← Back to lessons
B1Renting an Apartment

Signing Up for Your New Apartment

Phrasal Verb: sign up |Grammar: Past Simple

Objective

Students will learn how to use the phrasal verb 'sign up' in the past simple tense when talking about renting an apartment and signing a lease.

Article

Last month, I signed up for an apartment in the city centre. After I found the right place, I signed up for the lease agreement with the landlord. I signed up quickly because the apartment was popular and many people wanted it. When I signed up, I read all the rules carefully. I signed up for a one-year contract and paid the deposit the same day. Signing up was easy because the landlord explained everything clearly. After I signed up, I received the keys and moved in the next week. I was happy that I signed up early because the rent increased the following month. Signing up for the apartment made my move stress-free and exciting.

Grammar Explanation

Meaning

To 'sign up' means to officially agree to something by signing a document, such as a contract or lease.

Grammar Note

The Past Simple tense is used to talk about actions that happened and finished in the past. For regular verbs, add -ed, but 'sign' is irregular: the past is 'signed'.

Usage Tips

  • Use 'signed up' to describe completed agreements in the past.
  • Include time expressions like 'last week' or 'yesterday' to show past time.
  • Make sure the subject and verb agree in the past tense.

Examples

I signed up for the apartment lease last Friday.

Agreeing to rent an apartment in the past

She signed up quickly because the apartment was in high demand.

Someone agreeing fast to rent

We signed up after reading all the contract details.

Agreement after understanding terms

They signed up for a six-month rental period.

Agreement on a rental duration

He signed up and paid the deposit on the same day.

Completed agreement and payment

Dialogue

Context: A tenant talks to a landlord about signing the lease for an apartment.

A:
Did you sign up for the apartment yet?
B:
Yes, I signed up yesterday after I looked over the contract.
A:
Great! Did you pay the deposit as well?
B:
I did. I signed up and paid all the fees at the same time.
A:
Perfect! You can collect the keys tomorrow.
B:
Thanks, I’m excited to move in soon.

Vocabulary

Lease
A legal contract to rent property for a set time
Example: I signed the lease for my new apartment.
Synonym: rental agreement
Deposit
An amount of money paid to secure a rental
Example: She paid a deposit before moving in.
Synonym: down payment
Landlord
The person who owns the property and rents it out
Example: The landlord gave me the keys after I signed up.
Synonym: property owner
Contract
A written agreement between two or more parties
Example: We signed a contract for one year.
Synonym: agreement
Tenant
A person who rents and lives in a property
Example: The tenant signed up for a six-month lease.
Synonym: renter
Agreement
A mutual decision or contract between parties
Example: We reached an agreement on the rent price.
Synonym: deal
Sign
To write your name on a document to agree
Example: I signed the lease yesterday.
Synonym: endorse
Rent
Money paid regularly to live in or use property
Example: I pay rent every month.
Synonym: rental fee
Move in
To begin living in a new home or apartment
Example: We moved in after signing the lease.
Synonym: settle
Popular
Liked or wanted by many people
Example: That apartment is very popular among students.
Synonym: in demand

Tips

  • Always read the lease carefully before you sign up.
  • Ask questions if any part of the contract is unclear before signing.
  • Don't forget to check for common mistakes like wrong dates or amounts.

Summary

In this lesson, you learned how to use the phrasal verb 'sign up' in the past simple tense when renting an apartment. You also practised vocabulary and expressions related to contracts and leases. Now you can confidently talk about signing rental agreements.

← Back to all lessons