Housework · A2. Distinguish these meanings in context: sweep = clean a floor using a brush or broom; mop = clean a floor using a tool with a wet cloth or strings; vacuum = clean using a machine that sucks up dirt; dust = remove loose dust from surfaces.
Learn twelve useful words in this topic. Study independent examples, then practise them in new situations. The level is an editorial guide, not a certification.
We sweep the kitchen every evening.
We sweep the kitchen every evening.
These match this sense. Word families can change meaning; near meanings are not always interchangeable.
Practise “sweep the floor” as a word partnership. In this unit “sweep” means clean a floor using a brush or broom.
Distinguish these meanings in context: sweep = clean a floor using a brush or broom; mop = clean a floor using a tool with a wet cloth or strings; vacuum = clean using a machine that sucks up dirt; dust = remove loose dust from surfaces.
We sweep the kitchen every evening.
Distinguish these meanings in context: rinse = wash something with clean water to remove soap or dirt; scrub = rub hard with a brush to remove dirt; soak = leave something in liquid for a period of time; wipe = clean a surface by moving a cloth over it.
Rinse the cup before you use it.
Distinguish these meanings in context: fold = bend fabric so that one part lies on another; iron = make clothes smooth with a heated tool; hang = put clothes on a hook or line so they are supported from above; mend = repair something that is torn or broken.
He folds his shirts carefully.
Use a broom to ___ the dry leaves off the path.
Distinguish these meanings in context: sweep = clean a floor using a brush or broom; mop = clean a floor using a tool with a wet cloth or strings; vacuum = clean using a machine that sucks up dirt; dust = remove loose dust from surfaces.
We sweep the kitchen every evening.Distinguish these meanings in context: rinse = wash something with clean water to remove soap or dirt; scrub = rub hard with a brush to remove dirt; soak = leave something in liquid for a period of time; wipe = clean a surface by moving a cloth over it.
Rinse the cup before you use it.Distinguish these meanings in context: fold = bend fabric so that one part lies on another; iron = make clothes smooth with a heated tool; hang = put clothes on a hook or line so they are supported from above; mend = repair something that is torn or broken.
He folds his shirts carefully.Keep the first try. Understand the change. Check it in a fresh situation.
No practice notes yet. Try a short warm-up.
clean a floor using a brush or broom
clean a floor using a tool with a wet cloth or strings
clean using a machine that sucks up dirt
remove loose dust from surfaces
wash something with clean water to remove soap or dirt
rub hard with a brush to remove dirt
leave something in liquid for a period of time
clean a surface by moving a cloth over it
bend fabric so that one part lies on another
make clothes smooth with a heated tool
put clothes on a hook or line so they are supported from above
repair something that is torn or broken
Opening an answer records help for that question.
Use a broom to ___ the dry leaves off the path.
Look at “broom”. Here we need “clean a floor using a brush or broom”: “sweep”. The tool matters: broom, wet cloth head, suction machine or dry dusting cloth. Completed sentence: “Use a broom to sweep the dry leaves off the path.”.
After washing the plates, let clean water flow over them to remove the soap, without brushing or rubbing them. This final action is to ___ them.
Look at “remove the soap”. Here we need “wash something with clean water to remove soap or dirt”: “rinse”. Distinguish flowing water, hard repeated rubbing, leaving in still water and passing a cloth over a surface. Completed sentence: “After washing the plates, let clean water flow over them to remove the soap, without brushing or rubbing them. This final action is to rinse them.”.
___ each towel in half so it fits neatly on the shelf.
Look at “in half”. Here we need “bend fabric so that one part lies on another”: “fold”. Use the intended change: make smaller by bending, smooth with heat, support from above or repair damage. Completed sentence: “fold each towel in half so it fits neatly on the shelf.”.
Dip the long-handled tool with cloth strips in water and ___ the muddy tiles.
Look at “cloth strips”. Here we need “clean a floor using a tool with a wet cloth or strings”: “mop”. The tool matters: broom, wet cloth head, suction machine or dry dusting cloth. Completed sentence: “Dip the long-handled tool with cloth strips in water and mop the muddy tiles.”.
Turn on the machine and ___ the carpet to suck up the dust.
Look at “suck up”. Here we need “clean using a machine that sucks up dirt”: “vacuum”. The tool matters: broom, wet cloth head, suction machine or dry dusting cloth. Completed sentence: “Turn on the machine and vacuum the carpet to suck up the dust.”.
Which verb specifically means removing the fine powder on a bookshelf with a soft dry cloth or feather duster? ___
Look at “soft dry cloth or feather duster”. Here we need “remove loose dust from surfaces”: “dust”. The tool matters: broom, wet cloth head, suction machine or dry dusting cloth. Completed sentence: “Which verb specifically means removing the fine powder on a bookshelf with a soft dry cloth or feather duster? dust”.
The stain is difficult to remove, so ___ it hard with a stiff brush.
Look at “stiff brush”. Here we need “rub hard with a brush to remove dirt”: “scrub”. Distinguish flowing water, hard repeated rubbing, leaving in still water and passing a cloth over a surface. Completed sentence: “The stain is difficult to remove, so scrub it hard with a stiff brush.”.
Leave the dirty pan in warm water to ___ for half an hour.
Look at “half an hour”. Here we need “leave something in liquid for a period of time”: “soak”. Distinguish flowing water, hard repeated rubbing, leaving in still water and passing a cloth over a surface. Completed sentence: “Leave the dirty pan in warm water to soak for half an hour.”.
With one gentle pass of a soft cloth, remove the fresh milk from the table without rubbing hard. The verb for this cloth movement is ___.
