New here? This is lesson 204 of a free 240-lesson English course.
A leaking faucet in English
Ana's kitchen faucet will not stop dripping. She calls Mr. Kowalski, her landlord on the first floor.
He is brief, as always. He still calls her Miss, and he wants a time when she will be home.
By the end, you will report a leak, ask for a visit, and say when you can be there.
You report the problem and set a time. Who pays is for a later lesson.
By the end of this lesson
Report a leak in the apartment and arrange a visit.
- The faucet keeps leaking.Water keeps dripping from the kitchen sink.
- Can you send someone to look?Please have a person come check it.
- When can they come by?What time can they visit?
- I'll be home all afternoon.I'll be in the apartment after noon.
- Has it been fixed yet?Is the repair already done?
- Could you come as soon as you can?Please visit at the earliest time.
Scene — the kitchen sink
Ana is in her second-floor kitchen on Larch Street. Water drips from the faucet into the sink, slow and steady.
She stands by the window with her phone. Mr. Kowalski lives on the first floor. He is brief, and he still calls her Miss.
The three-flat porch is quiet. No one has come up yet.
Learn — report the leak
Six lines help you call about a leak. You report it, ask for a visit, and say when you are home.
You also check if the repair is done, and you ask someone to come soon.
The faucet keeps leaking.
Water keeps dripping from the kitchen sink.
When to use it: Say this when water drips and will not stop.
Keeps plus the -ing form means it happens again and again.
Say it: The stress is on the first part of leaking.
Can you send someone to look?
Please have a person come check it.
When to use it: Ask this when you want a person to come check.
Can you is the casual way to ask.
When can they come by?
What time can they visit?
When to use it: Ask this after someone agrees to send help.
Come by means visit for a short time.
Say it: The stress is on by in come by.
I'll be home all afternoon.
I'll be in the apartment after noon.
When to use it: Say this to give a time when they can visit.
I'll is I will said as one piece.
Say it: I'll is short, not two slow words.
Has it been fixed yet?
Is the repair already done?
When to use it: Ask this when you want to know if the work is done.
Yet at the end asks if it is done up to now.
Say it: Has it been can link.
Could you come as soon as you can?
Please visit at the earliest time.
When to use it: Say this when you want a visit at the earliest time.
Could you is the polite way to ask.
Say it: These last words can link into one group.
Story — she calls the first floor
Listen to Ana call Mr. Kowalski about the kitchen faucet. He stays brief and still calls her Miss.
The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.
- Water drips into the kitchen sink. Ana pushes her phone by the window.
AnaHello, Mr. Kowalski. It's Ana.a polite hello, and she says who she is
Mr. KowalskiYes, Miss.He answers her and waits.- AnaThe faucet keeps leaking.Water keeps dripping from the kitchen sink.
- Mr. KowalskiThe kitchen one?He checks which faucet it is.
- AnaYes. Can you send someone to look?Please have a person come check it.
- Mr. KowalskiWhen will you be home, Miss?He asks for a time she will be in.
- AnaI'll be home all afternoon.I'll be in the apartment after noon.
- Mr. KowalskiFine. I'll send someone.He agrees to send a person.
- AnaWhen can they come by?What time can they visit?
- Mr. KowalskiThis afternoon, Miss.He says they can come after noon.
- AnaIt's on the second floor.My home is one floor above the ground floor
- Mr. KowalskiI know, Miss.He already knows her floor.
- Later, the faucet still drips. Ana calls again.
- AnaHas it been fixed yet?Is the repair already done?
- Mr. KowalskiNot yet.The repair is not done.
- AnaCould you come as soon as you can?Please visit at the earliest time.
- Mr. KowalskiI'll send someone. Call me if there's a problem.He will send a person, and she can phone if something is wrong.
Practice — set a time
Eleven short exercises wait here. You will listen, pick, build, fill a gap, and swap a word.
They stay small, so you can move through them quickly.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
When can they come by?
What do you say?
What do you say?
The kitchen faucet drips. You are on the phone with your landlord. You want a person to come check it.
Pick the reply
Mr. Kowalski says:
Pick the reply
When will you be home, Miss?
He asks for a time she will be in.
And you reply with:
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
Please visit at the earliest time.
Could you come as soon as you ____?
Build the line
Build the line
Water keeps dripping from the kitchen sink.
.
Tap the words in order.
Swap the word
Swap the word
Tell your landlord you will be in the apartment after noon.
I'll ____ home all afternoon.
True or false?
True or false?
This line asks who will pay for the repair.
Which one doesn’t belong?
Which one doesn’t belong?
Pick the reply
Mr. Kowalski says:
Pick the reply
Which floor, Miss?
He asks which floor the apartment is on.
And you reply with:
True or false?
True or false?
This line is a way to say goodbye at night.
Say it — say it on the phone
Now you're Ana on the phone 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.
- Mr. KowalskiYes, Miss.He answers and waits for her news.
- Ana (you)Tell him water still drips from the sink.
Tell him water still drips from the sink.
The faucet keeps leaking.
Water keeps dripping from the kitchen sink.
0 of 5 said
Recap — what you can say now
| English | Simple English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| The faucet keeps leaking. | Water keeps dripping from the kitchen sink. | |
| Can you send someone to look? | Please have a person come check it. | |
| When can they come by? | What time can they visit? | |
| I'll be home all afternoon. | I'll be in the apartment after noon. | |
| Has it been fixed yet? | Is the repair already done? | |
| Could you come as soon as you can? | Please visit at the earliest time. |
Save your progress — it’s free
Keep your place in the course and see which lines you’ve learned.
Want the next lesson in your inbox?
Get the next lesson by email, one a day.
Join the newsletterDaily lesson emails are coming soon. Newsletter subscribers get them first.
Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Want to keep these repair lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.
A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your repair lines ready for a call.
Open Yak Cards