English Vocabulary in Use Upper-intermediate » Unit 12: Everyday minor problems

Word List
  • bang
  • block
  • break down
  • bruise
  • bump
  • burn
  • chip
  • come off
  • crack
  • crush
  • dead
  • dent
  • fall down
  • fast
  • graze
  • leak
  • lock out
  • power cut
  • ruin
  • run out (of)
  • slow
  • smash
  • spill
  • stain
  • start
  • stop
  • trip
  • twist
  • work
Exercises

12.1 ‣ What do you think happened to make these people do/say what they did?

  1. We had to send for a plumber.
  2. I had to call out a local mechanic.
    _____
  3. Our neighbours let us use their washing machine.
    _____
  4. Don't worry, the handle often does that - I'll fix it back on.
    _____
  5. Luckily, that was all it was; the skin was broken a bit, but there was no blood.
    _____
  6. What type of batteries does it take? I'll get some for you.
    _____
  7. I don't know where you've put them. Try the bedside table.
    _____
  8. I left it in the oven too long. It's all black on the top now!
    _____
  9. I lost all my work - I know I should have saved it more often!
    _____

12.2 ‣ Odd one out. Which of the three words is the odd one out in each case?

  1. spill, flood, chip
  2. stain, graze, bruise
    _____
  3. run out, bump, flat
    _____
  4. leak, smash, chip
    _____
  5. leak, dent, flood
    _____

12.3 ‣ Here is a matrix with the names of things and things that can go wrong with them. Put a tick (x) for things that typically go together.

carvaseelbowclockprintersinka meal
banged___________________________________
ruined___________________________________
cracked___________________________________
broken down___________________________________
dented___________________________________
stopped______________________________
blocked___________________________________

Write five sentences using combinations of words where you wrote a tick.

EXAMPLE This clock has stopped - perhaps it needs new batteries.

12.4 ‣ Complete these sentences using words and phrases from the opposite page.

  1. We had to use candles because  .
  2. I didn't look where I was going as I walked through the low doorway and _____.
  3. The wind blew the door shut and I realised I'd _____.
  4. I would ring her but I'm afraid I've _____.
  5. I can't take a photo, my camera's _____.
  6. I tried to run over the rocks but I _____.
  7. I accidentally sat on my bag of crisps and they _____.

12.5 ‣

Over to you

What would you do if ...

  1. you mislaid your credit card?
    _____
  2. you noticed your guest's glass was chipped?
    _____
  3. one of your coat buttons came off?
    _____
  4. your mobile phone stopped working?
    _____
  5. you bruised your forehead?
    _____
  6. your watch was slow?
    _____
Answer Key
A ‣ Things that go wrong in houses and flats

This pipe's leaking.

He kicked the football too hard and it smashed a window.

This pot is cracked.

The batteries in this torch have run out / are dead. I'll have to get some more.

I'm sorry, your cup's chipped. Let me get you another one.

The lights aren't working - there's been a power cut.

The door handle's come off / fallen off.

The washing machine broke down the other day.

I'm sorry, the biscuits were at the bottom of my bag and they got crushed by the potatoes!

My computer keeps crashing today!

B ‣ Everyday minor injuries

She twisted her ankle coming down the stairs.

I bumped/banged my head against the cupboard door and got a bruise. [/bru:z/ dark area on your skin where you have hurt yourself]

Kelly tripped and fell down and grazed her knee this morning. [if you trip you almost fall down because you hit your foot against something; if you graze something, it becomes red with broken skin, but no blood]

C ‣ Other everyday minor problems

I've mislaid my memory stick. Have you seen it anywhere? [put it somewhere and can't find it]

She spilt some coffee on the carpet. I hope it doesn't leave a stain. [permanent mark]

The sink is blocked. [the water will not run away]

I'm afraid I've dented your car. I'm really sorry. I'll pay for the repairs. [bent the metal a little bit by hitting something]

My mouse has stopped working; it could be a software problem.

I've locked myself out. Can I use your phone to ring my wife?

The car won't start. I hope it's nothing serious. Perhaps the battery's flat.

The kitchen clock's slow/fast/stopped. What time d'you make it?

Language help

Words often belong to more than one word class. In this unit, the following words can be used as verbs or as countable nouns:

flood     crack    chip    bump    bang    bruise     graze    dent     stain    lock

Always make a special note of any word that belongs to more than one word class.

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