Word Use Ex. 14 Complete the following sentences with a suitable idiomatic expression.

a) Come in and have a seat. I want you to feel you can behave as if you were in your house. So ____________ while I make a cup of tea.

b) They made me feel very welcome. It was like being in my own house.

It was________.

c) He has enjoyed travelling round the world and seeing different places, but at last he had returned. He walked towards his house and thought ______.

d) I can do what I want in my own house. You know what they say,_______.

Dog needs home. Eats anything, especially loves children.

Ex. 15 The estate is showing another client round the flat. Practise the dialogue with your partner, using the prompts below.

Estate agent

1. Describe the flat.

2. Comment on the wallpaper and the old carpet.

3. Agree the flat needs decorating. Say it would look nice with new shelves, curtains, etc.

4. Say the flat is cold and damp, and the fireplace is ugly.

5. Say central heating could be installed

6. Comment on the hole in the ceiling and the broken window

7. Say that repairs wil be done.

8. Say you are interested in the flat but need to discuss it with someone.

9. Say he or she can occupy the flat immediately.

10. Say you need time to consider it.

11. Say other people are interested in it.

12. Say you will get back to him, and thank him for his help. Say good-bye.

There's not place like home.

Do you agree? Why? Discuss with your partner.

Writing

Ann's husband works for a company located abroad. Ann writes a letter about the flat and asks him whether or not they should buy it.

Ex. 16 Have you ever decorated a house or a room yourself?

Would you like to? What are the advantages and disadvantages of Do-it-yourself (DIY)? Which of the following answers are the advantages and which are the disadvantages? Work with a partner to fill in the table. Add some more to complete the list.

to take a lot of time

to be easy to get it wrong

not to have to rely on other people

iо be fun

to be dangerous

lo have no one to complain to

to have sense of achievement

to do it when you want

Advantages	Disadvantages
not so expensive

Ex. 17 Here are some things you would probably need if you were decorating a room. Work on your own and decide whether you would use them for

preparation or for decorating. Add some more things, if necessary.

Compare your list with a partner's.

paint scissors wallpaper

paintbrush bucket step-ladder

roller sponge

Ex. 18 Which jobs mentioned below can be done by yourself?

Which jobs need professional help? Discuss it in groups of three and four, use the constructions like these:

Example: The windows are filthy. They need cleaning.

a) I can clean them myself.

b) I should have them cleaned (if you need professional help)

Use a dictionary if necessary:

a) to fix the door (creaking)

b) to install air-conditioning (stuffy)

c) to clean the windows (filthy)

d) to paint/ to do the ceiling (peeling)

e) to install/ to put in central-heating

f) to rewire the house

g) to redecorate the house/flat

h) to repair the roof (leaking)

i) to repair the pipes (dripping)

Ex. 19 The notes below describe what is wrong with the building.

Read the notes and describe what needs doing before it can be used, and why.

Use the constructions from the exercise above: