp on the desk… posters on the wall. My room is huge / spacious / tiny / cramped… near my brother’s / sister’s room… at the end of the house / flat.
- If there was a fire in your home and you had the time to take one thing, what would it be? Why?
If there was a fire, I would take photos of my friends and family because I want to have memories of them… my favourite CDs / MP3 player / iPod because I can’t live without music… my favourite book because it is very special to me / my diary because it has all my memories and secrets.
- How do you get to your home? (e.g. from the station)
From the station / shops / school I get home by bicycle / on foot… my parents pick me up… I take the bus, metro, public transport, train, tram. I cycle.
- What kind of housing is typical for your country?
In my country most people live in blocks of flats and some people live in houses. However, more people are moving into houses.
- Is it better to live in a house or in a flat? Why?
It’s better to live in a house because you have your own room… you can have a garden and pets… you live away from the city where the air is cleaner / the streets are quieter. It’s better to live in a flat because… you can live close to the city centre which is more interesting… you can live closer to shops / cafes / theatres / cinemas / friends.
- Is it better to live in a village, in a town or in a city? Why?
It’s better to live in a city because there are more things to do… there are more people to meet… there are more interesting events… everything is more convenient. It’s better to live in a village because the environment is less polluted… the surroundings are quiet… you can live near your family…you have sense of community.
- What do you like/dislike doing around the house?
I like /enjoy / don’t mind… doing the gardening / looking after our pets / walking the dog / doing the dishes / cooking / fixing
things / mowing the lawn / watering the flowers. I don’t like / can’t stand / hate… cleaning / tidying my room/ taking out the
rubbish / stacking the dishwasher / doing the ironing.
- What kind of jobs can you do yourself and what kind of jobs do you have a professional do?
I / We / My father / mother does the ironing / the gardening/ the cooking / the cleaning… myself / ourselves / himself / herself. We hire someone to… repair our car / fix our roof / paint our walls / do our garden / clean our whole house.
- What kind of things can go wrong in a house?
Many things can go wrong… Pipes can burst… Roofs can leak…Cracks can form in the walls… Windows can smash… Pipes can become blocked… Electricity can short circuit…. Bulbs can blow… Water taps (= faucets AmE) can drip… The washing machine can overflow.
- What do you do in an emergency?
If there is an emergency like… a burst water pipe / leaking roof, fire… I turn off the water mains / put a bucket under the leak / call the emergency line / call my parents / panic.
- Do you spend you weekends at home or do you have a weekend house?
I spend my weekends in my room playing computer games / reading / listening to music. I spend my weekends outside playing sport / hiking / fishing… with my friends / family.
- Do you have any pets? Why or why not?
Yes, I have a dog / cat / bird [parrot, canary, finch] / snake / turtle / mouse / rat / hamster / guinea pig / rabbit. His / her name is…
He / she is… lovely / friendly / smelly/ playful / quiet. I have a pet because I love animals / we have enough room / my parents
bought it. No, I don’t have a pet because we don’t have enough room / my parents don’t like animals / I’m allergic.
- How long do children usually live with their parents in your country?
Most people stay with their parents until they are in their mid‑twenties… sometimes people move out when they become adults to study / work. I know that in USA people move out much earlier.
US homes:
duplex – dvojdomek
apartment building – činžák, kde jsou byty vždy pronajímány
two-storey house – dvoupatrový dům
cottage – chata
cabin – pěkná chata
shack – chatrč
townhouse (=row house) – řadový domeček
bungalow – jednopodlažní rodinný dům typický pro sever, středozápad a západ USA
ranch house – jednopodlažní rodinný dům s nízkou střechou a připojenou garáží, typický pro jih a západ USA
trailer (= mobile home) – obytný přívěs
stuido apartment – byt o jedné místnosti
penthouse – luxusní byt na střeše s nejlepší výhledem na město
condominium – společenství vlastníků bytů, něco jako bytové družstvo
estate agent – realitní makléř
storey – patro v domě
attic – podkroví
basement – sklep
closet – skříň na oblečení
parlour – salón/přijímací místnost, obvykle obývák
British homes:
tatched roof – došková střecha
tile roof – střecha pokrytá taškami
slate roof – břidlicová střecha
terraced house – řadový domeček
detached house – samostatný dům, obvykle dvou a více patrový
semi-detached house – dvojdomek, obvykle dvou a více patrový
bungalow – levnější verze dvojdomku, mají jen jedno podlaží
flat – klasický byt, jako v ČR
suburb – sídliště
housing estate – sídliště
consetvatory – skleník
dining area – jidelna
storage – sklad
batrhroom en suite – koupelna spojená s ložnicí/pokojem
cloakroom – skříň na oblečení
mortgage – hypotéka
deposit to even start – záloha podmiňující koupi
utility room – místnost kde je pračka, lednička atp.
reception room – salón/přijímací místnost, obvykle obývák