Have you been part of the furniture? Are you a sofa or a table? Peace! Oh before you react violently, read on to find out what I really mean…

I learned an English expression while listening on a podcast from the BBC. I was cleaning the dining table and I thought why not share it here on MyEnglishclub. It is called ‘part of the furniture’. It is an expression we use to describe someone or something that’s been in the same place for a very long time. You could think that he or she will be there forever (BBC Learning English).

Check out these examples;

  • Manu Ginobili has been playing for the Spurs team for more than 25 years. Many fans think he’s part of the furniture.
  • Villainelle has been working in the agency since 2000. It’s no doubt she’s part of the furniture.
  • The Soursop tree bears fruit every summer and it was planted a decade ago. The owner thought of it as part of the furniture.

So, did you get it? Easy peasy, right? Literally, if you’re really part of the furniture, what would you be and why? :P

Grammar Note

Furniture is an uncountable noun. Other common uncountable nouns are news, luggage, information, and advice. Since they are uncountable, we use ‘measure words’ or ‘quantifiers’ to count them. We can say ‘a piece of’, ‘pieces of’ or ‘some’ for furniture. For example, Robin brought some pieces of furniture from Italy and they looked expensive.

Check out this link for other uncountable nouns.

https://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/nouns-uncountable-list.htm

Thank you for reading this blog! Happy learning!

 

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Comments

  • Hi, Salma!

    You're welcome! Thanks a lot for your comment!

    Have a lovely weekend!

    Robbie

  • Interesting! Thank you for sharing. 

  • Hello, Robinoz!

    Thank you for your time commenting here! I'm pleased to know that there's a similar expression there in Australia. That's a new information to me and to other English learners here. It might be a burden and expensive to keep so many pieces of furniture there. I guess I would try to live simply as much as possible even though I live in the Philippines! :)

    Welcome to MyEC and have a wonderful new week!

    Robbie

  • Hi, Mishaikh!

    You're welcome! I'm glad you liked this blog. Have a blessed new week ahead!

    Cheers!

    Robbie

  • We use the expression, "You're part of the furniture" or "I'm part of the furniture" in Australia too. We also say that someone is on the "property assets register" if they have been there for a long time.

    Most organisations have a property assets register that records everything physical they own above a certain value. So, if you are on the property assets register, you've been somewhere so long that you are now owned, like the other property (including furniture).

  • Thanks for educating us Robbie.

    It is useful to know the expression.

  • Hello, O.M.!

    That's music to my ears! I'm grateful you found my blogs informative! Honestly, I get motivated whenever I read such comments. They encouraged me to keep on learning! I like your quotes about Mary Poppins, though. I can't wait to see her comeback and watch how Emily Blunt portrays the role that Julie Andrews did many decades ago. 'Everything is possible, even the impossible'! :)

    Thank you very much for the comment! Have a fabulous weekend ahead!

    Robbie

  • Hey, Hardi!

    I thought you were underestimating yourself. Gosh, you were a keeper of valuables. It must have been a delicate work. Well, there's no mice hole in my tree trunk because my cat loves to guard my garden 24/7. :)

    Thanks for commenting again! Have an enjoyable weekend ahead!

    Robbie

  • Hi, SNR!

    You're welcome! I'm so glad you found this blog enjoyable to read! Many, many thanks for your time reading and commenting here... :)

    Have a fun-filled weekend ahead!

    Robbie

  • I actually wasn't a part of moderating team. But I was a very important part of furniture, nevertheless. A proud mice hole of the old trunk, where you kept your valuables. :D No not really, that would be bad when there was mice hole in your trunk. ^_^

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