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Vocabulary
an application
N. a written request for an apartment, job or entrance into a school or organization
a credit report
N. a complete history of a persons paying habits
In the United States, detailed credit histories are kept on all Americans describing how they pay their credit card bills, rent payments, electricity bills, car payments, telephone bills, etc. People are given grades called "credit ratings" for how well they pay off their debt. When a person moves into an apartment, landlords often request credit reports to find out if a person regularly pays on time.
to deposit a deposit
V. to put money in a bank N. Money which is put in a bank N. Money which is given to ensure that something will be returned or remain in good condition For example, if you want to rent a bicycle, you might have to leave a deposit to ensure that you bring the bike back.
to fill out
V. to complete (a form) by writing in the information
to be furnished furnished
V. to have furniture A. having furniture
a landlord a landlady
N. the man who runs an apartment building or property N. the woman who runs an apartment building or property
non-refundable
A. cannot be returned (money)
a reference
N. a person who will provide information about your character or ability N. a written letter which will provide information about you character or ability
When looking for an apartment in the United States, it is common to provide a landlord with references who will say that you are a good person who will not cause problems.
to sublet
V. to rent your apartment temporarily to someone else
a tenant
N. a person who is renting a room or apartment
Vocabulary in Conversation
Use the above vocabulary to fill in the blanks in the following conversation. Your answers can be checked by clicking at the bottom of the page.
Toshi: Hello, I am calling because I read your ad in the Sunday Tribune. It said you were trying ______________________ your one-room apartment for the next six months. Can I ask you a couple of questions?
Mr. Harris: Certainly.
Toshi: Will the apartment ______________________?
Mr. Harris: Yes, the apartment will have a couch, a small dinner table with two chairs, a couple of bookshelves and a queen-size bed.
Toshi: Great, I just moved here and I haven't bought any furniture yet.
Mr. Harris: The facilities are very nice. ______________________ have access to a small fitness room, a swimming pool and a coin-operated laundry. The ______________________ is excellent as well. If there are any problems at all, you can contact him and he'll take care of everything.
Toshi: It sounds perfect.
Mr. Harris: If you are interested, you need to pick up an ______________________ form, complete it, and return it to me by Friday along with a check for $25.00. We will get back to you within a week and let you know our decision.
Toshi: Do I get the $25.00 back if you rent the apartment to somebody else?
Mr. Harris: No, the $25.00 fee is ______________________. We use the money to order a copy of your ______________________; we need to find out about your history of paying bills.
Toshi: I just moved here from Japan, I don't think that will work in my case.
Mr. Harris: Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize that you were new to the United States. In that case, when you ______________________ the form, make sure you include three ______________________ that we can contact to find out a little bit more about you.
Toshi: No problem. Oh! I forgot to ask about the rent.
Mr. Harris: The rent is $550.00 per month and there is a cleaning ______________________ of $250.00 when you move in.
Toshi: Sounds good. I'll come by to pick up the form tomorrow.
Vocabulary Follow-Up
Use the above vocabulary to fill in the blanks in the following sentences. Your answers can be checked by clicking at the bottom of the page.
1. When they moved out, their apartment was a mess, so they didn't get their cleaning ______________________ back.
2. Your airline ticket is ______________________. I am afraid there is no way we can return your money.
3. It is very difficult to buy a house in the United States without a ______________________. The bank needs to know whether or not you pay your bills on time.
4. He wasn't accepted to the university because he sent in his ______________________ too late.
5. When I applied for the job, I listed you as a ______________________. If they call, tell them good things about me.
6. The form was in Spanish, so I couldn't ___________ it __________.
7. He is looking for a ______________________ apartment because he is only staying in New York for three months.
8. Several ______________________ in my apartment building complained because the elevator didn't work.
9. Hopefully, the ______________________ will hire someone to fix the elevator soon. I told him I am sick of walking up the stairs!
10. Janet is going to study in Italy for six months, so she is trying ______________________ her apartment.
"Get"
Rewrite the sentences below using the word "get" to replace one of the verbs or an entire verb phrase. The first sentence has been done for you.
