Buildings

1. Describing Exploration: Check out/ Look around/ Look about/ Walk around/ Wander around/ Wander about/ Stroll around/ Stroll about/ Dander around/ Dander about

Check out, Look around & Look about can mean to take a quick look at something or to explore a particular subject or item in more detail. Walk around also has the feeling of exploring but not necessarily quickly. The others can be used in this way as well but at a relaxed leisurely pace.

Examples:

  • I love checking out old historic buildings.
  • There are a few new super modern buildings I’m dying to check out!
  • We spent like 2 hours looking around the Colosseum!
  • I love wandering about in new cities.
  • We dandered around the museum sipping our coffees.
  • Strolling around the Taj Mahal was incredible.

2. Describing investigation of a place: Suss out/ Scope out

While the previous phrasal verbs (check out, look around etc) are more for general assessment, suss out and scope out involve a more detailed and thorough investigation.

Examples:

  • The first thing I’ll do before moving is to suss out different areas to see what kinds of facilities, parks and transport systems they have.
  • People always scope out the main attractions when they come to my city, but I’d definitely recommend that they head to where all the locals go.
  • I arrived in the city early, so I spent the morning sussing out the downtown area to find the best coffee shops and attractions.
  • Before we buy a house, we’re going to spend some time scoping out different neighborhoods to find the best fit for our family.

3. Describing visiting a place: Go in(to)/ Head in(to)/ Pop in(to)

Go into & head into simply mean to enter, while pop into is used when it is a brief visit.

Examples:

  • I recommend popping into St.George’s market on a Saturday morning.
  • I love heading into the art gallery because the area is really nice but I don’t actually go in much.

4. Describing visiting a place casually on the way: Drop by/ Swing by/ Stop by/ Pop by/ Call by/ Call in(to)

All of these are used when a person stops at a place briefly when they’re on their way to another destination.

Examples:

  • I always tell my friends that they need to pop by this amazing Italian cafe on their way home from work.
  • I tend to stop by the park if I’m feeling stressed.
  • If I go to the city centre, I usually swing by one of my favourite clothes shops just to see what’s new.
  • I might call into the post office on the way.
  • He’s dropping by the church for 5 minutes.
  • Can you call by John’s and pick up my backpack please?

5. Describing a building being removed or destroyed: Knock down/ Tear down

You might use this to talk about renovations of total buildings or even parts of the building (tearing down a bathroom wall, for example)

Examples:

  • A bunch of buildings near my house were recently knocked down. I think they’re building a new shopping centre there.
  • I’d love to tear down this wall and create one big room.
  • I wish they’d knock down those old buildings and make it into a sports centre!

6. Describing improvements or renovating a building: Fix up/ Do up

Examples:

  • I bought a new apartment but I have to fix it up a little bit. It needs new floors, paint and new electrics installed.
  • This house will be nice when you do it up a little bit.
  • They really need to do up the town hall. It looks awful.
  • There is a great area for kids near my house, but the local council really needs to fix up the playground.. it’s a bit battered.
  • I heard they’re doing up the old cinema. It’s supposed to have amazing new chairs being put in.

7. Describing preserving buildings: Look after/ Take care of

Examples:

  • I think it’s important to look after our historic buildings.
  • People on my street really take care of their homes. You always see them painting, cleaning and tidying their area.

8. Describing the Spread of places: Spread out/ Scattered around/ Dotted around/ Scattered around/ Sprinkled around

Settling down can mean with regard to your career or your lifestyle. It’s often used to show a transition of single life to family life.

Examples:

  • There are a bunch of gyms scattered around the city.
  • There are a fair few Indian restaurants dotted around the city.
  • They could definitely have some more parks spread out around the city.

Examiner: What types of buildings are there where you live?

Student: In my neighbourhood, you can find a mix of buildings. We have residential houses, apartment complexes, there’s a little shopping mall nearby, and some office buildings too. The architecture is pretty diverse, with a blend of modern structures and a few older ones.

Examiner: Are there any monuments in your hometown?

Student: Absolutely! There’s a few war memorials scattered around the city. Most of them were put up a few years after the war.

Examiner: Do you like to visit historic buildings?

Student: I do actually. Whenever I have time, I like to suss out the historic buildings in the area. I find it fascinating to learn about their stories and architecture. Recently, I popped into a local museum housed in an old mansion, which was a great experience.

Examiner: What are the landmarks in your hometown?

Student: Well we’ve got a courthouse, park, and a famous local theatre. I often swing by the park after work and always pass the theatre on my way into town.

Examiner: Have you ever visited a famous structure?

Student: Yes, indeed! Last summer, I had the chance to check out the Burj Khalifa. It’s absolutely mind-blowing! I’d highly recommend seeing it!

Examiner: What kinds of buildings do you like?

Student: Honestly I like both modern and old. As long as they look good or are historically interesting. There’s a lovely old Victorian hotel in the city centre that I really like. It’s really nicely lit up at night and spectacular inside. And people had previously wanted to tear it down!

1. What types of buildings are there where you live?

2. Are there any monuments in your hometown?

3. Do you like to visit historic buildings?

4. What are the landmarks in your hometown?

5. Have you ever visited a famous structure?

6. What kinds of buildings do you like?

i) Describe a style of architecture that you like.

You should say:

● what style it is

● what it looks like

● where you can see it

and explain why you like this style.

ii) Describe a modern building

You should say:

● where it is

● what it looks like

● what it is used for

and explain why you like/dislike it.

iii) Describe a style of architecture that you like.

You should say:

● what style it is

● what it looks like

● where you can see it

and explain why you like this style.

1. What kinds of people like to visit historic buildings?

2. Do you think it’s worth the money to preserve old buildings?

3. How have buildings changed in the past few years?

4. Are buildings now better than those in the past? Why?