New here? This is lesson 45 of a free 240-lesson English course.
Keys from the landlord in English
Ana is on the porch of the three-flat on Larch Street. Mr. Kowalski lives on the first floor. He has the keys.
He is brief. He calls her Miss. He does not chat.
Murray waits on the sidewalk with his peacoat and his Ventra card.
By the end, you will take keys, name the front door, ask how it opens, find the mailbox, and know who to call.
By the end of this lesson
Take keys from the landlord, ask how the door opens, and find the mailbox.
- These are your keys.I am giving you the keys to the home
- This is the front door.This door is the door to the building
- This one's yours.This key is for your apartment
- How does the door open?What do I do to unlock it?
- The mailbox is downstairs.Letters are on the first floor
- Call me if there's a problem.Phone me when something is wrong
Scene — the porch
The brick three-flat has a front porch and three doorbells. Mr. Kowalski stands by the door with a ring of keys and a snow shovel.
Ana holds her teal tote. Murray waits on the sidewalk. He uses the space of two people.
The second-floor window is dark. No one talks about the jukebox here.
Learn — keys and the door
Six short lines cover keys, the front door, the mailbox, and a problem.
You will also ask how the door opens.
These are your keys.
I am giving you the keys to the home
When to use it: Say this when you give someone the keys to a home.
Learn it as one piece when you hand over keys.
Say it: The s on keys sounds like z.
This is the front door.
This door is the door to the building
When to use it: Say this when you show the door to the building.
Learn it as one piece for the door people use to go in.
This one's yours.
This key is for your apartment
When to use it: Say this when you show the key for their apartment.
Learn it as one piece for one key out of two.
How does the door open?
What do I do to unlock it?
When to use it: Ask this when you do not know how to unlock a door.
Learn it as one piece to ask about a lock.
Say it: In open, stress the first part.
The mailbox is downstairs.
Letters are on the first floor
When to use it: Say this to tell someone where letters arrive.
Learn it as one piece for the place with the letters.
Say it: The stress is on stairs in downstairs.
Call me if there's a problem.
Phone me when something is wrong
When to use it: Say this so they can phone you when something is wrong.
Learn it as one piece for a phone call later.
Story — he calls her Miss
Watch Ana take the keys on the porch. Mr. Kowalski is brief. He calls her Miss.
The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.
- Mr. Kowalski holds two keys on the porch.
Mr. KowalskiThese are your keys, Miss.I am giving you the keys to the home
AnaThank you.you say this when someone helps you- Mr. KowalskiThis is the front door.This door is the door to the building
- AnaHow does the door open?What do I do to unlock it?
- Mr. KowalskiUse this key for the front door.This key unlocks the building.
- He holds up a smaller key.
- Mr. KowalskiThis one's yours.This key is for your apartment
- Mr. KowalskiThe mailbox is downstairs.Letters are on the first floor
- Murray waits on the sidewalk.
- Mr. KowalskiCall me if there's a problem.Phone me when something is wrong
- AnaSo I call you Problem?She thinks his name is Problem.
- Mr. KowalskiNo, Miss. Just phone me if something's wrong.He wants her to phone when she needs help.
Practice — which key
Ten quick exercises wait here. You will listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.
They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.
0 of 10 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
English
These are your keys.Drop the Simple English hereThis is the front door.Drop the Simple English hereThis one's yours.Drop the Simple English hereThe mailbox is downstairs.Drop the Simple English hereSimple English
What do you say?
What do you say?
You are showing a visitor which door to use. Tell them what this door is.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
This one's yours.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
What do I do to unlock it?
How does the door ____?
Build the line
Build the line
Letters are on the first floor
.
Tap the words in order.
Pick the reply
Mr. Kowalski says:
Pick the reply
These are your keys.
I am giving you the keys to the home
And you reply with:
Swap the word
Swap the word
You want a new neighbor to phone you when something is wrong.
Call ____ if there's a problem.
What do you say?
What do you say?
He already gave you the keys. He looks at the shovel. You need him to look at you again.
True or false?
True or false?
This line says letters are on the first floor.
Say it — on the porch
Now you're Ana on the porch with Mr. Kowalski. 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.
- Ana (you)Get his attention on the porch.
Get his attention on the porch.
Excuse me.
you say this to get someone's attention
0 of 7 said
Recap — what you can say now
| English | Simple English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| These are your keys. | I am giving you the keys to the home | |
| This is the front door. | This door is the door to the building | |
| This one's yours. | This key is for your apartment | |
| How does the door open? | What do I do to unlock it? | |
| The mailbox is downstairs. | Letters are on the first floor | |
| Call me if there's a problem. | Phone me when something is wrong |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Want to keep these key lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.
A quick round with the Yak Cards each day helps you remember what to say at your new home.
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