English for Beginners: Talking About Your House

Dialogue

Alice: Hey Bob, you look a bit tired today! Long day?

Bob: Alice! Yeah, it’s not the day, it’s my tiny apartment. I tripped over my own shoes this morning because there’s just no space!

Alice: Oh no! Is it really that small?

Bob: It’s like a shoebox! One bedroom, a tiny living room, and a kitchen that doubles as a hallway.

Alice: Wow! My house is bigger, but sometimes I can’t find anything. It has three bedrooms.

Bob: Three bedrooms? I could get lost in there! I only have one room, practically.

Alice: We also have a big garden. My dog, Sparky, loves to play there.

Bob: A garden? I have a window box with a dying plant. That’s my “garden”.

Alice: Is there anything you like about your place?

Bob: Hmm, the coffee shop downstairs is great. Does that count as part of my house?

Alice: Haha, nice try! Well, my favorite room is the kitchen. It’s really sunny.

Bob: Sunny kitchen! Mine is so dark, I need a flashlight to find the cereal.

Alice: You should come over sometime! We can cook in my sunny kitchen.

Bob: Really? Yes, please! I’ll bring my own flashlight, just in case.

Alice: No need! And Sparky would love to meet you.

Bob: Perfect! Maybe I’ll learn how to find my cereal without tripping.

Current Situation

Talking about your house or apartment is a very common and natural part of daily conversation. Whether you’re making small talk with new acquaintances or catching up with friends, describing where you live is a great way to share personal information and learn about others. It also helps you practice essential vocabulary related to rooms, furniture, and adjectives to describe spaces. For beginners, it’s an excellent topic to use simple sentence structures and basic verbs like “to be” and “to have.”

Key Phrases

• You look a bit [adjective].
  Example: You look a bit tired. / He looks a bit happy today.
• It’s like a [noun]!
  Example: My small car is like a toy car! / His voice is like music.
• There’s just no space.
  Example: My bag is full; there’s just no space for my book.
• My favorite room is the [room].
  Example: My favorite room is the living room because I can relax there.
• You should come over sometime!
  Example: Let’s watch a movie together. You should come over sometime!
• Does that count as…?
  Example: I ate an apple. Does that count as a healthy snack?
• No need!
  Example: “Can I help you?” “No need! I can do it myself.”

Grammar Points

1. The Verb “To Be” (is, am, are)

We use the verb “to be” to describe things, states, or identity.

• I am (e.g., I am happy.)
• You are (e.g., You are tired.)
• He/She/It is (e.g., My house is big. The kitchen is sunny. It is small.)
• We are (e.g., We are friends.)
• They are (e.g., They are busy.)

Examples from dialogue:
– “Is it really that small?”
– “My house is bigger.”
– “My favorite room is the kitchen.”

2. “Have” and “Has” (Possession)

We use “have” and “has” to talk about possession or features of something.

• I / You / We / They have (e.g., I have a car. We have a big garden.)
• He / She / It has (e.g., My house has three bedrooms. It has one bedroom.)

Examples from dialogue:
– “It has three bedrooms.”
– “We also have a big garden.”
– “I only have one room.”

3. Adjectives for Description

Adjectives are words that describe nouns (people, places, things). They tell us more about the noun’s qualities.

• small (e.g., a small apartment)
• big (e.g., a big garden)
• tiny (e.g., a tiny living room)
• sunny (e.g., a sunny kitchen)
• dark (e.g., a dark room)

Examples from dialogue:
– “my tiny apartment”
– “a big garden”
– “It’s really sunny.”

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks with “is,” “are,” “have,” or “has.”

1. My apartment _____ one bedroom.
2. The kitchen _____ very sunny.
3. We _____ a big garden.
4. My house _____ three floors.
5. The living room _____ small.
6. I _____ a dog named Sparky.

Answers:

1. has
2. is
3. have
4. has
5. is
6. have

Exercise 2: Match the Room to its Common Use.

1. Bedroom
2. Kitchen
3. Living room
4. Bathroom

a. Where you cook food.
b. Where you sleep.
c. Where you watch TV and relax.
d. Where you wash yourself.

Answers:

1. 1 – b
2. 2 – a
3. 3 – c
4. 4 – d

Exercise 3: Answer about YOUR House/Apartment.

Write your answers in full sentences.

1. How many bedrooms does your house/apartment have?
2. What is your favorite room? Why?
3. Do you have a garden?

Example Answers:

1. My apartment has two bedrooms.
2. My favorite room is the kitchen because I love to cook.
3. No, I don’t have a garden, but I have a small balcony.