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A2At the Laundromat

How to 'Fold Up' Clothes at the Laundromat

Phrasal Verb: fold up |Grammar: Imperative

Objective

Learn how to use the phrasal verb 'fold up' with imperative sentences to organise laundry effectively at the laundromat.

Article

When you finish washing your clothes at the laundromat, it is important to fold up your clothes carefully. First, take each item out of the dryer. Then, fold up your shirts, trousers, and towels neatly. Fold up your clothes to save space in your bag. If you fold up your clothes properly, they will not get wrinkled. Remember, fold up each piece before you put it in your basket. After you fold up everything, pack your bag and leave the laundromat. Always fold up your clothes to keep them organised and clean.

Grammar Explanation

Meaning

'Fold up' means to bend something, usually clothes or paper, so it becomes smaller and neater.

Grammar Note

Imperative sentences give commands or instructions. They use the base form of the verb without a subject. For example, 'Fold up your clothes.'

Usage Tips

  • Use 'fold up' when talking about making clothes smaller and neat by bending them.
  • Give clear commands with imperative sentences, like 'Fold up your laundry now.'
  • Imperatives often sound polite when you add 'please' at the start or end.

Examples

Fold up your shirt before you put it in the basket.

Instruction to organise clothes

Please fold up the towels after drying them.

Polite command at the laundromat

Fold up the trousers carefully so they don’t wrinkle.

Advice to keep clothes neat

Fold up your clothes quickly, the dryer is almost free.

Urgent instruction

Don’t forget to fold up your laundry before leaving.

Reminder to organise clothes

Dialogue

Context: Two friends are at the laundromat organising their clean laundry.

A:
Can you fold up the shirts while I fold the trousers?
B:
Sure! Fold up the shirts neatly so they don’t get wrinkled.
A:
Okay, I will fold up the shirts carefully.
B:
Fold up the towels next. They are dry now.
A:
I’m folding up the towels. Please fold up your socks.
B:
All done! Let’s fold up the rest together.

Vocabulary

Fold
To bend something so one part lies over another
Example: Fold your shirt before putting it away.
Synonym: Bend
Laundry
Clothes and linens that need washing or have been washed
Example: I have a lot of laundry today.
Synonym: Clothes
Basket
A container used to carry clothes or other items
Example: Put your folded clothes in the basket.
Synonym: Container
Dryer
A machine that removes water from clothes by heat
Example: The dryer finished the cycle.
Synonym: Clothes dryer
Towel
A piece of cloth used to dry the body or hands
Example: Fold up the towel after use.
Synonym: Cloth
Wrinkle
A small line or fold in cloth or skin
Example: Don’t let your clothes get wrinkles.
Synonym: Crease
Neat
Clean and tidy in appearance
Example: Fold your clothes neatly.
Synonym: Tidy
Organise
To arrange things in a proper order
Example: Organise your laundry before packing.
Synonym: Arrange
Instruction
A direction or order on how to do something
Example: Follow the instructions to fold up your clothes.
Synonym: Command
Clean
Free from dirt or stains
Example: Your clothes are clean after washing.
Synonym: Fresh

Tips

  • When you fold up clothes, use both hands for neatness.
  • Say 'Please fold up your clothes' to sound polite.
  • Do not say 'fold' without 'up' when you mean to fold clothes completely.

Summary

In this lesson, you learned the phrasal verb 'fold up' and how to use imperative sentences to give instructions. You practised folding clothes neatly at the laundromat to keep them organised and clean.

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