Unit 4: Come to my house! Rooms, places and present continuous

The bag is under the table. She is tidying her room. The first sentence locates an object; the second describes an action happening now. In English 1AC Unit 4, Come to my house!, learn rooms and furniture, prepositions of place, frequency words and the present continuous. Then describe a home and the people helping in it.

English Spotlight 1, Part 1 · Moroccan 1AC · Updated 19 September 2026

By the end of this lesson, you can

Name rooms and everyday household objects
Locate objects with prepositions of place
Describe habits with frequency adverbs
Form the present continuous with am/is/are + verb-ing
Distinguish a regular habit from an action happening now
Write a short description of a home scene

Before you startThere is/are and questions with where · Present simple and time expressions · Am, is, are and family vocabulary

What are the rooms in a house called in English?

A cutaway house labels the bedroom, bathroom, living room, kitchen and garden, with recognisable furniture. — Name the rooms and their objects. This is an imaginary house; describe your own home or invent one for practice.

Room or place	What you might do there
bedroom	Sleep or keep your clothes
living room	Sit, talk and relax
kitchen	Prepare food and cook
bathroom	Wash and brush your teeth
dining room	Eat meals
hall	Enter the home or reach other rooms
garden	Grow plants or play outside
study	Read or do desk work
laundry room	Wash clothes

The picture is an imaginary home. Find the bedroom, bathroom, living room, kitchen and garden. Not every home has a garden, study or separate dining room. Use the words you need for your own home, or describe an invented one.

A house is a type of building. A flat or apartment is a home within a larger building. Home means the place where you live: you can say I go home even if you live in a flat.

Describe a flat

I live in a flat. There are two bedrooms. There is a kitchen, a bathroom and a living room. There isn’t a garden.

Use I live in to introduce the type of home.
Use there are with two bedrooms.
Use there isn’t to describe something absent.

What are common furniture and household words?

Object	A simple description
bed / pillow / blanket	Things used for sleeping
wardrobe	A cupboard for clothes
sofa / armchair	Comfortable seats
table / chair / desk	Furniture for sitting, eating or working
lamp	A light
rug	A covering for part of a floor
bookshelf	A shelf for books
fridge	Keeps food cold
cooker	Used for cooking food
sink	A place to wash dishes
washing machine	Washes clothes

Furniture is an uncountable word. Do not add s to make furnitures. To count, name the objects: two chairs, one table and a bed. A desk is a piece of furniture; a study is a room.

How do in, on, under and next to describe a place?

Definition

Preposition of place : A preposition of place shows where something is in relation to something else: The bag is under the table.

A blue bag is inside a box, on a table, under a table and beside a table. — In means inside, on shows contact with the surface, under means below and next to means beside.

Preposition	Meaning	Example
in	Inside	The bag is in the box.
on	Touching a surface above it	The bag is on the table.
under	Below	The bag is under the table.
next to	Beside	The bag is next to the table.
between	In the space separating two things	The lamp is between the bed and the desk.
behind	At the back of	The bag is behind the door.
in front of	Before the front of	The chair is in front of the desk.

The same bag changes position in the picture. A box is the reference object in the first scene; a table is the reference in the other three. Ask Where is the bag? Answer It’s under the table. For several objects, ask Where are the books? Answer They’re on the desk.

Step by step

Build a sentence about position

Choose the object you want to locate.
Use is for one object or are for several.
Choose a preposition that matches the picture.
Name the reference object: The books are on the shelf.
Check whether your partner can find the object from your description.

Remember

On means touching the surface in these examples; in means inside. With between, name both reference points: between the bed and the desk. Only describe positions that the picture or text actually gives.

How do always, usually, sometimes and never describe habits?

Frequency word	Meaning	Example
always	Every time	I always brush my teeth in the morning.
usually	Most times	I usually read in my bedroom.
often	Many times	We often eat in the kitchen.
sometimes	On some occasions	I sometimes watch TV.
never	Not at any time	I never leave books on the stairs.

Ask How often do you tidy your room? Answer I usually tidy my room on Saturday. Frequency words usually go before an ordinary verb: She often reads. They usually go after be: She is often tired. These words describe general frequency, not exact percentages.

Remember

Never already has a negative meaning. Say I never watch TV in the morning. Do not add don’t to make I don’t never watch TV.

How do you talk about household chores?

