Page 111 - English Vocabulary in Use (Pre & Intermediate)

52 Everyday problems

There’s something wrong with ...

If there is a problem with a machine or a thing that you use e.g. TV, light, washing
machine, computer, food mixer, pen, etc., we often use these expressions:
There’s something wrong with the TV. (= there is a problem with it)
The light’s not working. (= not functioning / there is no light)
The shower’s not working properly. (= it is functioning but not very well)
The telephone is out of order. (= not in use / not functioning)
Note: The phrase out of order is often used when a public machine or piece of equipment
isn’t working, e.g. public telephone, public toilet, drinks machine at a station, etc.

In the home
Yesterday morning Paul had a lot of problems.

He dropped a cup

He got another It ruined (= destroyed)
cup, made a his T-shirt because

coffee, and then there was a large
spilt it. stain on it.

He decided to make some toast, but he burnt the first piece (if you burn something, you
damage it with fire), then realised he’d run out of bread (= the bread was finished / there
was no more bread). He did not leave home in a good mood (= feeling very happy).

Out and about
After Paul went out, things got worse. He left home with a
ten-pound note in his pocket, and walked to the bus stop.
Unfortunately he was a bit late and the bus was a bit early, so
he missed the bus. While he waited for the next one, he got out
his walkman, but the batteries had run out (= the batteries were
finished). When the bus arrived, he got on and put his hand in
his pocket — no ten-pound note (he had lost his money). The
driver told him to get off. He didn’t want to be late for school,
so he started running. Moments later, he saw a dog, but not its
lead — and tripped over the lead.
He got to his feet, carried on to school, then he realised he had left his bag on the bus.
Note: Students often say ‘he forgot his bag on the bus’ in this situation. In English, we must
use the verb leave if we say where something is. For example:
I’ve forgotten my bag; but I left my bag on the bus.

108 English Vocabulary in Use (pre-intermediate & intermediate)