A1 · Beginner · House and home
Household chores
4 short A1 English scripts to practise how to household chores. Read one out loud, record yourself, listen back and try again.
Key phrase It's your turn to…
Saturday jobs, no excuses
Saturday jobs! I wash up, you do the washing. Then we tidy up the living room together. After that, I vacuum and you sweep the kitchen. Yes, I know. You hate sweeping.
If we finish by twelve, we go for pizza. Deal? Great. Right, I'm starting. Oh, and Dan, the washing machine is not a bin for old socks.
American English
Saturday jobs! I do the dishes, you do the laundry. Then we clean up the living room together. After that, I vacuum and you sweep the kitchen. Yes, I know. You hate sweeping.
If we finish by noon, we go for pizza. Deal? Great. Okay, I'm starting. Oh, and Dan, the washing machine is not a trash can for old socks.
My mother is coming at six!
My mum is coming in an hour! Quick! Make the bed. Dust the shelf. Iron my shirt. Mop the floor. Take out the rubbish.
Why is there so much rubbish? And why is there a sock in the fridge? Never mind. She can't see the fridge. I hope.
American English
My mom is coming in an hour! Quick! Make the bed. Dust the shelf. Iron my shirt. Mop the floor. Take out the trash.
Why is there so much trash? And why is there a sock in the refrigerator? Never mind. She can't see the refrigerator. I hope.
Whose turn is it today?
Whose turn is it today? It's your turn! I fed the cat yesterday. Fine, I feed the cat. You water the plants.
Then we fold the towels and put away the toys. And someone has to wipe the table. It's my turn? Really? OK. But I want a biscuit first.
American English
Whose turn is it today? It's your turn! I fed the cat yesterday. Fine, I feed the cat. You water the plants.
Then we fold the towels and put away the toys. And someone has to wipe the table. It's my turn? Really? Okay. But I want a cookie first.
It's not messy, it's creative
Mum, do I have to do the housework? It's Sunday! Yes, I know it's my room. But it's not messy. It's creative.
Okay, okay. I can help out. What's the first chore? Oh, and there's a mess in the hall too? That's my brother's, not mine.
American English
Mom, do I have to do the housework? It's Sunday! Yes, I know it's my room. But it's not messy. It's creative.
Okay, okay. I can help out. What's the first chore? Oh, and there's a mess in the hallway too? That's my brother's, not mine.
Key words
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| wash up / do the dishes (US) phrasal verb | clean the plates and cups after a meal |
| do the washing / do the laundry (US) phrase | wash the dirty clothes |
| tidy up / clean up (US) phrasal verb | put things in the right place |
| vacuum verb | clean the floor with a machine that sucks up dirt |
| sweep verb | clean the floor with a brush |