Chore	What it involves
tidy my room	Put things in their places
make my bed	Arrange the blanket and pillows
wash the dishes	Clean plates, cups and other dishes
set the table	Put out things for a meal
sweep the floor	Clean the floor with a broom
water the plants	Give plants water
cook dinner	Prepare the evening meal
take out the rubbish	Move waste to the appropriate bin

Chores are jobs that help keep a home clean and organised. Describe a routine with the present simple: I make my bed. My brother sets the table. Family members can share age-appropriate tasks. Use a real or imaginary situation for practice.

How do you form the present continuous?

Definition

Present continuous : For an action happening now, use subject + am/is/are + verb-ing: I am reading. She is cooking. They are cleaning. This is also called the present progressive.

A father washes dishes, a girl waters a plant, a boy makes a bed and two people tidy a room. — Describe what is happening now with am, is or are plus verb-ing: They are tidying the room.

Look at the actions happening in the picture. A father is washing the dishes, a girl is watering a plant, a boy is making the bed and two people are tidying the room. These sentences describe this moment; they do not tell us who always does each job.

Subject	Statement	Negative	Question
I	I am reading.	I am not reading.	Am I reading?
he / she / it	She is cooking.	She isn’t cooking.	Is she cooking?
you / we / they	They are cleaning.	They aren’t cleaning.	Are they cleaning?

Short forms are common: I’m reading, she’s cooking, they’re cleaning. Ask What are you doing? Answer I’m making my bed. For Is he washing the dishes?, answer Yes, he is or No, he isn’t. The short answer uses be, not do.

How do you spell verb-ing forms?

Base verb	Verb-ing	What changes?
read	reading	Add ing
wash	washing	Add ing
play	playing	Keep y
tidy	tidying	Keep y
make	making	Remove the silent final e
write	writing	Remove the silent final e
sit	sitting	Double t
run	running	Double n

Remember

Keep the verb be: She is cooking, not She cooking. Do not add s to the -ing form: She is cooking, not She is cookings. Learn the forms in the table; not every final consonant is doubled.

Present simple or present continuous: which one do you need?

Meaning	Tense	Example
A regular habit	Present simple	I tidy my room on Saturday.
An action happening now	Present continuous	I am tidying my room now.
A family member’s habit	Present simple	My father usually cooks dinner.
His action at this moment	Present continuous	He is washing the dishes now.

Ask: Is this a regular habit, or is it happening in the scene now? Usually and every day often signal a habit. Now and at the moment often signal an action in progress. Read the whole situation before choosing a tense.

Reading: an afternoon at home

I’m Imane. I live in a small apartment. My room has a bed, a desk and a bookshelf. My desk is next to the window. I usually do my homework there. Today, I’m tidying my room. My brother is watering the plants. My father is cooking dinner. My mother is reading in the living room. We are helping each other.

Where is Imane’s desk? It’s next to the window. What does she usually do there? She usually does her homework. What is she doing today? She is tidying her room. Notice how the verb changes when the meaning changes from a habit to an action in progress.

Mini-project: describe a room and the people in it

Step by step

Prepare a scene

Draw a real or invented room with four objects.
Write two sentences with there is or there are.
Locate two objects with different prepositions.
Add one habit with usually or sometimes.
Add two people doing things and describe them with be + verb-ing.
Read your sentences to a partner who draws the scene. Compare both drawings.

Check yourself: Can you name four rooms, locate three objects, describe one habit and describe two actions happening now? If you mix the tenses, compare I tidy my room on Saturday with I am tidying my room now. Then change just the action and practise again.

Frequently asked questions

What does English 1AC Unit 4 cover?

Come to my house! covers rooms, furniture, prepositions of place, frequency adverbs, chores and the present continuous. It also compares habits with actions happening now.

How do I form the present continuous?

Use a subject, am/is/are and a verb ending in -ing: I am reading, she is cooking, they are cleaning. Keep be in both full and short forms.

What is the difference between in, on and under?

In means inside: in the box. On means resting on a surface in these examples: on the table. Under means below: under the table.

What is the difference between present simple and present continuous?

For this unit, use the present simple for a habit: I tidy my room on Saturday. Use the present continuous for an action happening now: I am tidying my room now.

Where do frequency adverbs go in a sentence?

They usually go before ordinary verbs, as in She often reads, and after be, as in She is often tired. Never already has a negative meaning, so it does not need don’t.

Quiz: 20 questions

20 questions are randomly selected from this lesson’s 24-question bank. Choose one answer for each question and get an immediate explanation.

Q1Which room is usually used for cooking?

Correct answer: Kitchen

A kitchen is the room used for preparing and cooking food.

Q2Which object keeps food cold?

Correct answer: A fridge

A fridge keeps food at a low temperature.

