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Views #552 | Intermediate 5

Rent or Own

Mark and Todd debate renting vs. owning.

Todd: So Mark, you are going back to America. (Yes) Man, where are you going to live when you go back?

Mark: Well, temporarily, I'll stay at my parents in Birmingham, Alabama.

Todd: OK, and where're you gonna live after that?

Mark: Well, I'm not sure. I might move down to South Florida. Florida is kind of my second home, and, yeah, I'd like to actually one day, get a house down there.

Todd: Oh, really.

Mark: Yeah.

Todd: You're just going to buy a house?

Mark: Well, I'd like to someday. I mean, I prefer to own my own home instead of always renting an apartment somewhere.

Todd: Yeah, but see, I think it's better to rent, cause you know, when you rent a house, you don't have to worry about losing your job, or if you have to relocate. You don't have to worry about if there's a natural disaster, and in Florida you seem to love those hurricanes down there.

Mark: That's definitely true.

Todd: You know.

Mark:But there's something about owning your own house, that's just, this is my house but I'm renting. It's like someone else, you know, I mean someone else does own your house, and you know, there's that feeling of like, you depend on them, you know for lodging but if it's your house, you own it, then there's a sense of independency there.

Todd: Yeah, that true. That's a good point but on the other hand, I just love my free time, and when you rent, you just got more free time. You know when you own a house. You have to do maintenance. You have to do all the paperwork for taxes, and you know, city government stuff, like that. When you rent it's just really easy.

Mark:Well, you know, the maintenance stuff can be fun. It depends on how you look at it. Like, you know, if it's your house, you actually might be motivated to make it look better cause it's, you take pride in, you know, where you live and it's your house, and what do you do in your free time anyway? Like what do you do in your free times?

Todd: What do I do in my free time?

Mark: Yeah.

Todd: Well, I don't fix pipes and work on plumbing and garden, that's for sure.

Mark: But, well, but why not? I mean.

Todd: Good point. That's true.

Learn Vocabulary from the lesson

relocate

You don't have to worry about losing your job, or if you have to relocate.

To 'relocate' is to move to another country, city or area.  Notice the following:

  1. Her father got a new job when she was twelve years old, and the family had to relocate to a different city.
  2. He relocated to Australia a few years ago.

lodging

There's that feeling of you depend on them, for lodging.

A place to sleep, shower and eat or cook is 'lodging.'  We usually think of lodging as a temporary place to live.  For example, a hotel would be considered lodging.  Notice the following:

  1. The company provides its employees with food and lodging while they are traveling.
  2. Have you found lodging for your trip to Canada?

paperwork

You have to do all the paperwork for taxes.

Official forms that you must complete are commonly referred to as 'paperwork.'  Notice the following:

  1. My hand hurts from filling in paperwork all day.
  2. The amount of paperwork involved in adoption is incredible.

take pride in

You take pride in where you live.

If you 'take pride in' something, you feel positive and pleased about being connected with it.  If you take pride in your work, then you always do a good job and you feel positive about doing a good job.  Notice the following:

  1. He takes great pride in the fact that he was a boxing champion.
  2. She takes a lot of pride in how she looks.

plumbing

I don't fix pipes and work on plumbing.

'Plumbing' is a system of connected pipes used for bringing water and other liquids to and from a house or apartment.  Notice the following:

  1. The plumbing in the house needed to be repaired.
  2.  The mechanic replaced the plumbing under the kitchen sink.

Vocabulary Quiz

relocate • lodging • paperwork
take pride • plumbing
  1. I'm excited about this new job, but it is far away so I may need to .
  2. This sink is dripping, I need someone to come check the .
  3. I can't leave early, my boss just gave me more .
  4. This work is well done, do you in it?
  5. I forgot my tent! I hope the campsite has alternate .
Answer these questions about the interview.

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