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Lesson 33 of 240

New here? This is lesson 33 of a free 240-lesson English course.

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Something's wrong in English

The jukebox at the Blue Plate clicks, but no music plays. Ana looks at Dee, then checks her pockets.

Murray sits at the counter with his unfinished coffee. Dee keeps an eye on the quiet machine by the door.

In this lesson, you'll say when something is wrong or will not work. You'll also name a missing thing and say when you do not know where you are.

By the end of this lesson

Say something is lost, broken, or will not work.

  • Something's wrong.This is not OK
  • I have a problem.Something is not going well
  • It doesn't work.This thing will not start or run
  • I lost ___.I cannot find this thing anymore
  • I'm lost.I do not know where I am
  • The ___ is broken.This thing is damaged and cannot be used

Scene — the jukebox is quiet

At the Blue Plate in Logan Square, Ana stands beside the jukebox. She checks her pockets for her keys.

Dee watches from the counter with the coffee pot. Murray sits on two stools with his unfinished coffee.

The machine by the door clicks, but no music plays. Dee will not let anyone open it.

Ana checks her pockets beside the jukebox as Dee watches from the counter and Murray sits with unfinished coffee.

Learn — lost or broken

Six short lines help you name a problem. You can talk about a missing thing or a machine that will not work.

You'll also learn what to say when you do not know where you are.

  1. Ana looks puzzled as she checks her empty pockets and tries to get Dee’s attention.

    Something's wrong.

    This is not OK

    When to use it: Say this when something is not OK.

    Learn it as one piece for a bad situation.

    Say it: The stress is on wrong.

  2. Dee listens as Ana points to her empty pockets and gestures about her missing keys.

    I have a problem.

    Something is not going well

    When to use it: Say this when things are not going well.

    Learn it as one piece before you say more.

  3. Ana tries the jukebox, which clicks but does not play music.

    It doesn't work.

    This thing will not start or run

    When to use it: Say this when a machine will not run.

    Learn it as one piece for a machine.

  4. Murray studies the empty jukebox slot while his coffee remains unfinished.

    I lost ___.

    I cannot find this thing anymore

    When to use it: Say this when you cannot find a thing you had.

    Learn it as one piece, then name the missing thing.

  5. Ana stands by the doorway and looks uncertainly around the diner and street.

    I'm lost.

    I do not know where I am

    When to use it: Say this when you do not know where you are.

    Learn it as one piece for when you do not know where you are.

    Say it: The stress is on lost.

  6. Dee gently prevents Ana from opening the damaged jukebox while Ana looks at its askew cabinet panel.

    The ___ is broken.

    This thing is damaged and cannot be used

    When to use it: Say this when a thing is damaged and you cannot use it.

    Name the damaged thing in the blank.

    Say it: Broken has stress on the first part.

Story — leave it, hon

Ana cannot find her keys. She asks Dee for help, but her first words sound funny.

Then the jukebox clicks again, and Ana names another problem.

  1. Ana checks her pockets beside the jukebox.
  2. AnaExcuse me. I have a problem.She wants Dee's attention because something is not going well.
  3. DeeWhat is it, hon?She asks what the problem is.
  4. AnaI'm lost.She says she does not know where she is.
  5. Ana points at her empty pockets, and Dee smiles.
  6. DeeFor keys, say, "I lost my keys," hon.She gives Ana the right words for her missing keys.
  7. AnaI lost my keys.She cannot find the keys she had.
  8. DeeDon't worry. They're on the counter.The keys are safe, so Ana can stop worrying.
  9. The jukebox clicks, but no music plays.
  10. AnaSomething's wrong. It doesn't work.The machine has a problem and will not play music.
  11. DeeHave a seat, hon.She asks Ana to sit down.
  12. AnaThe jukebox is broken.She thinks the music machine is damaged.
  13. DeeLeave it, hon. Nobody's fixing it.She will not let anyone repair the machine.
  14. Murray looks at B7's blank label and empty slot, with his coffee still unfinished.

Practice — name the problem

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

Think about each problem before you choose what to say.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    Something's wrong.Drop the Simple English here
    I have a problem.Drop the Simple English here
    It doesn't work.Drop the Simple English here
    I'm lost.Drop the Simple English here
    The ___ is broken.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?

    Dee has not seen you. Get her attention so you can ask for help.

  4. What does it mean?

    I'm lost.

  5. Fill the gap

    Something is not going well

    I have a ____.

  6. Build the line

    This thing will not start or run

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Pick the reply

    Dee says:

    This cup has a big crack. What's wrong with it?

    She asks you to name the damage to the cup.

    And you reply with:

  8. Fill the gap

    This thing is damaged and cannot be used

    The ___ is ____.

  9. True or false?

    This line asks someone to stop worrying.

  10. What do you say?

    Your Ventra card was in your pocket. Now you cannot find it. Tell Dee what you lost.

  11. True or false?

    This line asks someone to sit down.

Say it — say what's wrong

Now you're Ana at the diner. The jukebox is quiet, and Dee is ready to listen.

When it's your turn, tap the microphone and record the line. For a line with a blank, name the thing.

  1. DeeHi, hon.a friendly hello
  2. Ana (you)Tell her this is not OK.

    Something's wrong.

    This is not OK

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
Something's wrong.This is not OK
I have a problem.Something is not going well
It doesn't work.This thing will not start or run
I lost ___.I cannot find this thing anymore
I'm lost.I do not know where I am
The ___ is broken.This thing is damaged and cannot be used
Next: lesson 34I forgot and I'm late

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