Everyday Minor Problems PDF

# Everyday minor problems ## 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. L...

# Everyday minor problems ## 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! ## Everyday minor injuries - She twisted her ankle coming down the stairs. I bumped/banged my head against the cupboard door and got a bruise. (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) ## 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.