The description of the apartment is one of the conversational topics that is mandatory for English learners. The fact is that it includes both prepositions of place, and lexical material on the topic "Furniture", and the tenses of the Simple group.
In addition, here, as nowhere else, you can flaunt your knowledge of adjectives and elegant phrases, proverbs and idioms. For the British, the house is a very important and special place in its own way, because the mentality of this people contains a certain clan system, dynastic families and the preservation of traditions. That is why, if an Englishman asks you to describe your apartment, do not be shy. He does this not out of idle curiosity, but out of a sincere desire to find common ground with the interlocutor. By the way, this is unlikely to occur to an American. Below we will consider the general scheme for describing an apartment in English, and also get acquainted with one English proverb that reflects the attitude of the British to the house as a whole.
An Englishman's home is his castle
No matter how hackneyed this proverb may seem, it is equally true for any nation. But if in our version it sounds simply like “My house is my fortress”, then the English proverb sounds like "An Englishman's home is his castle". It can be used in the first sentences of an essay, along with phrases "East or West - home is best"(Away is good, but home is better) and "There's no place like home"(There is no better place in the world than home.) You can use them all, or you can choose the one that best fits your description from our selection.
Below we present a preparation for a simple school essay, which, nevertheless, can be used for the simplest description of an apartment in a conversation with.
Describing the rooms
A logical continuation of the text after introductory phrase will general description apartment, its layout and number of rooms. For example:
“My flat is not very big but cozy. There are three rooms in it. There's a living room, my parents' bedroom and my room. I like it very much and I think that our flat is the best in the world" - "My apartment is not very big, but cozy. There are three rooms in it - a hall, a room for parents and my room. I love our apartment and I think it's the best in the world."
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Then it makes sense to briefly describe each of the rooms without going into details. Another thing is if your task is not to describe the apartment as a whole, but some separate room. It is better to follow the order "Hallway - kitchen - bathroom - hall - living rooms." The description might be something like this:
“We have a hall in our flat. There are a lot of clothes there, a wardrobe and a big mirror. If you go further you will see a kitchen on the left. It is very little but we like to spend time there drinking tea. On the right there's a bathroom. It is little too. There are also three rooms in our flat. The first one is the living room. We watch TV, read and gather together in it. My parents' room in smaller than the living room but it is bigger than my room after all. My room is the smallest one but I like it most of all because it’s my own cozy nook where I am a master ”- “We have an entrance hall in the apartment. There are many things in it, a dressing table and a large mirror. If you go further, you will see the kitchen on the left. It is very small, but we love to spend time there for tea parties. To the right is the bathroom. She is also small. Our apartment also has three more rooms. The first is the living room. In it we watch TV, read and spend time together. My parents' room is smaller than the living room but bigger than my room. My room is the smallest, but I like it the most, because it makes me feel like a host.”
If you were asked to write an essay "My apartment" on English language with translation, use the text below, changing the appropriate description of the rooms.
my flat
My family lives in Odessa, Ukraine. We have got a four-room flat. It is not in the city center. It's clean, quiet and cozy. Our flat is on the sixth floor. There is a bedroom, a grandmother's room there. There is also a father's room and an uncle's room. My uncle is my mother's brother.
The bedroom is big and light. It is also a living room. There is a two-floors bed there. It is on the left from the window. My little brother and I live in a common children's room. It is the largest in our flat. There are double table, two chairs, bookshelves and wardrobe there. I do my homework in this room.
We also have got a kitchen, a bathroom, a toilet and a balcony.
I like my flat. I spend most of my time there.
Translating to Russian language
My family lives in Odessa, Ukraine. We have a four-room apartment. It is not located in the city center. It is clean, quiet and comfortable. Our apartment is on the sixth floor. There is a bedroom, grandmother's room. There is also a father's room and uncle's room. My uncle is my mother's brother.
The bedroom is large and bright. This is also the living room. It has a bunk bed. She is to the left of the window. My younger brother and I live in a common children's room. It is the largest in our apartment. There is a double table, two chairs, bookshelves and a wardrobe. I do my homework in this room.
We also have a kitchen, bathroom, toilet and balcony.
I like my flat. I spend most of my time there.
Our Flat
We live in Kiev in Gorky Street on the seventh floor of a large house with all modern amenities. Our flat consists of three rooms and a kitchen. We have got electricity, central heating, a gas-cooker, running cold and hot water, a rubbish chute and a telephone.
