English Vocabulary in Use Elementary » Unit 36: Problems at home and work

Word List
  • apologise
  • bad mood
  • broken
  • computer crashed
  • crash
  • cut
  • die
  • have a bad day
  • have a row with
  • home
  • in a bad mood
  • late for
  • look for
  • lose
  • mend
  • mood
  • out of order
  • plaster
  • put on
  • repair
  • row
  • tidy
  • too much (work)
  • untidy
  • watch TV online
  • water
  • work
Exercises

36.1 ‣ Look at the pictures. What is the problem?

  2. _____
  3. _____
  4. _____
  5. _____
  6. _____
  7. _____
  8. _____

36.2 ‣ Write down three nouns that can go with these words:

  1. broken
  2. cut _____
  3. untidy _____
  4. late for _____
  5. a _____ that isn’t working
  6. too much _____

36.3 ‣ Have you ever had these problems? Number each one 0–3 (0 = never, 1 = once or twice, 2 = quite often, 3 = frequently).

  1. a TV that doesn’t work
  2. dying plants _____
  3. a cut finger _____
  4. being late for work or school _____
  5. a colleague or friend in a bad mood _____
  6. a coffee machine that isn’t working _____
  7. a broken washing machine _____
  8. an untidy bedroom _____
  9. a row with a friend _____
  10. your computer crashes _____
  11. lost keys _____
  12. too much work _____

36.4 ‣ Look at Chloe’s problems in B. What could she do?

  2. _____
  3. _____
  4. _____
  5. _____
  6. _____

36.5 ‣ Can you think of four problems that you or a friend have had recently? Write them down in English. Use a dictionary to help you.

  1. _____
  2. _____
  3. _____
  4. _____
Answer Key
A ‣ At home


  1. The TV isn’t working. Can you repair it?

  2. The washing machine is broken. We need to mend it.

  3. The plants are dying. Did you forget to water them?

  4. The room is untidy. We must tidy it.

  5. I’ve lost my keys. Will you help me look for them?

  6. You’ve cut your finger. You should put on a plaster.

  7. You’ve had a row /raʊ/ with a friend. Will you apologise [say ‘I’m sorry’]?

B ‣ At work


  1. Chloe had a bad day at work yesterday. She was late for work.

  2. She had too much work to do.

  3. Her colleague was in a bad mood.

  4. Her computer crashed.

  5. The photocopier was out of order.

  6. The coffee machine wasn’t working.

Tip

When you need to make a list of things to do, make it in English, e.g.

Mend my bike
Water the plants
Tidy my desk

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