Utility bill meaning in English
Learn how to use Utility bill correctly with Gymglish.
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Definition
a utility bill: a written statement showing electricity costs, water charges etc.
Examples
- "Passport, driver's license, utility bill, library card, video club card, Christmas card from my mother, the key to the city..."
- "Oh, and don't forget to bring your driver's license, passport and a recent utility bill."
Exercise 1
Which of the following bills could be described as "utility bills"?
There may be more than one correct answer!
There may be more than one correct answer!
Which of the following bills could be described as "utility bills"?
There may be more than one correct answer!
There may be more than one correct answer!
This is not correct. "Rent" is indeed a bill, but it is not a "utility". "Utilities" are household services, whereas "rent" describes the money we pay to an owner or proprietor in order to live in a house or apartment.
This is not a good choice. A "deposit" (or a "security deposit") is money that is given to someone (for example: the owner of a property) in case money is needed to cover damage or loss. We leave security deposits for rented apartments, cars, bicycles etc. It is not a "utility".
This is a correct answer. An "electricity bill" is a good example of a "utility bill". Every home needs electricity, so it is a very common utility.
Tax is not a "utility". "Tax" is the money we pay to the government, and the amount varies depending on how much we earn. The government then uses this money to wage war and build nuclear reactors.
"Water" is an example of a household utility. "Utilities" are household services like gas, water and electricity. We are often asked for a "utility bill" to prove where we live, and that we pay the money we owe!
"Gas" is a good choice here. Gas is a household utility. Jean could bring a gas bill to the bank to prove where he lives and that he pays his bills.
Exercise 2
Fill in the blanks in this dialogue with terms from the list below! No term is used more than once, and not all the terms are used. You may have to conjugate verbs!
to rent | roommates | to afford | month | bills | corridor | flat | storage
Rachel: I'm looking for a new apartment. My here are driving me crazy and I'm sick of their hairs in the shower. And I need more space: I've got nowhere to keep my clothes!
Arthur: But can you to a alone? Real estate is very expensive in this city!
Rachel: Didn't I tell you? I'm a multi-millionaire.
To be continued...
to rent | roommates | to afford | month | bills | corridor | flat | storage
Rachel: I'm looking for a new apartment. My here are driving me crazy and I'm sick of their hairs in the shower. And I need more space: I've got nowhere to keep my clothes!
Arthur: But can you to a alone? Real estate is very expensive in this city!
Rachel: Didn't I tell you? I'm a multi-millionaire.
To be continued...
Fill in the blanks in this dialogue with terms from the list below! No term is used more than once, and not all the terms are used. You may have to conjugate verbs!
to rent | roommates | to afford | month | bills | corridor | flat | storage
Rachel: I'm looking for a new apartment. My roommates 1 here are driving me crazy and I'm sick of their hairs in the shower. And I need more storage 2 space: I've got nowhere to keep my clothes!
Arthur: But can you afford 3 to rent 4 a flat 5 alone? Real estate is very expensive in this city!
Rachel: Didn't I tell you? I'm a multi-millionaire.
To be continued...
to rent | roommates | to afford | month | bills | corridor | flat | storage
Rachel: I'm looking for a new apartment. My roommates 1 here are driving me crazy and I'm sick of their hairs in the shower. And I need more storage 2 space: I've got nowhere to keep my clothes!
Arthur: But can you afford 3 to rent 4 a flat 5 alone? Real estate is very expensive in this city!
Rachel: Didn't I tell you? I'm a multi-millionaire.
To be continued...
1 roommates: "Roommates" is the right answer. In American English, "roommates" are people with whom you share an apartment or house. In the UK, it is more common to say "flatmates" or "housemates". Another example: "I'm cooking dinner for my roommate tonight".
2 storage: "Storage" is the best choice here. The "storage (space)" in a room is its cupboards, wardrobes, drawers, shelves, etc. These are the places we keep our possessions. Example: "This kitchen is nice, but it doesn't have enough storage for all my pots and pans".
3 afford: The right answer here is "afford". To "(be able to) afford something" is to have enough money to pay for it. Examples: "I want to buy a Bercedes Menz, but I can't afford to", "How can you afford to raise 18 children?!". In his ad, Edward tells us how much rent he can "afford" to pay.
4 rent: "Rent" is the best choice here. "To rent (a house)" is to pay money to the owner or proprietor so that you can live there. Example: "I'm renting a flat at the moment, but I'd like to buy my own house soon". Note that there is a related noun: "rent", which is the money you pay on a monthly basis to live in this home.
5 flat: "Flat" is the right answer. The term "a flat" is chiefly British, and, as an noun, means "an apartment". Example: "Would you like to come to my flat for dinner tomorrow?". As an adjective, let's not forget that "flat" means "not round". Example: "Columbus discovered that the Earth is not flat."
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