Then we would start on the tub

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
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Maid service

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Woman: We would start in your home by dusting. We would then vacuum. Ah, when we vacuum, we vacuum all furniture, upholstery. We would then clean the kitchen, wipe down the fronts of all the kitchen cupboards, wipe the counter and the sink. When we go into a bathroom, we would start in the tub area, thoroughly cleaning the tiles, and then we would start on the tub and clean that out, doing the shower doors if there are any.

then we would start on the tub …

Is “start on” a phrasal verb here?

Thank you

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No, you can also say ‘start with the tub’ which means that the tub is the first item to be cleaned.

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Thank you so much, Torsten :rose:

we would start in the tub area

What about “start in”?

Is “start in” a phrasal verb here?

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Still no phrasal verb. “In the area” simply describes a location.

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Thank you so much, Torsten :rose:

So, it means:
We would start (working) in the tub area.
We would start (working) on the tub.

Am I right?

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This shows two different uses for the word start

We would start in your home by dusting
then we would start on the tub

In the first sentence it refers to the order in which they do things. Dusting is the first thing they do.

In the second sentence it means to begin work on the tub, with no reference to which order things are done.

Correct.

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Thank you so much, NearlyNapping :rose:

Very nice explanation.

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