Look at “one gentle pass”. Here we need “clean a surface by moving a cloth over it”: “wipe”. Distinguish flowing water, hard repeated rubbing, leaving in still water and passing a cloth over a surface. Completed sentence: “With one gentle pass of a soft cloth, remove the fresh milk from the table without rubbing hard. The verb for this cloth movement is wipe.”.
Use the heated flat metal tool to ___ the creases out of the shirt.
Look at “heated flat metal”. Here we need “make clothes smooth with a heated tool”: “iron”. Use the intended change: make smaller by bending, smooth with heat, support from above or repair damage. Completed sentence: “Use the heated flat metal tool to iron the creases out of the shirt.”.
___ the wet sheets on the washing line to dry.
Look at “washing line”. Here we need “put clothes on a hook or line so they are supported from above”: “hang”. Use the intended change: make smaller by bending, smooth with heat, support from above or repair damage. Completed sentence: “hang the wet sheets on the washing line to dry.”.
Use a needle and thread to ___ the hole in this shirt.
Look at “needle and thread”. Here we need “repair something that is torn or broken”: “mend”. Use the intended change: make smaller by bending, smooth with heat, support from above or repair damage. Completed sentence: “Use a needle and thread to mend the hole in this shirt.”.
I will ___ the crumbs into a pile with this long-handled brush.
Look at “crumbs into a pile”. Here we need “clean a floor using a brush or broom”: “sweep”. The tool matters: broom, wet cloth head, suction machine or dry dusting cloth. Completed sentence: “I will sweep the crumbs into a pile with this long-handled brush.”.
We dip the absorbent cloth strips on a long handle into a bucket, then use that wet head to ___ the kitchen floor.
Look at “absorbent cloth strips”. Here we need “clean a floor using a tool with a wet cloth or strings”: “mop”. The tool matters: broom, wet cloth head, suction machine or dry dusting cloth. Completed sentence: “We dip the absorbent cloth strips on a long handle into a bucket, then use that wet head to mop the kitchen floor.”.
Let clean water run over the soapy shirt to carry away the soap, without rubbing or using a brush. You ___ it.
Look at “carry away the soap”. Here we need “wash something with clean water to remove soap or dirt”: “rinse”. Distinguish flowing water, hard repeated rubbing, leaving in still water and passing a cloth over a surface. Completed sentence: “Let clean water run over the soapy shirt to carry away the soap, without rubbing or using a brush. You rinse it.”.
Rub the burned pan repeatedly and firmly with a stiff brush, rather than a soft wiping cloth. You must ___ it.
Look at “repeatedly and firmly”. Here we need “rub hard with a brush to remove dirt”: “scrub”. Distinguish flowing water, hard repeated rubbing, leaving in still water and passing a cloth over a surface. Completed sentence: “Rub the burned pan repeatedly and firmly with a stiff brush, rather than a soft wiping cloth. You must scrub it.”.
Bring the two ends of the blanket together to ___ it into a smaller shape.
Look at “two ends”. Here we need “bend fabric so that one part lies on another”: “fold”. Use the intended change: make smaller by bending, smooth with heat, support from above or repair damage. Completed sentence: “Bring the two ends of the blanket together to fold it into a smaller shape.”.
The trousers are wrinkled. Press a heated flat metal base over the fabric to remove the creases: ___ them.
Look at “heated flat metal base”. Here we need “make clothes smooth with a heated tool”: “iron”. Use the intended change: make smaller by bending, smooth with heat, support from above or repair damage. Completed sentence: “The trousers are wrinkled. Press a heated flat metal base over the fabric to remove the creases: iron them.”.
We need to ___ the rug; the cleaner’s dust bag is empty and ready.
Look at “cleaner’s dust bag”. Here we need “clean using a machine that sucks up dirt”: “vacuum”. The tool matters: broom, wet cloth head, suction machine or dry dusting cloth. Completed sentence: “We need to vacuum the rug; the cleaner’s dust bag is empty and ready.”.
Remove the fine powder from the ornaments by gently passing a soft dry cloth over them, without a machine or liquid. You ___ them.
Look at “soft dry cloth”. Here we need “remove loose dust from surfaces”: “dust”. The tool matters: broom, wet cloth head, suction machine or dry dusting cloth. Completed sentence: “Remove the fine powder from the ornaments by gently passing a soft dry cloth over them, without a machine or liquid. You dust them.”.
Leave the cloth fully immersed and untouched in still water for ten minutes before washing. You ___ it.
Look at “fully immersed and untouched”. Here we need “leave something in liquid for a period of time”: “soak”. Distinguish flowing water, hard repeated rubbing, leaving in still water and passing a cloth over a surface. Completed sentence: “Leave the cloth fully immersed and untouched in still water for ten minutes before washing. You soak it.”.
Pass a cloth gently over the mirror once to remove fresh fingerprints, without hard repeated rubbing. You ___ the mirror.
Look at “cloth gently”. Here we need “clean a surface by moving a cloth over it”: “wipe”. Distinguish flowing water, hard repeated rubbing, leaving in still water and passing a cloth over a surface. Completed sentence: “Pass a cloth gently over the mirror once to remove fresh fingerprints, without hard repeated rubbing. You wipe the mirror.”.
Put the coat on a hook and ___ it behind the door.
Look at “hook”. Here we need “put clothes on a hook or line so they are supported from above”: “hang”. Use the intended change: make smaller by bending, smooth with heat, support from above or repair damage. Completed sentence: “Put the coat on a hook and hang it behind the door.”.
I will ___ the torn pocket instead of buying a new jacket.
Look at “torn pocket”. Here we need “repair something that is torn or broken”: “mend”. Use the intended change: make smaller by bending, smooth with heat, support from above or repair damage. Completed sentence: “I will mend the torn pocket instead of buying a new jacket.”.