First there is a small hall with a rack, a mirror and a small table with a telephone on it. The three rooms of our flat are: a living-room, our parents’ bedroom and the room I share with my younger brother.
A living-room is a room for general use during the day. It is a large room with a balcony facing the park. There is a carpet on the floor and lace curtains on the windows. In the middle of the room there is a table with some chairs around it. There is a sofa with two armchairs and a low table with a TV set in one corner.
A piano stands near the wall on the left-hand side of the room.
On the right-hand side of the room there is a cupboard. There are some crystal vases, wineglasses and cups on the shelves. There is a bookcase near the cupboard.
A chandelier with three electric bulbs hangs from the ceiling.
My parents' bedroom is not very large. There are two beds, a wardrobe and a dressing-table in the bedroom. The bedding consists of a blanket, a pillow with a pillow-case, sheets and a mattress.
On the dressing-table one can see a comb, a hairbrush and a bottle of perfume.
My room is very nice. There is a bed and a cot for my little brother. On one side of the window there is a desk (a writing table). I do my lessons at it. On the other side of the window there are some bookshelves.
Our kitchen has got a large built-in cupboard with many shelves. We keep our food-stuffs, saucepans, basins and frying-pans there. A table stands in front of the window. On the left of the table is a refrigerator. On the right is a gas-cooker. A tea-kettle stands on it. There is a little store-room in the hall. A washing machine, a vacuum cleaner, a floor polisher stand in it. Our flat is very comfortable and cozy.
Translating to Russian language
Our flat
We live in Kyiv on Gorky Street on the seventh floor of a large house with all modern conveniences. Our apartment consists of three rooms and a kitchen. We have electricity, central heating, gas stove, cold and hot water, garbage chute and telephone.
At the beginning there is a small hall with a hanger, a mirror and a small table with a telephone. There are three rooms in our apartment: a living room, a bedroom for my parents, and a room that I share with my younger brother.
The living room is for shared use during the day. This is a large room with a balcony overlooking the park. There is a carpet on the floor and lace curtains on the windows. There is a table in the middle of the room with several chairs around it. In the corner there is a sofa with two armchairs and a low table with a TV.
There is a piano on the left side of the room near the wall.
To the right of the room is a closet. There are several crystal vases, glasses and cups on the shelves. There is a bookcase next to the bookcase.
A chandelier with three electric bulbs hangs from the ceiling.
My parents' bedroom is not very big. The bedroom has two beds, a wardrobe and a dressing table. Bed linen consists of a duvet, a pillow with a pillowcase, a sheet and a mattress.
On the dressing table you can see a comb, a comb and a bottle of perfume.
My room is very pleasant. There is a bed and a crib for my little brother. On one side of the window is a desk (desk). I do lessons on it. On the other side of the window are bookshelves.
Our kitchen has a large built-in cupboard with lots of shelves. We store our food, pots, bowls and pans there. The table is in front of the window. To the left of the table is a refrigerator. To the right is a gas stove. There is a kettle on it. There is a small storage room in the hall. It contains a washing machine, vacuum cleaner, polishing machine. Our apartment is very comfortable and cozy.
My Flat
We have a nice flat in a new block of flats. Our flat is on the fourth floor. It has all modern conveniences: central heating, gas, electricity, cold and hot water, a lift and a chute to carry rubbish down. There are three rooms, a kitchen, a bathroom and a hall in our flat. The living-room is the largest and most comfortable room in the flat. In the middle of the room we have a square-table with six chairs round it. To the right of the dinner-table there is a wall-unit which has several sections: a sideboard, a wardrobe and some shelves.
At the opposite wall there is a piano and stool before it. Between the two large windows there is a little table with a color TV set on it. Near the TV set there are two cozy armchairs. A small round table, a sofa-bed and a standard lamp are in the left-hand corner. This small table is for newspapers and magazines. My father is used to having a rest sitting on this sofa-bed reading books, newspapers, magazines or watching TV.
The bedroom is smaller than the living-room and not so light as there is only one window in it. In this room there are two beds with a bedside-table between them. An alarm-clock and a small lamp with a pink lamp-shade are on the table. In the left-hand corner there is a dressing-table with a big mirror.. In this room we have a built-in wardrobe with coat-hangers to-hang clothes on. There is a thick carpet on the floor and plain light-brown curtains on the window.
