Vocabulary Lessons

Some basic home improvements and landscaping around your home can really increase the value and visual appeal of your property.

Listen to the words below. Write a sample sentence for each word to practice how it is used in context. You can use the internet to find such sentences.

Listen to the recording to hear how the words are pronounced.

• driveway (noun): a private road or paved area leading from a street to a house or garage
  – They parked the car in the driveway since the garage was full.
• fence (noun): a barrier made of wood, metal, or other materials used to enclose or separate an area
  – They built a wooden fence around the backyard to give their dog a safe place to run.
• flag pole (noun): a tall pole used to display a flag
  – They installed a flag pole in the front yard and fly the American flag every day.
• flower bed (noun): an area of ground where flowers are planted and cultivated
  – She planted roses and tulips in the flower bed along the front of the house.
• front steps (noun): the steps leading up to the front entrance of a house
  – He sat on the front steps and waited for his friend to arrive.
• garden (noun): an area of land used for growing flowers, vegetables, or other plants
  – She grows tomatoes and peppers in her garden every summer.
• gate (noun): a movable barrier, usually in a fence or wall, that can be opened and closed
  – He closed the gate behind him after letting the dog into the yard.
• landscaping (noun): the process of improving the appearance of an outdoor area by planting, shaping, or arranging natural features
  – They hired a company to do the landscaping before putting the house on the market.
• lawn (noun): an area of short, mowed grass around a house or in a yard
  – He mows the lawn every Saturday morning.
• lights (noun): fixtures or devices that provide illumination for a home, yard, or pathway
  – They installed solar lights along the walkway to the front door.
• patio (noun): a paved outdoor area near a house used for relaxing or entertaining
  – They set up a table and chairs on the patio for outdoor dinners.
• porch (noun): a covered structure attached to the entrance of a house, often with a roof and sometimes a railing
  – They sat on the porch in the evening and watched the sunset.
• security system (noun): a set of devices and equipment designed to protect a home from intruders or other threats
  – After moving in, they installed a security system with cameras and motion sensors.
• shrubbery (noun): a group of shrubs or bushes planted as decoration or as a border around a property
  – The shrubbery along the front of the house was trimmed into neat shapes.
• sidewalk (noun): a paved path for walking along the side of a street or road
  – The kids rode their bikes on the sidewalk in front of the house.
• sprinkler system (noun): a network of pipes and sprinkler heads installed in a yard to automatically water the lawn and plants
  – The sprinkler system turns on every morning at six to water the lawn.

What specific home improvements can increase (or decrease) the value of a home? For example, adding an additional room to your house might be a good investment, while adding a swimming pool could result in high maintenance costs and personal liability in case of an accident.

Use the internet to find more information about valuable home improvements.