1. Did you understand what she said? It was really confusing. Did you get what she said? It was really confusing.
2. When I arrived there at 6 o'clock, the office was closed. I couldn't look at the apartment.
3. He became sick with the flu, so he went to the doctor.
4. The child threw a rock at his brother and hit him in the eye.
5. I couldn't fit the key into the lock. I think it was the wrong key.
6. I received an expensive gift from a friend. She spent too much on my birthday.
7. People who talk in theaters really make me mad.
8. If you add two plus two you discover the answer is four.
9. I'm sorry, I didn't hear your name. Could you please repeat it?
10. How do I find my way to Delancey Street? Do I walk towards the park?
11. The police captured the criminal as he was running out of the apartment building.
12. I am going to go to the store to buy some milk.
13. They don't have cable television, so they cannot receive that channel. I'm afraid we will have to watch something else tonight.
14. The phone is ringing. Can you please answer it?
15. If you are thirsty, I can bring you some tea or coffee. It's absolutely no problem.
Focus on Verbs
The following passage should be completed by putting the verb in parentheses in the Simple Past or the Past Perfect. If you are confused, you should refer to the English Page's Verb Tense Tutorial.
I Got the Apartment!
I can't believe I (get) ______________________ that apartment. I (submit) ______________________ my application last week, but I didn't think I had a chance of actually getting it. When I (show) ______________________ up to take a look around, there were at least twenty other people who (arrive) ______________________ before me. Most of them (fill, already) ______________________ out their applications and were already leaving. The landlord said I could still apply, so I did.
I (try) ______________________ to fill out the form, but I couldn't answer half of the questions. They (want) ______________________ me to include references, but I didn't want to list my previous landlord because I (have) ______________________ some problems with him and I knew he wouldn't recommend me. I (end) ______________________ up listing my father as a reference.
It was total luck that he (decide) ____________________ to give me the apartment. It turns out that the landlord and my father (go) ____________________ to high school together. He decided that I could have the apartment before he (look) ____________________ at my credit report. I really lucked out!
Go to Weekly Lesson Answers
Toshi: Hello, I am calling because I read your ad in the Sunday Tribune. It said you were trying to sublet your one-room apartment for the next six months. Can I ask you a couple of questions?
Toshi: Will the apartment be furnished?
Mr. Harris: The facilities are very nice. Tenants have access to a small fitness room, a swimming pool and a coin-operated laundry. The landlord is excellent as well. If there are any problems at all, you can contact him and he'll take care of everything.
Mr. Harris: If you are interested, you need to pick up an application form, complete it, and return it to me by Friday along with a check for $25.00. We will get back to you within a week and let you know our decision.
Mr. Harris: No, the $25.00 fee is non-refundable. We use the money to order a copy of your credit report; we need to find out about your history of paying bills.
Mr. Harris: Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize that you were new to the United States. In that case, when you fill out the form, make sure you include three references that we can contact to find out a little bit more about you.
Mr. Harris: The rent is $550.00 per month and there is a cleaning deposit of $250.00 when you move in.
1. When they moved out, their apartment was a mess, so they didn't get their cleaning deposit back.
2. Your airline ticket is non-refundable. I am afraid there is no way we can return your money.
3. It is very difficult to buy a house in the United States without a credit report. They need to know whether or not you pay your bills on time.
4. He wasn't accepted to the university because he sent in his application too late.
5. When I applied for the job, I listed you as a reference. If they call, tell them good things about me.
6. The form was in Spanish, so I couldn't fill it out.
7. He is looking for a furnished apartment because he is only staying in New York for three months.
8. Several tenants in my apartment building complained because the elevator didn't work.
9. Hopefully, the landlord will hire someone to fix the elevator soon. I told him I am sick of walking up the stairs!
10. Janet is going to study in Italy for six months, so she is trying to sublet her apartment.
2. When I arrived there at 6 o'clock, the office was closed. I couldn't look at the apartment. When I got there at 6 o'clock, the office was closed. I couldn't look at the apartment.
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