English course

Lesson 131 of 240

New here? This is lesson 131 of a free 240-lesson English course.

Looking for an apartment in English

Ana needs a new place on Larch Street. Mr. Kowalski has the third floor empty, and he waits on the porch with his keys.

You will ask if the apartment is still free. Then you will ask the monthly rent and if heat and water come with it.

You will also ask the extra money at the start, when you can visit, and the first day you can move in.

Say apartment, not flat. That is the American word for this home.

By the end of this lesson

Ask about an apartment for rent, the price, and the date.

  • Is the apartment still available?Can someone still rent this home?
  • How much is the rent per month?What is the monthly price to live there?
  • Are utilities included in the rent?Do heat, power, and water come with the rent?
  • How much is the security deposit?How much extra money do I leave at the start?
  • When can I come see the apartment?What time can I visit the home?
  • What is the earliest move-in date?What is the first day I can start living there?

Scene — the third floor is empty

Ana walks up to the brick three-flat on Larch Street this afternoon. Mr. Kowalski stands on the front porch with a ring of keys and a snow shovel by the door.

The third-floor windows are dark. He is brief, as always. He waits for her questions.

Ana walks up the front path while Mr. Kowalski waits on the porch with keys and a snow shovel by the door.

Learn — ask about an apartment

Six questions help you look at an apartment. You ask if it is free, the price, and the date.

You also ask about heat and water, extra money at the start, and a time to visit.

  1. Ana politely greets Mr. Kowalski and asks whether the apartment is still available to rent.

    Is the apartment still available?

    Can someone still rent this home?

    When to use it: Ask this first when you look at a home for rent.

    Still means it is free now, and no one has taken it yet.

    Say it: The stress in apartment is on part.

  2. Ana looks toward Mr. Kowalski as she asks about the monthly rent.

    How much is the rent per month?

    What is the monthly price to live there?

    When to use it: Ask this to learn the monthly price of the home.

    Per month means you pay this price for each month.

  3. Ana asks whether heat, power, and water are included in the rent as Mr. Kowalski listens.

    Are utilities included in the rent?

    Do heat, power, and water come with the rent?

    When to use it: Ask this to check if heat, power, and water are extra.

    Included means heat, power, and water already sit inside the rent.

    Say it: The stress in utilities is on til.

  4. Ana asks how much money she must pay at the start while Mr. Kowalski holds his keys.

    How much is the security deposit?

    How much extra money do I leave at the start?

    When to use it: Ask this to learn the extra money you leave at the start.

    You leave this money at the start, and you often get it back.

    Say it: The stress in deposit is on pos.

  5. Ana asks when she can visit as Mr. Kowalski prepares to unlock the front door.

    When can I come see the apartment?

    What time can I visit the home?

    When to use it: Ask this to set a time to visit the home.

    Come see sits together as one piece in this question.

  6. Ana asks when she can begin living in the apartment, and Mr. Kowalski indicates that it will be next month.

    What is the earliest move-in date?

    What is the first day I can start living there?

    When to use it: Ask this to learn the first day you can live there.

    Earliest means the first possible day, not a later one.

    Say it: The stress in earliest is on ear.

Story — he waits with the keys

Watch Ana on the porch. Mr. Kowalski is brief. He names the rent and waits with his keys.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. The three-flat porch is quiet. Mr. Kowalski holds a ring of keys.
  2. Mr. KowalskiGood afternoon, Miss.hello after noon
  3. AnaHello. Is the apartment still available?a polite hello, then she asks if someone can still rent this home
  4. Mr. KowalskiYes. The third floor is empty.No one lives on that floor now.
  5. He glances at the dark windows on the third floor.
  6. AnaHow much is the rent per month?What is the monthly price to live there?
  7. Mr. KowalskiTwelve hundred a month.The price is one thousand two hundred dollars each month.
  8. AnaAre utilities included in the rent?Do heat, power, and water come with the rent?
  9. Mr. KowalskiHeat and water. Not power.Some bills are in the rent. Power is extra.
  10. AnaHow much is the security deposit?How much extra money do I leave at the start?
  11. Mr. KowalskiOne month's rent.The extra money is the same as one month of rent.
  12. AnaI leave a month on the porch?She thinks she must put a month on the porch.
  13. Mr. KowalskiExtra money, Miss. You get it back.He tells her it is money, not a month.
  14. AnaWhen can I come see the apartment?What time can I visit the home?
  15. Mr. KowalskiI can show it now.He can take her inside at this moment.
  16. AnaWhat is the earliest move-in date?What is the first day I can start living there?
  17. Mr. KowalskiThe first of next month. I'll wait with the keys.She can start next month, and he will stay on the porch.
  18. AnaThank you.you say this when someone helps you

Practice — price and a date

Ten quick exercises wait here. You will listen, pick, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay small, so you can check each question before you speak.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

    What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    Is the apartment still available?Drop the Simple English here
    How much is the rent per month?Drop the Simple English here
    Are utilities included in the rent?Drop the Simple English here
    How much is the security deposit?Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

  3. What does it mean?

    What does it mean?

    Are utilities included in the rent?

  4. What do you say?

    What do you say?

    You already know the rent. You want a time to visit the third-floor home.

  5. Fill the gap

    Fill the gap

    How much extra money do I leave at the start?

    How much is the ____ deposit?

  6. Build the line

    Build the line

    What is the monthly price to live there?

    ?

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Swap the word

    Swap the word

    You need the first day you can start living in the home.

    What is the ____ move-in date?

  8. True or false?

    True or false?

    This line asks the price of a thing, not only apartment rent.

  9. What do you say?

    What do you say?

    It is three in the afternoon. You greet Mr. Kowalski on the porch.

  10. Pick the reply

    Mr. Kowalski says:

    Pick the reply

    I'll wait here with the keys.

    He will stay on the porch with the keys.

    And you reply with:

Say it — ask on the porch

Now you're Ana on the porch. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. Mr. KowalskiGood afternoon, Miss.hello after noon
  2. Ana (you)Ask if someone can still rent this home.

    Ask if someone can still rent this home.

    Is the apartment still available?

    Can someone still rent this home?

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

Every line from this lesson
EnglishSimple EnglishPlay
Is the apartment still available?Can someone still rent this home?
How much is the rent per month?What is the monthly price to live there?
Are utilities included in the rent?Do heat, power, and water come with the rent?
How much is the security deposit?How much extra money do I leave at the start?
When can I come see the apartment?What time can I visit the home?
What is the earliest move-in date?What is the first day I can start living there?
Next: lesson 132Signing the lease

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these apartment questions handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps these questions ready for the porch.

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