The third room is my study. It is not large but very cozy. There isn't much furniture in it, only the most necessary. It has a writing-table and an armchair before it. In the right-hand corner there is a bookcase full of books, magazines and newspapers. A small table with a radio is standing in the left-hand corner. Near it there is a sofa with some cushions. In my opinion, the study is the best room in our flat.
But the warmest place in our flat is the kitchen, I think — the place where the whole family gathers every evening not only to have supper together, but also to speak and rest. I like the English proverb: "My home is my castle" because my flat is, indeed, my castle.
My apartment
We have a nice apartment in a new apartment building. Our apartment is on the fourth floor, it has all modern conveniences: central heating, gas, electricity, cold and hot water, an elevator and a garbage disposal. The apartment has three rooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, an entrance hall. The living room is the largest and most comfortable room in the apartment. In the center of the room is a square dining table and six chairs. To the right of the table is a furniture wall. It consists of several sections: sideboard, wardrobe, several shelves.
At opposite side- a piano with a chair. Between the two large windows is a small table with a color TV. Near the TV are two comfortable armchairs. In the left corner there is a small round table, a sofa and a floor lamp. This small table is designed for newspapers and magazines. Dad used to relax sitting on the couch, read books, newspapers, magazines or watch TV.
The bedroom is smaller than the living room and not as bright because it has only one window. This room has two beds and a nightstand between them. On the bedside table is an alarm clock and a small lamp with a pink shade. In the left corner is a dressing table with a large mirror. This room has a built-in wardrobe with clothes hangers. There is a thick carpet on the floor, and plain light brown curtains hang on the windows.
The third room is my office. It is small but very comfortable. There is little furniture in it, only the most necessary. There is a desk with an armchair. In the right corner - a bookcase with books, magazines, newspapers. A small table with a radio is in the left corner. Next to it is a sofa with cushions. In my opinion, this office is the best room in our apartment.
But the warmest place in our apartment is the kitchen, the place where the whole family gathers every evening not only to have dinner together, but also to talk and relax. I like the English proverb: "My house is my castle" because my apartment is really my castle.
1 Related words: Apartment and rooms (sound and transcription)
other words:
apartment- Amer. apartment; apartment building- apartment house; penthouse apartment– penthouse; studio apartments- atelier, workshop; duplex apartment- Amer. apartment located on two floors
room- room; floor- floor; ceiling- ceiling; wall- wall; window- window; entrance (front door)- Entrance door; toilet- toilet
2 Related words: Furniture (sound, transcription)
[ɑːmˈtʃɛː] - armchair
[ˈbʊkkeɪs] - bookcase; bookshelf
[ˈkɑːpɪt] – carpet
- chair
[ˈkʌbəd] - cupboard for dishes
[ˈfʌɪəpleɪs] - fireplace
- lamp
[ˈmɪrə] – mirror
[ˈsəʊfə] - sofa, sofa
[ˈteɪb(ə)l] – table
- vase
[ˈwɔːdrəʊb] - wardrobe, closet
other words:
furniture- furniture; couch- sofa, sofa, couch; bed- bed; double bed- double bed; desk- desk
wall(-)paper- wallpaper; curtain- curtain, curtain; cushion- cushion; blanket- blanket
bath- bath; shower cabin(et)– shower cabin; sink- sink; flush toilet- toilet
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3 Videos in English on the topic: Rooms and parts of the house
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4 Song in English: Let's Clean Up / Let's clean up!
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5 Related vocabulary: house rooms and furniture (video)
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6 Names of furniture and household appliances in English
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7 Features of use English words denoting an apartment
Nouns denoting location ( apartment, flat, hall, house) are used to indicate a position in a series of similar ones, as a rule, with a quantitative numeral and without an article. The numeral is placed after such a noun. These nouns are often capitalized: Room S, Apartment 20, Hall 5.
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8 Apartment and furniture in English idioms
bachelor flat (apartment)- (lit. bachelor) one-room apartment
hell's kitchen- a place that is notorious; criminal quarter
soup kitchen– free canteen (where soup is given to the poor and the unemployed)
thieves" kitchen- thieves' den
everything and the kitchen sink- almost everything, necessary and unnecessary
arm chair critic- a critic, blindly following some doctrine, dogma
to be on the carpet- to be at the discussion (about the issue); to call smb. on the carpet- call someone to the carpet
to have somebody on the carpet- give a scolding to someone
to roll out the red carpet for somebody- give someone a warm welcome
to sweep something under the carpet- try to hide something
chair days- old age
to take the chair- become chairman of the meeting; open meeting
Chair!- To order!
