English - Home Life

Lesson 52 of 139

A learner thinking about their home while studying essential English phrases about rooms, rent, and neighborhood.

Goal: Talk about your place, rent, and neighborhood

Free English lessons with audio, guided practice, and speaking support.

Welcome to Lesson 52 — a short, friendly practice about homes. Ready to talk about rooms, rent, and your neighborhood? Let's yak about your space (just a little!).

Level A2: In this lesson you will practice eight useful phrases for talking about where you live: saying you have a private room, asking and giving rent amounts, describing your neighborhood and building, and saying you want a new place. This CEFR-aligned set is practical and quick — perfect for chats with neighbors or a landlord.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Say that you have a private room and describe your living space.
  • Ask about and say monthly rent amounts.
  • Describe your neighborhood and building features, and say if you're looking for a new place.
  • Use simple questions about how long someone has lived somewhere (Level A2).
An apartment building and neighborhood scene to introduce phrases about where you live and what your building has.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

I have my own room.

Say that you have a private room

Meaning: Say that you have a private room

When to use: Use this when you want to tell someone you have a private room in a house or apartment.

Tip: Some learners say "I have my room." Use "my own room" to show it is private.

I have my own room at my parents' house.
I have my own room at my parents' house.
I have my own room in a shared apartment.
I have my own room in a shared apartment.

I don't have much space.

Say that a home feels too small

Meaning: Say that a home feels too small

When to use: Use this when there is not enough space in your apartment or room.

I don't have much space in my studio.
I don't have much space in my studio.
I don't have much space for my clothes and books.
I don't have much space for my clothes and books.

The rent is ___ a month.

Talk about monthly housing cost

Meaning: Talk about monthly housing cost

When to use: Use this frame to give the monthly rent amount. Put the number where the blank is.

Tip: Don't say "per a month." Say "a month" or "per month."

The rent is $700 a month.
The rent is $700 a month.
The rent is 600 euros a month.
The rent is 600 euros a month.

How much is the rent?

Ask about housing cost

Meaning: Ask about housing cost

When to use: Use this simple question when you want to know how much rent costs.

How much is the rent for the flat?
How much is the rent for the flat?
How much is the rent in this neighborhood?
How much is the rent in this neighborhood?

My neighborhood is ___.

Describe the area around home

Meaning: Describe the area around home

When to use: Use this to say something about your neighborhood (quiet, noisy, safe, busy, etc.).

My neighborhood is quiet and safe.
My neighborhood is quiet and safe.
My neighborhood is full of shops and cafes.
My neighborhood is full of shops and cafes.

My building has ___.

Say what is available in the building

Meaning: Say what is available in the building

When to use: Use this to list features or facilities in your building.

My building has a gym.
My building has a gym.
My building has a laundry room and a parking area.
My building has a laundry room and a parking area.

How long have you lived there?

Asking about length of residence

Meaning: Asking about length of residence

When to use: Use this question to ask someone how long they have lived in a place and they still live there now.

Tip: Don't use past simple if the person still lives there. Avoid "How long did you live there?" in that case.

How long have you lived there?
How long have you lived there?
How long have you lived there — since last year?
How long have you lived there — since last year?

I'm looking for a new place.

Saying you want to change your living situation

Meaning: Saying you want to change your living situation

When to use: Use this when you are actively searching for another home.

I'm looking for a new place closer to work.
I'm looking for a new place closer to work.
I'm looking for a new place with lower rent.
I'm looking for a new place with lower rent.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna visits David's apartment and they talk about living there.

Two neighbors talking in a hallway about rent, space, and moving plans — good practice for real-life conversations.

What are Anna and David talking about?

Portrait of Anna in a English lesson dialogue

Anna

How long have you lived there?

Asking how long someone has lived at their place.

Portrait of David in a English lesson dialogue

David

About two years. I have my own room.

Saying he has a private room and how long he has lived there.

Portrait of Anna in a English lesson dialogue

Anna

My neighborhood is noisy. How much is the rent?

Describing her area and asking about rent.

Portrait of David in a English lesson dialogue

David

The rent is $800 a month.

Telling the monthly rent.

Portrait of Anna in a English lesson dialogue

Anna

I don't have much space in my studio.

Saying she feels her home is small.

Portrait of David in a English lesson dialogue

David

I'm looking for a new place, too.

Saying he is also searching for a different home.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which sentence means you live in a private room?

Which question asks about monthly housing cost?

Which phrase shows someone wants to move?

Which sentence correctly completes the frame 'The rent is ___ a month.'?

Anna: How much is the rent? David: The rent is $500 a month.

Anna: How much is the rent? David: ___ $500 a month.

After two noisy years, Maria says: I'm looking for a new place.

After two noisy years, Maria says: ___.

Agent on a tour: "My building has a gym and laundry."

Agent on a tour: "My building has ___ ."

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

I have my own room.

Say that you have a private room

Say this phrase out loud:

I don't have much space.

Say that a home feels too small

Say this phrase out loud:

The rent is ___ a month.

Talk about monthly housing cost

Say this phrase out loud:

How much is the rent?

Ask about housing cost

Say this phrase out loud:

My neighborhood is ___.

Describe the area around home

Say this phrase out loud:

My building has ___.

Say what is available in the building

Say this phrase out loud:

How long have you lived there?

Asking about length of residence

Say this phrase out loud:

I'm looking for a new place.

Saying you want to change your living situation