ESL Podcast 950 - Visiting a Construction Site

construction site - an area where people are creating a new building

The small businesses around the construction site have been complaining that they're losing business, because customers can't park on the street when so many machines are there.

scaffolding - a temporary structure made from metal and wood, used to help workers reach the higher parts of a building to build, repair, or clean it

I'll stand on the second level of the scaffolding, and you can pass the bricks up to me in this bucket.

to come along - to progress, advance, or move forward; to make progress

Wow, the project is really coming along. Well done!

lumber - wood that has been cut into specific sizes to use in construction

What kind of lumber do you need: two-by-fours or two-by-eights?

brick - a small, rectangular block, usually dark red and made from clay, used to build walls or chimneys

Do you prefer brick fireplaces or stone fireplaces?

foundation - the part of a building that touches the ground and supports the rest of the building

Was the home's foundation damaged in the flood?

beam - a long, straight piece of wood or metal used to support the wall or roof of a building

I don't know if the beams can support the weight of so much snow on the roof.

rafter - one of several long pieces of wood placed at an angle on top of walls to support and give shape to the roof

Most of the ceiling is painted a cream color, but the rafters are still unpainted wood.

hard hat - a large, heavy hat like a helmet that protects the head, mostly used at construction sites

All workers are required to use hard hats, safety goggles, and heavy boots.

to watch out - to be careful; a phrase used to warn someone about some danger

Watch out! You almost stepped into that hole.

pickaxe - a large, heavy tool with a wooden handle and a large piece of metal at the other end with two sharp ends, usually used to tear apart earth or rocks

If you want to plant a garden here, we'll need a pickaxe to get rid of all the grass and rocks.

shovel - a tool with a long wooden handle and a large, slightly curved metal end used to dig into the ground and scoop (lift) up dirt and rocks

Do you have a special shovel for clearing the snow off the sidewalk?

wheelbarrow - a car with two wheels and one or two supporting legs at the other end, used to carry heavy objects when pushed by a person

They filled the wheelbarrow with small rocks and pushed it into the backyard, where they were creating a new path.

to escort (someone) - to take someone somewhere; to accompany and guide someone to a particular place

Would you like to escort Janice to the dance?

bulldozer - a large vehicle that has a flat but slightly curved piece of metal in the front that can be raised and lowered, used to push dirt and rocks

The bulldozer will push the extra rocks and soil out of the way so that we can begin pouring concrete.

crane - a large machine that moves heavy objects by picking them up with a hook attached to a large rope hanging from the top of a long arm or beam

They used a special crane to lift the railroad car and put it back onto the tracks.