cupboard love- selfish love, affection (usually in children, when they want to get something from adults)
upon the table- publicly discussed; well-known
to lay on the table- polit. postpone discussion (of a bill)
to turn the tables (up)on smb.- beat the enemy with his own weapon; switch roles
under the table- drunk; secretly, covertly, clandestinely
on the couch- jarg. being at a session with a psychoanalyst; undergoing psychoanalysis
...........................................9 Games, songs and stories: rooms in the apartment and furniture in English (flash)
Differences between British and American English in the names of living quarters and furniture
Buildings, apartments, tenants, agents
Housing area - housing development(Am)- housing estate(Br)
apartment type hotel apartment hotel(Am)- service flats(Br)
sleeping area, sleeping suburb - bedroom(Am)- dormitory(Br)
apartment house - apartment building / house(Am)- dwelling house, block of flats(Br)
apartment building (in which the apartments are privately owned); apartment in such a house - condominimum, condo(Am)- apartment(Br)
apartment - apartment(Am)- flat(Br)
one-room apartment - studio(Am)- bed-sitter(Br)
tenant, tenant roomer(Am)- lodger(Br)
furniture store - furniture store(Am)- furniture shop(Br)
real estate agent - realtor(Am)- estate agent(Br)
Rooms
lobby, foyer lobby, foyer(Am)- entrance hall, foyer(Br)
corridor, hallway hallway(Am)- hall(Br)
children's Corner - kidspace(Am)- children's corner(Br)
living room - living room(Am)- sitting room, lounge, drawing room(Br)
restroom - recreation room(Am)- restroom(Br)
study - den, study(Am)- home office(Br)
toilet - bathroom, toilet, john, restroom(Am)- lavatory, battery(Br)
lumber room - lumber room(Am)- box room(Br)
pantry - pantry(Am)- larder(Br)
Furniture and other
Chest of drawers (for clothes) - bureau, dresser(Am)- chest of drawers(Br)
closet, cupboard closet(Am)- cup board(Br)
sofa - couch, davenport(Am)- sofa, settee(Br)
folding bed - cat(Am)- camp bed(Br)
curtains (tulle) - sheers, underdrapes(Am)- net curtains(Br)
curtains, blinds (window) shades(Am)- blinds(Br)
bath - bathtub(Am)- bath(Br)
Water taps) - faucet(Am)- tap(Br)
waste pipe - soil / sewer pipe(Am)- drain(Br)
electric outlet - electrical outlet(Am)- power point socket(Br)
elevator - elevator(Am)- lift(Br)
From the book by M. S. Evdokimov, G. M. Shleev "A Brief Guide to American-British Correspondences".
Games and exercises on the topic: rooms and furniture (in English)
English poems that mention parts of the house and furniture
I Never Want to Go to Bed
Kenn Nesbitt
I never want to go to bed.
I like to stay up late.
I "m bouncing off the bedroom walls
and, frankly, feeling great!
I'm dancing like a maniac
instead of counting sheep.
My mom says, "Time for bed."
My dad yells, "Get your butt to sleep!"
I "m not sure what my bottom
has to do with anything
but that's okay because I'd rather
jump around and sing.
I don't know what it was
that made me feel so wide awake.
Could it have been the Red Bull
and the double-chocolate cake?
I wonder if the seven cups
of coffee plus dessert
of Hershey bars and Skittles
are what left me this alert?
Whatever it turns out to be
that made me feel right
I hope I track it down
so I can stay up every... ZZZzzzzz
The Kitchen
A home is made of many rooms
To rest, to sleep, to shower,
To play, and read, and talk a lot,
Do hobbies by the hour.
But the kitchen, ah, the kitchen
Is a room that's made of dreams
Of fantasies... created by
A love of cooking schemes.
To touch, to smell, to visualize
The wonders that occur...
And then to taste, and then to taste
results of things that were.
At one time just "ingredients,"
In their places on the shelves
But become a wondrous mixture
As though transformed by elves.
Yes, a home is made of many rooms.
Each one has it's pleasures,
But the kitchen is the best of all
For finding hidden treasures.
Please remember - don't forget...
Mabel Lucie Attwell
Please remember - Don't forget!
Never leave the bathroom wet.
Nor leave the soap still in the water. -
That's a thing we never ought "er! -
And as you "ve been so often told,
Never let the "hot" run "cold";
Nor leave the towels upon the floor.
