CEFR Band 1 (A1) · Chapter 32: — English

Dialogue

Is a bed or There is a bed?

Emma Minsu, what's in your new room?
Minsu Is a bed and a desk. Also is a big window.
Emma Start with "there": "There is a bed and a desk. There is also a big window."
Minsu There is a bed and a desk. There is also a big window next to the bed.
Emma Perfect! And for two or more, use "there are": "There are two chairs."
Minsu Got it — there is one bed, and there are two chairs!

Dialogue

Emma's flat

Minsu Emma, is your flat big?
Emma It's small, but there are two bedrooms and a nice living room.
Minsu Is there a kitchen next to the living room?
Emma Yes, there is. And there's a small balcony with plants.
Minsu That sounds lovely. Are there many windows?
Emma Yes, there are big windows everywhere. The flat is always bright.

Vocabulary

汉字	POS	Meaning
house	n.	house
flat	n.	flat
room	n.	room
kitchen	n.	kitchen
bathroom	n.	bathroom
bedroom	n.	bedroom
living room	n.	living room
table	n.	table
bed	n.	bed
window	n.	window
door	n.	door

Grammar

There is / There are There is / There are

To say that something exists, English uses "there is" (one thing) and "there are" (more than one): "There is a table in the kitchen", "There are two windows in the room". Short forms: "there's a table", "there are two windows". To ask, put "is/are" first: "Is there a bathroom?" — "Yes, there is." / "Are there any chairs?" — "No, there aren't." Say where with place prepositions: in, on, under, next to, between, in front of, behind — "The bed is next to the window". Important: the sentence must start with the little word "there". Korean says 방에 침대가 있어요 with no dummy subject, so Korean learners drop "there" and begin with "is": "Is a bed in my room" ✗ → "There is a bed in my room" ✓.

There is a big table in the kitchen. There is a big table in the kitchen.
There are two windows in my bedroom. There are two windows in my bedroom.
The bed is next to the window. The bed is next to the window.
Is there a bathroom upstairs? — Yes, there is. Is there a bathroom upstairs? — Yes, there is.

Culture

Homes in the English-speaking world Homes in the English-speaking world

Asking "where do you live?" opens a window onto a way of life. In Britain, the United States, Australia and beyond, the word "home" carries a lot of feeling — "home sweet home". Whether it is a small city flat or a house with a garden, three ideas run through English-speaking homes: the house, the garden, and the comfort that turns a house into a home.

Houses and flats

In Britain, many families dream of a house of their own, and long rows of "terraced houses" — homes joined wall to wall — fill the older towns. In the United States and Australia, a house in the suburbs with its own garden is a classic goal. In big, busy cities like London or New York, though, most people live in flats (British English) or apartments (American English). Notice the words: the British say "flat", "ground floor" and "first floor" (the floor above the ground); Americans say "apartment", "first floor" (at street level) and "second floor". Same buildings, different names.

The garden

If there is one thing many English-speaking people love, it is a garden. In Britain, even a small back garden is a source of pride, with a bit of grass, some flowers and a shed for tools. Gardening is a favourite hobby, and neighbours chat over the fence. In the United States and Australia, the space behind the house is called the "backyard", and on warm evenings families fire up the barbecue (the "barbie" in Australia) and eat outside. The garden is where a home meets the sky — a private patch of green for tea, play and quiet.

Making a house a home

There is a difference between a "house" (the building) and a "home" (the warm place where you belong). The living room — the British also say "lounge", and Americans "living room" — is the heart of the home, with sofas, a television and photos on the walls. One thing surprises many visitors: in most British and American homes, people do NOT take off their shoes at the door, although this is slowly changing, and in many Australian and Canadian homes shoes do come off. When in doubt, look at the floor by the door — a pile of shoes is your answer. Above all, guests are welcomed with the words that say it best: "Make yourself at home."

In short: an English-speaking home may be a terraced house, a suburban house or a city flat, often with a beloved garden, and it becomes a "home" through warmth, not size. So next time someone says "Come round to mine" and "Make yourself at home", you know you are being invited into the best part of the culture.

pronunciation

There's a bed in my room