Phrasal Verbs about House and Home

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Buying a house is a serious business. For the majority of us, it will be the most expensive thing we will ever buy in our lives .Unfortunately, the house that we eventually ___ ___ will not be the house of our dreams. We have to lower our expectations considerably due to price, work, family and other pressures before the purchase is made. However, putting reality to one side for a moment, what kind of home would you like to buy in a perfect world?

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For my part, the kind of house I would like to spend my life in is very clear. It would be a house, not a flat. It would be close to both the countryside and the city, if not in both places at once. It would have an enormous garden with a tent for ___ ___ on summer evenings. While the front would have a view of a street, with at least one shop nearby, my ideal home would ___ ___ the countryside with views of either some mountains, a valley or some kind of water feature such as a lake or river.

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Having a shop close at hand would allow me to ___ ___ for a few minutes to buy some essentials when I run out rather than driving all the way to some soulless shopping centre. Nonetheless, having a major road nearby would allow me to visit said shopping centre whenever necessary, to ___ ___ on the month’s groceries. Being able to get onto a major road to drive to holiday spots for the weekend would also be pretty important for one’s quality of life.

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A large, fully equipped, state-of-the-art kitchen would be vital to me. I love to ___ ___ and I regard cooking as one of my favourite hobbies. Obviously, a roomy dining area would also be essential for when I have people over to dine but although those imaginary dinner parties in my luxury home would be fun to do, ___ ___ the pots and pans afterwards would not be so enjoyable. The latest dishwasher would be fundamental.

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On the subject of cleaning, there are a number of gadgets and apps to help a person to ___ ___ the home nowadays. I am not a very tidy person and have an annoying habit, according to my wife, of ___ ___ the house without even trying. Robot cleaners do really irritate me, I have to say, but looking on the bright side, these devices are programmable and can come out and do their work when I am not around.

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Besides, I would rather ___ ___ in the garden looking for odd jobs than clean the house. The fresh air is always preferable, no matter how wonderful the home is. But a really efficient, eco- friendly and futuristic home, for me, would have to have some kind of device that can recycle all the house hold waste that we ___ ___. I would happily pay top-dollar for something like that.

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Automatic Persian blinds would be indispensable for me. I’m not an early-riser and blocking out the early-morning daylight would be necessary if I were to ___ ___ for a while longer rather than getting up with the lark, as my wife is wont to do. These kinds of blinds are also an advantage in terms of security and when closed completely are very effective in keeping out intruders so that when ___ ___, pulling these down too will make for a more secure home, especially if they are alarmed.

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My ideal home would absolutely have a small guest house at the end of the garden for ___ ___ friends and relatives. It would have its own bathroom and toilet facilities as well as a small utility room equipped with a washing machine and tumble dryer. Perhaps it could be ___ ___ to students during term time to make a little ready cash on the side. Either way, for me it would be preferable to have it a short distance away from the main house for privacy. And if the imaginary residents had their own key, they could stay out late without myself or my wife having to ___ ___ for them so that we can let them into the house.

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Talking of privacy, a nice little office for both my wife and myself would be a basic requirement, as would a den for any children, should we chose to start a family. A gym would also be nice although I don’t think it would be necessary for us to have a separate his-and-hers version. And, just in case, perhaps a little workshop of some kind, next to the garage. If we ever wanted to ___ ___ the house on our own, you know, a lick of paint here and there, build a small shed, repair a door or two, sorting out some shelves or furniture, a small but functional workshop would be vital.

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However, there is one drawback to owning the ideal, dream home; if I had all of this, I would probably never go out. Mind you, if I did live in such a house, I don’t think that ___ ___ would be a problem for me personally, to be fair.

​Dream Home Debate

Walton Construction

To: Senior departmental officers

From: Director of Marketing

Date: 17/02/2020

Re: Dream home ideas

Multiple Select

Dear colleagues,

As I am sure you are all _____, our company is down to the last three to be chosen in the bidding for a social housing project by _____ government.

• conscious

• aware

• central

• middle

Multiple Select

If _____, we would be given a large contract to design and build _____ housing for several different regions, up and down the UK.

• chosen

• selected

• social

• socialist

Multiple Select

We would also be _____ the contract for luxury houses that would be built by the government to help raise money to subsidise the _____ projects that are so sorely needed.

• given

• awarded

• social

• socialist

Multiple Select

We have been asked to contribute to the design of the luxury housing projects as part of the _____ for the contract. As such, we need ideas for luxury housing in semi-rural locations in the East _____ England.

• quiz

• tender

• of

• in

Multiple Select

I would like all heads of department to join _____ and work in _____ to come up with basic designs for our architectural team for a dream home.

• forces

• resources

• pairs

• couples

Multiple Select

Below are some things that I would like you all to _____ when thinking up your dream _____.

• remember

• remind

• livings

• dwellings

Multiple Select

Location – Obviously, we will need to consider just how rural or urban a place needs to be. We should also consider local services and the access that the _____ would enjoy. Would public transport be a consideration? And how near to major _____ and motorways should the house be located.

• site

• sight

• roads

• parks

Multiple Select

Size – The quantity of rooms and the size of the rooms as well as the land, on which the house is built, are important ___ to consider.

Facilities – The kinds of rooms also need _____ deliberation. Do we need to provide a swimming pool? How about a gym? Or a guesthouse? How big should the yard/garden be or is that kind of thing even desirable in the first place.

• factors

• facts

• carefully

• careful

Multiple Select

The environment – Sustainability is on everybody’s _____ nowadays. As a result, this is something that is always taken into account when planning a modern dwelling. How would waste be dealt with? Can the energy used to power the house be 100% _____? Could the material used to construct the house be recycled? All of these questions should also be addressed.

• brain

• mind

• recyclable

• renewable

Multiple Select

Hopefully, the above points should provide ample food for thought in relation to the meeting so please _____ those points in _____ while preparing your presentations.

The meeting will take place next week on Monday afternoon in my office.

Yours sincerely

Hugh Builtit

Director of Marketing

• bare

• bear

• mind

• awareness