B2 FIRST · VOCABULARY · TOPIC VOCABULARY
Home, town and country
Words like neighbourhood, city centre, peaceful and move house.
Finn says
Where you live is a classic Speaking Part 1 topic, and cities versus the countryside is a common essay and discussion question. Learn the words in groups, with the words they go with, and try to use two or three of them next time you practise Speaking or Writing.
Where you live
a neighbourhood / an area
a part of a town
I live in a quiet neighbourhood.
the city centre / the outskirts
the middle / the edges of a city
We live on the outskirts of Madrid.
a flat / a detached house
an apartment / a house on its own
We rent a small flat.
move house
go to live in a new home
We moved house last year.
a neighbour
someone who lives near you
Our neighbours are very friendly.
rent
pay to live somewhere
It's expensive to rent a flat in the centre.
City or countryside?
lively / busy
full of activity
The city centre is very lively at night.
peaceful / quiet
calm, without noise
The village is so peaceful.
facilities
places and services like shops, gyms, hospitals
There aren't many facilities in the village.
the cost of living
how much it costs to live somewhere
The cost of living is high in London.
overcrowded
with too many people
Some cities are overcrowded.
the countryside
land outside towns and cities
I grew up in the countryside.
Make it better
The same idea, first in basic English, then in the kind of language that gets a higher mark.
- Basic: I live near the edge of the city.Better: I live on the outskirts of the city.The precise expression.
- Basic: There are not many shops and things in my village.Better: There aren't many facilities in my village.One exact noun.
- Basic: Life in the city is expensive.Better: The cost of living in the city is high.Great for essays.
- Basic: My town has a lot of things happening.Better: My town is really lively.More natural.
Finn's exam tip
In Speaking Part 1, don't just say 'I live in Murcia.' Add a detail: 'I live in a lively neighbourhood near the city centre, which is great because everything is within walking distance.'
Quick check
Choose the best answer.
🇪🇸 Guía en español: Los 40 phrasal verbs más útiles para el B2 First →
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