build a house

Meaning

This phrase refers to the process of constructing a residential building from the ground up. It can describe doing the physical work yourself or, more commonly, hiring professionals to design and construct the home for you.

Examples

• They saved money for five years so they could finally build a house in the suburbs.

  They saved money for five years so they could finally build a house in the suburbs.

• My uncle decided to build a house himself using eco-friendly materials.

  My uncle decided to build a house himself using eco-friendly materials.

• It takes about six months to build a house if the weather is good.

  It takes about six months to build a house if the weather is good.

• Are you planning to buy an apartment or build a house?

  Are you planning to buy an apartment or build a house?

• They hired a famous architect to help them build a house near the lake.

  They hired a famous architect to help them build a house near the lake.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We are making a house next year.

  ✓ We are building a house next year.

  Use 'build' for physical structures like houses, not 'make'.

• ✗ He built his house by a contractor.

  ✓ He had his house built by a contractor.

  If you don't do the physical construction work yourself, use the causative form 'have something done' or state that you hired someone to do it.

Related Expressions

Practice

• It has always been my dream to buy some land and ___.

  💡 construct a home

  Show answer

  build a house

• How much does it cost to ___ in this area?

  💡 construct a residential building

  Show answer

  build a house