Vocabulary: Cleaning and Organizing

Verbs: To clean – To tidy up – To lock – To find

To clean: I clean the kitchen. I clean the floor in the bathroom.
To tidy up: I tidy up the kitchen table. I tidy up the coffee table in the living
room.
To lock: I lock the front door. Did you lock the door?
To find: I find my favorite mug for tea. I found the vacuum and broom in the
closet.
In the House
Areas
The Floor, Wall, Ceiling: The floor is clean. We painted the walls. The ceiling is
white.
Bedroom: I sleep in the bedroom.
Dining Room: My family eats in the dining room.
Kitchen: The stove is in the kitchen.
Living Room: The couch is in the living room.
Bathroom: We have two bathrooms.
Items
Couch/ Sofa, Coffee Table: I sit on the couch. My book is on the coffee table.
Carpet, Rug: A rug is small, and a carpet is big.
Lamp, Bookshelf, TV: The lamp and bookshelf are beside the TV.
Kitchen Table, Kitchen Chairs: I sit on a kitchen chair. We eat dinner at the
kitchen table.
Bed, Pillows, Sheets, Comforter: Pillows, sheets, and a comforter are on my bed.
Dresser: I put my clothes in the dresser.
Sink, Mirror, Cabinet: The cabinet is above the sink. I look in the mirror.
Toilet, Shower, Bathtub: We need to clean the toilet, shower, and bathtub.
Washing Machine, Laundry Basket: The clothes are in the laundry basket. We
put dirty clothes
in the washing machine.
Broom, Vacuum: I clean the floor with the broom and vacuum.
Grammar: Prepositions of Place
Above – On Top Of – On
The picture is above the piano. [not touching]
The food is on top of the fridge. [touching, high up]
The plates are on the shelf. [touching]
Under – Below
The sheets are under the comforter.
Note: “Under” is more common than “below.” “Underneath/ Beneath” are very
formal.
Behind – In Front Of
The broom is behind the laundry basket.
The laundry basket is in front of the broom.
Between – Beside – Next To
The sink is between the shelf and the laundry basket. [something on both sides]
The shelf is beside the sink. [something on one side]
The shelf is next to the sink. [something on one side]
Near – Close By – Close To – By
The coffee table is near the couch.
The coffee table is close by/ close to the couch.
The coffee table is by the couch.
Note: All these words have the same meaning.
In – Inside
The soap is in the cabinet.
The soap is in the bottle.
The soap is inside the cabinet.
Note: These words have the same meaning, but “in” is more common.
Out Of – Outside (Of)
The shirt is out of the dresser. [moved from in to out]
The shirt is outside (of) the dresser. [simply not in, no movement]
I am out of the car. [moved from in to out]
I am outside (of) the car. [simply not in, no movement]
Note: The word “of” is optional with “outside.”
Pronunciation: Contractions
To Be
I + am = I’m cleaning under the couch.
You + are = You’re You’re cooking breakfast.
He + is = He’s/ She’s He’s/ She’s cooking breakfast.
It + is = It’s It’s my favorite food.
We + are = We’re We’re cleaning the whole house.
They + are = They’re My grandparents called—they’re coming to visit!
That + is = That’s/ There’s/ What’s That’s my dinner./ There’s my dinner./
What’s my dinner?
Is + Not = Isn’t He isn’t tidying up.
Are + Not = Aren’t We aren’t organized.
To Do
Do + not = I don’t I don’t like hot dogs.
Did + not = I didn’t I didn’t tidy up my bedroom.
Does + not = He/ She/ It doesn’t He doesn’t like to clean the bathroom.
Will
I + will = I’ll I’ll introduce you to my cousin.
You + will = You’ll You’ll love this cake!
He + will = He’ll/She’ll/It’ll He’ll / She’ll clean the whole house. /It’ll be clean.
They + will = They’ll They’ll watch TV in the living room.
We + will = We’ll We’ll meet my sister tomorrow.
Will + not = Won’t They won’t be happy if we are late.

Vocabulary
1. Where can I find the broom to sweep the floor?
Sample answer: The broom is in the closet.
2. When will you tidy up the living room?
3. How often do you clean the kitchen?
4. Where did you find that coffee mug?
5. Do you know someone who doesn’t lock their door?
Grammar
1. What is that on the shelf?
Sample answer: There is a book on the shelf.
2. How often do you clean under the fridge?
3. Who put these cookies on top of the freezer?
4. Do you always put dirty clothes in the laundry basket?
5. What is next to your bed?

Pronunciation
1. Do you know what time we’re meeting for dinner?
Sample answer: We’re meeting for dinner at 7:00.
2. Why isn’t the laundry basket in the closet?
3. Why aren’t you ready yet?
4. Do you think they’ll love the dessert?
5. Why didn’t you tidy up before the party?