English course · Unit 33

Home Insurance: Conditions and Obligations

Everyday documents · First conditional · Must and have to · Possibility · The passive voice

How to use this unit

Read a fictional home insurance summary, work out what the policyholder needs to do, and consider what may happen in different situations.

If your home is burgled, you must report the theft to the police.

The if-clause introduces a possible situation. Must expresses the policyholder’s obligation.

Important: Harborlight Insurance and this policy summary are fictional and have been created for English-language practice only. This is not a real insurance policy or insurance advice.

Step 1

Read the policy

Find specific information in the policy summary.

HARBORLIGHT INSURANCE

HOME INSURANCE

Summary of cover · Buildings and contents

This fictional summary explains some important conditions of a home insurance policy.

What may be covered?

Subject to the policy terms, cover may include damage to the building caused by fire or a storm, and theft of contents following a break-in.

Your responsibilities

You must take reasonable steps to protect your home from damage.
You must tell us if you plan to leave your home unoccupied for more than 30 consecutive days.
If your home is burgled, you must report the theft to the police and obtain a crime reference number.
If you make a claim, you must give us accurate information and provide evidence of the loss where reasonably requested.

Important exclusions and conditions

Loss caused by gradual wear and tear is not covered under this summary. Theft may not be covered if there is no evidence of forced entry, subject to the full policy terms. If you do not follow a policy condition, it may affect your claim.

Making a claim

If you need to make a claim, contact Harborlight Claims as soon as reasonably possible. We will explain what information we need and assess the claim in accordance with the policy.

Fictional teaching document for English-language practice only. It is not a real insurance policy or insurance advice.

Answer the questions. Use the document and the situation described.

1. What two types of cover are mentioned in the heading?

2. What must the policyholder do if the home is burgled?

3. How long must the home be unoccupied before the policyholder must tell the insurer?

4. Name one type of damage or loss that may be covered.

5. What kind of loss is not covered under this summary?

Complete model answers

The heading mentions buildings and contents insurance.
The policyholder must report the theft to the police and obtain a crime reference number.
The policyholder must tell the insurer if the home will be unoccupied for more than 30 consecutive days.
Cover may include fire or storm damage to the building, and theft of contents following a break-in.
Loss caused by gradual wear and tear is not covered under this summary.

Step 2

Conditions and consequences

Apply the policy conditions to practical situations.

Answer the questions. Use the document and the situation described.

1. The house is burgled. What must the owner do?

2. The owner plans to leave the home empty for 45 days. What must they do?

3. The contents are damaged by gradual wear and tear. Is this covered under the summary?

4. What must the policyholder provide if reasonably requested when making a claim?

5. What may happen if the policyholder does not follow a policy condition?

Complete model answers

The owner must report the theft to the police and obtain a crime reference number.
They must tell the insurer because the home will be unoccupied for more than 30 consecutive days.
No. Loss caused by gradual wear and tear is not covered under this summary.
They must give accurate information and provide evidence of the loss where reasonably requested.
If the policyholder does not follow a policy condition, it may affect their claim.

Step 3

First conditional

Conditions often explain what will happen if a particular situation occurs.

If you make a claim, we will assess it.

If + present simple → will + base form

The if-clause names the condition; the other clause gives the result. We normally use the present simple, not will, in the if-clause.

Answer the questions. Use the document and the situation described.

1. If your home ______ (be) burgled, you must report the theft.

2. If you make a claim, we ______ (assess) it.

3. If the home ______ (be) unoccupied for more than 30 days, you must tell us.

4. If you do not follow a policy condition, it ______ (may / affect) your claim.

5. Complete: “If you need to make a claim, ______ Harborlight Claims as soon as reasonably possible.”

Complete model answers

If your home is burgled, you must report the theft.
If you make a claim, we will assess it.
If the home is unoccupied for more than 30 days, you must tell us.
If you do not follow a policy condition, it may affect your claim.
If you need to make a claim, contact Harborlight Claims as soon as reasonably possible.

Step 4

Obligations and prohibitions

Policy documents explain what policyholders are required to do.

must / have to express obligation: You must report the theft.

must not expresses prohibition: You must not give false information.

In formal documents, must is common for stating requirements.

Answer the questions. Use the document and the situation described.

1. You ______ report a burglary to the police. (must / may)

2. You ______ give the insurer accurate information. (must / might)

3. Which sentence expresses an obligation?

4. Complete the prohibition: “You ______ give false information when making a claim.”

5. Rewrite with must: “The policyholder has to tell the insurer about a long absence.”

Complete model answers

You must report a burglary to the police.
You must give the insurer accurate information.
You must obtain a crime reference number.
You must not give false information when making a claim.
The policyholder must tell the insurer about a long absence.

Step 5

Possibility and outcomes

Policy language distinguishes what is certain from what is possible.

may / might express possibility: Your claim may be affected.

This differs from Your claim will be rejected, which states a definite result. The summary does not say that every breach will lead to rejection.

Answer the questions. Use the document and the situation described.

1. If you do not follow a condition, your claim ______ be affected. (may / must)

2. Which sentence expresses a possibility rather than a certainty?

3. Complete: “The theft ______ not be covered if there is no evidence of forced entry.” (may / must)

4. Does the summary say every claim will be rejected if a condition is not followed?

5. Write a sentence explaining a possible consequence. Use may.

Complete model answers

If you do not follow a condition, your claim may be affected.
Your claim may be affected.
The theft may not be covered if there is no evidence of forced entry.
No. It says that not following a policy condition may affect the claim.
Not following a policy condition may affect your claim.

Step 6

Making a claim

Read the conversation and use the policy information.

Policyholder: Someone broke into my house last night and stole my laptop.

Claims adviser: I’m sorry to hear that. Have you reported the theft to the police?

Policyholder: Yes. I have a crime reference number.

Claims adviser: If you make a claim, we will ask you for details of the loss and assess it under the policy terms.

Policyholder: What should I send you?

Claims adviser: Please give us accurate information and provide evidence of the loss where reasonably requested.

Answer the questions. Use the document and the situation described.

1. The burglary happened last night. Which tense is used in “Someone broke into my house”?

2. Complete: “If you ______ (make) a claim, we will ask you for details of the loss.”

3. What has the policyholder obtained from the police?

4. Complete: “Evidence of the loss may ______ (request).”

5. Write a polite question about whether the theft has been reported to the police.

Complete model answers

The past simple is used in “Someone broke into my house”.
If you make a claim, we will ask you for details of the loss.
The policyholder has obtained a crime reference number.
Evidence of the loss may be requested.
Have you reported the theft to the police? (The past simple is also possible: Did you report the theft to the police?)

Step 7

Final review

Use the policy and grammar from this unit.

Answer the questions. Use the document and the situation described.

1. If your home ______ (be) burgled, you must report the theft.

2. If you make a claim, the insurer ______ assess it. (will / must not)

3. You ______ give accurate information when making a claim. (must / may)

4. Not following a condition ______ affect your claim. (may / will certainly)

5. Write a sentence about a burglary and what the policyholder must do. Use if and must.

Complete model answers

If your home is burgled, you must report the theft.
If you make a claim, the insurer will assess it.
You must give accurate information when making a claim.
Not following a condition may affect your claim.
If your home is burgled, you must report the theft to the police.

What you have practised

Finding information in a practical document.
Understanding conditions and exclusions.
Using the first conditional and the present simple in if-clauses.
Expressing obligations with must and have to.
Expressing possibility with may and the modal passive.
Using English to ask about and make an insurance claim.

Remember: the policy’s fictional wording is deliberately simplified for learners.