Nor keep the bath an hour or more
When other folks are wanting one;
Just don't forget - it isn't done! -
An "if you" d really do the things -
There's not the slightest need to sing!
Content:
We have a nice flat in a new block of flats. Our flat is on the fourth floor. It has all modern conveniences: central heating, gas, electricity, cold and hot water, a lift and a chute to carry rubbish down. There are three rooms, a kitchen, a bathroom and a hall in our flat. The living-room is the largest and most comfortable room in the flat. In the middle of the room we have a square-table with six chairs round it. To the right of the dinner-table there is a wall-unit which has several sections: a sideboard, a wardrobe and some shelves.
At the opposite wall there is a piano and stool before it. Between the two large windows there is a little table with a color TV set on it. Near the TV set there are two cozy armchairs. A small round table, a sofa-bed and a standard lamp are in the left-hand corner. This small table is for newspapers and magazines. My father is used to having a rest sitting on this sofa-bed reading books, newspapers, magazines or watching TV.
The bedroom is smaller than the living-room and not so light as there is only one window in it. In this room there are two beds with a bedside-table between them. An alarm-clock and a small lamp with a pink lamp-shade are on the table. In the left-hand corner there is a dressing-table with a big mirror.. In this room we have a built-in wardrobe with coat-hangers to-hang clothes on. There is a thick carpet on the floor and plain light-brown curtains on the window.
The third room is my study. It is not large but very cozy. There isn't much furniture in it, only the most necessary. It has a writing-table and an armchair before it. In the right-hand corner there is a bookcase full of books, magazines and newspapers. A small table with a radio is standing in the left-hand corner. Near it there is a sofa with some cushions. In my opinion, the study is the best room in our flat.
But the warmest place in our flat is the kitchen, I think – the place where the whole family gathers every evening not only to have supper together, but also to speak and rest. I like the English proverb: “My home is my castle” because my flat is, indeed, my castle.
My apartment (1)
We have a nice apartment in a new apartment building. Our apartment is on the fourth floor, it has all modern conveniences: central heating, gas, electricity, cold and hot water, an elevator and a garbage chute. The apartment has three rooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, an entrance hall. The living room is the largest and most comfortable room in the apartment. In the center of the room is a square dining table and six chairs. To the right of the table is a furniture wall. It consists of several sections: sideboard, wardrobe, several shelves.
On the opposite side is a piano with a chair. Between the two large windows is a small table with a color TV. Near the TV are two comfortable armchairs. In the left corner there is a small round table, a sofa and a floor lamp. This small table is designed for newspapers and magazines. Dad used to relax sitting on the couch, read books, newspapers, magazines or watch TV.
The bedroom is smaller than the living room and not as bright because it has only one window. This room has two beds and a nightstand between them. On the bedside table is an alarm clock and a small lamp with a pink shade. In the left corner is a dressing table with a large mirror. This room has a built-in wardrobe with clothes hangers. There is a thick carpet on the floor, and plain light brown curtains hang on the windows.
The third room is my office. It is small but very comfortable. There is little furniture in it, only the most necessary. There is a desk with an armchair. In the right corner is a bookcase with books, magazines, newspapers. A small table with a radio is in the left corner. Next to it is a sofa with cushions. In my opinion, this office is the best room in our apartment.
But the warmest place in our apartment is the kitchen, the place where the whole family gathers every evening not only to have dinner together, but also to talk and relax. I like the English proverb: “My house is my castle”, because my apartment is really my castle.
Questions:
1. Have you a house or a flat?
2. How many rooms are there in your flat?
3. Has your flat all modern amenities? What are they?
4. What room is the largest in your flat?
5. What is there in the middle of the room?
6. Is there a piano in the living room?
7. What is there near the TV set?
8. How many windows are there in the bedroom?
9. What is on the bedside table?
10. What color curtains are there on the window?
11. What room is very cozy?
12. Is there much furniture in the study?
13. What is there in the right-hand corner of the study?
14. What is standing in the left-hand corner?
Vocabulary:
Square - square
sideboard - sideboard
closet
opposite - opposite
cozy - cozy
sofa-bed - sofa
alarm-clock - alarm clock
mirror - mirror
dressing table
lamp-shade - lampshade
a built-in wardrobe - built-in wardrobe
coat-hanger - hanger
to hang (hung) - hang
study - study
furniture - furniture
necessary pieces - necessary things
cushion - sofa cushion
standard lamp - floor lamp