Q3The bag is inside the box. It is … the box.

Correct answer: in

In means inside a place or container.

Q4The books rest on the desk’s top surface. They are … it.

Correct answer: on

On describes contact with the top surface here.

Q5The bag is below the table. It is … the table.

Correct answer: under

Under describes a lower position than the reference object.

Q6Which phrase means beside?

Correct answer: Next to

Next to means beside another person or thing.

Q7Complete: The lamp is between the bed … the desk.

Correct answer: and

Between the bed and the desk names both reference points.

Q8Which word means every time?

Correct answer: Always

Always describes something that happens every time.

Q9Which word means not at any time?

Correct answer: Never

Never has a negative meaning on its own.

Q10Choose the correct word order.

Correct answer: I usually read.

Usually normally goes before an ordinary verb such as read.

Q11Choose the correct sentence.

Correct answer: She is often tired.

A frequency adverb usually comes after be.

Q12Which sentence correctly uses never?

Correct answer: I never read at night.

Never already makes the meaning negative; no don’t is needed.

Q13Complete: I … reading now.

Correct answer: am

Use am with I, followed by the verb-ing form.

Q14Complete: They … cleaning.

Correct answer: are

Use are with they in the present continuous.

Q15What is the -ing form of make?

Correct answer: making

Remove the silent final e before adding ing.

Q16What is the -ing form of tidy?

Correct answer: tidying

Keep y and add ing: tidying.

Q17What is the -ing form of sit?

Correct answer: sitting

Double the final t in sit before adding ing.

Q18Choose the complete sentence.

Correct answer: She is cooking.

Present continuous needs be and a verb-ing form without s.

Q19Choose the negative of He is reading.

Correct answer: He isn’t reading.

Add not after is; is not can be shortened to isn’t.

Q20Which question is correct?

Correct answer: Is she cooking?

Move is before she to ask a present continuous question.

Q21Is he washing the dishes? Yes, …

Correct answer: he is.

The short answer repeats be, not do.

Q22Choose the sentence about a habit.

Correct answer: I tidy my room on Saturday.

The present simple describes the regular Saturday habit.

Q23Choose the sentence about now.

Correct answer: She is reading at the moment.

At the moment and is reading describe an action in progress.

Q24Which phrase counts furniture correctly?

Correct answer: three chairs

Furniture is uncountable; use object names such as chairs to count.

Your score

0/20

Start with the worked examples

Read the lesson in small sections. Write your own example for each rule and try the Easy exercises before returning to the quiz.

Review: 20 missed questions

Which room is usually used for cooking?
Correct answerKitchen
A kitchen is the room used for preparing and cooking food.
Which object keeps food cold?
Correct answerA fridge
A fridge keeps food at a low temperature.
The bag is inside the box. It is … the box.
Correct answerin
In means inside a place or container.
The books rest on the desk’s top surface. They are … it.
Correct answeron
On describes contact with the top surface here.
The bag is below the table. It is … the table.
Correct answerunder
Under describes a lower position than the reference object.
Which phrase means beside?
Correct answerNext to
Next to means beside another person or thing.
Complete: The lamp is between the bed … the desk.
Correct answerand
Between the bed and the desk names both reference points.
Which word means every time?
Correct answerAlways
Always describes something that happens every time.
Which word means not at any time?
Correct answerNever
Never has a negative meaning on its own.
Choose the correct word order.
Correct answerI usually read.
Usually normally goes before an ordinary verb such as read.
Choose the correct sentence.
Correct answerShe is often tired.
A frequency adverb usually comes after be.
Which sentence correctly uses never?
Correct answerI never read at night.
Never already makes the meaning negative; no don’t is needed.
Complete: I … reading now.
Correct answeram
Use am with I, followed by the verb-ing form.
Complete: They … cleaning.
Correct answerare
Use are with they in the present continuous.
What is the -ing form of make?
Correct answermaking
Remove the silent final e before adding ing.
What is the -ing form of tidy?
Correct answertidying
Keep y and add ing: tidying.
What is the -ing form of sit?
Correct answersitting
Double the final t in sit before adding ing.
Choose the complete sentence.
Correct answerShe is cooking.
Present continuous needs be and a verb-ing form without s.
Choose the negative of He is reading.
Correct answerHe isn’t reading.
Add not after is; is not can be shortened to isn’t.
Which question is correct?
Correct answerIs she cooking?
Move is before she to ask a present continuous question.

Answer and explanation

She usually reads in her room. Now she is tidying. Her brother is making his bed. The books are on the desk. Check the meaning first, then be and the subject’s number.