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Lesson 152 of 240

New here? This is lesson 152 of a free 240-lesson English course.

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What happened first in English

Ana is at the studio with Marcus. She needs to explain a save problem in order, not in a long story.

She walks him through every click. Then she says what she thinks caused it.

By the end, you'll tell the steps, name when it happens, and guess the cause.

You'll also offer to show the problem one more time.

By the end of this lesson

Describe the steps that led to a problem and say what you think the cause is.

  • First I ___, and then ___.This is the order of what I did.
  • The problem only happens when ___.It goes wrong only in that situation.
  • I'm getting an error when I save.An error message appears when I try to save.
  • I think it might be the connection.The internet may be the cause.
  • I may have entered the name incorrectly.I might have typed the name wrong.
  • I can show you what happens.I can do it again so you can see.

Scene — at the studio

Same downtown studio, long desks and rolled drawings. Ana sits at her computer. Marcus stands beside her with a rolled set of drawings under one arm.

The save keeps failing. She will walk him through every click. The whiteboard behind them is blank.

Ana pauses at her computer while Marcus leans in to look at the problem.

Learn — steps and the cause

Six lines help you tell the steps, when it happens, and what you think caused it.

You'll also offer to show the problem again.

  1. Ana demonstrates the order of her actions by indicating the mouse and then the keyboard.

    First I ___, and then ___.

    This is the order of what I did.

    When to use it: Say this to tell two steps in the order you did them.

    Use the past tense in both blanks for steps you already did.

  2. Ana pauses beside the monitor to focus on the specific situation where the problem occurs.

    The problem only happens when ___.

    It goes wrong only in that situation.

    When to use it: Say this when the problem is not there all the time.

    Only means it does not go wrong at other times.

  3. Ana tries to save as Marcus watches the computer display.

    I'm getting an error when I save.

    An error message appears when I try to save.

    When to use it: Say this when an error message appears as you try to save.

    I'm getting means an error is appearing for me now.

    Say it: An and error can link.

  4. Marcus considers whether the internet could be causing the failed save.

    I think it might be the connection.

    The internet may be the cause.

    When to use it: Say this when you guess the internet is the cause.

    Might means you are not sure, and you are guessing the cause.

    Say it: The stress is on the second part of connection.

  5. Ana hesitates over the keyboard while reconsidering the name she entered.

    I may have entered the name incorrectly.

    I might have typed the name wrong.

    When to use it: Say this when you might have typed the name wrong.

    May have entered means it is possible that I entered it.

    Say it: The last sound in entered is a soft d.

  6. Ana turns toward Marcus with her hand on the mouse, ready to repeat the steps.

    I can show you what happens.

    I can do it again so you can see.

    When to use it: Say this when you offer to do the steps again.

    Say this when you offer to do the same steps again.

Story — every click

Watch Ana walk Marcus through every click. She thinks the connection is the cause.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. The studio is quiet. Marcus leans in toward Ana's screen.
  2. AnaI have a problem. Can you look at this?Something is not going well, and she wants him to check the screen.
  3. MarcusOkay. Tell me the steps.He wants the order of what she did.
  4. AnaFirst I opened the file, and then I clicked save.This is the order of what I did.
  5. MarcusAnd then?He wants the next step.
  6. AnaI'm getting an error when I save.An error message appears when I try to save.
  7. MarcusWhen does it happen?He asks in what situation it goes wrong.
  8. AnaThe problem only happens when I save.It goes wrong only in that situation.
  9. MarcusSo what's the cause, do you think?He wants her guess about why it fails.
  10. AnaI think it might be the connection.The internet may be the cause.
  11. MarcusWell, could it be something else?He asks for one more possible cause.
  12. AnaI may have entered the name incorrectly.I might have typed the name wrong.
  13. MarcusCan you show me?Please let me see how
  14. AnaI can show you what happens.I can do it again so you can see.
  15. She clicks save. The same error message comes up.
  16. MarcusShow me once more.He wants to see the same steps again.
  17. AnaFirst I click save, and then the error pops up.This is the order of what I did.

Practice — order and cause

Eleven short exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay small, so the round moves fast.

0 of 11 done

  1. What does it mean?

    I'm getting an error when I save.

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    First I ___, and then ___.Drop the Simple English here
    The problem only happens when ___.Drop the Simple English here
    I'm getting an error when I save.Drop the Simple English here
    I think it might be the connection.Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

    Drag a Simple English line onto its English, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    Marcus asked for the order of the two steps you already did.

  4. What does it mean?

    I think it might be the connection.

  5. Build the line

    I might have typed the name wrong.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  6. Build the line

    I can do it again so you can see.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Pick the reply

    Marcus says:

    Can you show me?

    Please let me see how.

    And you reply with:

  8. Swap the word

    It happens every time in one situation. It never happens in any other situation.

    The problem ____ happens when ___.

  9. What do you say?

    You sit down with Marcus. You need to tell him something is not going well.

  10. True or false?

    This line means you already showed them the problem.

  11. What did you hear?

Say it — show him once more

Now you're Ana at the studio. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. MarcusWalk me through every click.Tell him each step, in order.
  2. Ana (you)Tell him the order of the two steps you did.

    First I ___, and then ___.

    This is the order of what I did.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
First I ___, and then ___.This is the order of what I did.
The problem only happens when ___.It goes wrong only in that situation.
I'm getting an error when I save.An error message appears when I try to save.
I think it might be the connection.The internet may be the cause.
I may have entered the name incorrectly.I might have typed the name wrong.
I can show you what happens.I can do it again so you can see.
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