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B1Moving House

Sort Out Your Moving House Plans

Phrasal Verb: sort out |Grammar: Modal Verbs (need to)

Objective

Students will learn how to use the phrasal verb 'sort out' and modal verb 'need to' to organise and express obligations when moving house.

Article

Moving house can be stressful, but if you sort out your tasks early, the process becomes easier. You need to sort out your packing by deciding which items to keep and which to give away. Also, you need to sort out the utility bills so that electricity and water work in your new home. It is important to sort out your address change with the post office and banks. You may need to sort out help from friends or professional movers to carry heavy furniture. Finally, you need to sort out cleaning your old house before you leave. By sorting out these important things, your move will be organised and less stressful.

Grammar Explanation

Meaning

'Sort out' means to organise, arrange, or deal with something so it is in order.

Grammar Note

Modal verbs like 'need to' express necessity or obligation. For example, 'You need to sort out your packing' means it is necessary to organise your packing.

Usage Tips

  • Use 'sort out' for organising tasks or problems.
  • Combine 'need to' with the base verb to express what is necessary.
  • Remember 'sort out' can be separated by objects (e.g., 'sort your packing out').

Examples

We need to sort out the moving boxes before next week.

Organising packing materials

You need to sort out the bills with the utility companies.

Managing payments before moving

They need to sort out the dates for the moving truck.

Scheduling transport

I need to sort out my address change with the bank.

Updating personal details

We need to sort out who will help us move the furniture.

Arranging moving helpers

Dialogue

Context: Two friends discussing what tasks they need to organise for an upcoming house move.

A:
We need to sort out the packing this weekend.
B:
Yes, and we also need to sort out the electricity transfer.
A:
Do we need to sort out a moving company or can we do it ourselves?
B:
I think we need to sort out professional help for the big furniture.
A:
Good idea. We also need to sort out the cleaning for the old house.
B:
Right, let’s make a list to sort out all these tasks.

Vocabulary

Packing
Putting items into boxes for moving
Example: We started packing our books yesterday.
Synonym: Boxing
Utility bills
Bills for services like electricity and water
Example: You need to pay your utility bills before moving.
Synonym: Service charges
Address change
Updating your new location for mail and services
Example: Don’t forget to notify your bank of your address change.
Synonym: Change of address
Moving truck
A vehicle used to transport belongings when moving
Example: The moving truck will arrive at 9 am.
Synonym: Removal van
Furniture
Large movable objects in a home, like tables and chairs
Example: We need help moving the heavy furniture.
Synonym: Household items
Cleaning
Making a place tidy and free from dirt
Example: Cleaning the old house is important before handing over the keys.
Synonym: Tidying
Organise
Arrange or plan things carefully
Example: We must organise our schedule for moving day.
Synonym: Arrange
Helpers
People who assist with tasks
Example: We hired helpers to carry the boxes.
Synonym: Assistants
Schedule
A plan that shows when things will happen
Example: Check the schedule for the moving truck.
Synonym: Timetable
Obligation
Something you must do
Example: You have an obligation to pay the rent on time.
Synonym: Duty

Tips

  • Make a checklist to help you sort out all moving tasks step by step.
  • Use 'need to' when talking about important or necessary actions during your move.
  • Do not confuse 'sort out' with 'sort up'; only 'sort out' is correct in this context.

Summary

In this lesson, you learned how to use the phrasal verb 'sort out' to talk about organising tasks when moving house. You also practised using the modal verb 'need to' to express what is necessary. This will help you plan and communicate your moving activities clearly.

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