Answers and an explanation for each question appear once you add this activity to your own library.

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How to use this lesson

👨‍🏫 For the teacher:

Use this 20-minute practice to help students learn basic home words before writing. Check their answers on screen or review them together in class.

🎒 For the learner:

First, read the pictures and words below to learn the new home vocabulary. Next, do the 16 short questions to test your knowledge.

Module 1

Learn the words for your home.

Study these 10 important words about apartments and tall buildings.

📖 New Words

basement

A room or floor under the ground floor of a building.

"Our trash bins are in the basement."

stairwell

The space inside a building where the stairs are.

"Please keep the stairwell clean."

letterbox

A box where the mail carrier puts your letters.

"Check the letterbox for letters."

intercom

A machine to speak to guests outside the main door.

"Ring the intercom when you arrive."

doormat

A mat outside your door for cleaning your shoes.

"Wipe your shoes on the doormat."

doorstep

The step right outside the front door.

"Leave the package on the doorstep."

keys

Small metal pieces used to open or lock doors.

"Always lock your door with keys."

upstairs

On or to a higher floor of a building.

"My friends live upstairs."

downstairs

On or to a lower floor of a building.

"The front desk is downstairs."

recycle

To put paper, glass, or plastic into special bins.

"We recycle old bottles."

A friendly apartment building hall with letterboxes, stairwell, clean doormat, and recycling bins in a modern style

Living together in an apartment building.

Practice Exercises

Complete all 16 questions below.

Part A: Put the words in the right order

Example: Mum has to lock the door.

1. Put these words in order:

( My / keys / on / doorstep / are / the . )

____

2. Put these words in order:

( letterbox / The / downstairs / is . )

____

3. Put these words in order:

( recycle / We / in / paper / basement / the . )

____

4. Put these words in order:

( intercom / Ring / the / front / door / at / the . )

____

Part B: Fill in the blanks

Word Bank

keys upstairs letterbox doormat stairwell

5. Please wipe your boots on the ____ before entering the apartment.

6. The lift is not working today, so we walk up the ____.

7. My bedroom is on the top floor, so I go ____ to sleep.

8. Do not lose your ____ or you cannot open the front door.

9. Look in the ____ to see if there is any new mail.

Part C: Choose the correct word

10. Many tall buildings have a car park in the _____.

____ a. basement ____ b. doorstep ____ c. doormat ____ d. upstairs

11. A visitor is at the main door. You press the _____.

____ a. letterbox ____ b. intercom ____ c. stairwell ____ d. doormat

12. I live on floor five. The shop is on floor one. I go _____ to get milk.

____ a. upstairs ____ b. doorstep ____ c. downstairs ____ d. intercom

13. We put old bottles and paper in the blue bin. We _____ them.

____ a. recycle ____ b. unlock ____ c. ring ____ d. lose

Part D: Match each question to its answer

Choose the right answer for each question.

Question

B. Press the intercom.

C. In the basement.

A. On the doormat.

14. Where do I wipe my wet shoes?

____ B. Press the intercom. ____ C. In the basement. ____ A. On the doormat.

15. How can I talk to a visitor at the front door?

____ B. Press the intercom. ____ C. In the basement. ____ A. On the doormat.

16. Where are the recycling bins?

____ B. Press the intercom. ____ C. In the basement. ____ A. On the doormat.

Module 2

Write rules for your building.

Use what you learned to write about what people have to do and do not have to do.

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Writing Task

"Write 5 sentences about the rules in an apartment building (you can imagine it): what people have to do and do not have to do."

Length: Write 30–50 words.

💬 Useful Sentence Starters

Use these starters to help write your sentences:

• We have to ...
• You have to ...
• My mother has to ...
• I do not have to ...
• The neighbours do not have to ...

✅ Checklist: What to include

✓ Two sentences with have to
✓ One sentence with has to (after he, she, or a name)
✓ Two negative sentences with do not have to or does not have to
✓ Base form verbs after to (e.g., to lock, to clean, to keep)

Write your 5 sentences below: ____ (We have to lock the front door...)

When you finish, click submit to get instant feedback from AI.

Module 3

See a good example.

Read this model answer to see how to write good building rules.

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Model Answer (46 words)

In our building, we have to recycle paper in the basement. You have to lock the front door with keys. My mother has to check the letterbox every day. I do not have to clean the stairwell. The neighbours do not have to pay for water.

📌 Useful Phrases & Short Notes

Why this works in simple words:

1. we have to recycle

Use have to for a rule that everyone must follow.

2. You have to lock

Use have to with a simple action word like lock.

3. My mother has to check

Use has to after he, she, or one person like my mother.

4. I do not have to clean

Use do not have to when you do not need to do a job.

5. The neighbours do not have to pay

Use do not have to for plural words like the neighbours (they).

Writing: Rules of Apartment Living

How to use this lesson

Learn the words for your home.

📖 New Words

basement

stairwell

letterbox

intercom

doormat

doorstep

keys

upstairs

downstairs

recycle

Practice Exercises

Part A: Put the words in the right order

Part B: Fill in the blanks

Part C: Choose the correct word

Part D: Match each question to its answer

Write rules for your building.

Writing Task

💬 Useful Sentence Starters

✅ Checklist: What to include

See a good example.

Model Answer (46 words)

📌 Useful Phrases & Short Notes

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