Exercise 1
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence about everyday problems and solutions.
Example: My phone is out of battery. I need to ______ it. (charge / fix / lose)
Answer: My phone is out of battery. I need to charge it.
Everyday Problems and Solutions
We all have problems in daily life. Maybe your bus is late, your phone stops working, or you forget your keys. Knowing the right words in English helps you explain your problem and find a solution quickly. In this lesson, you will learn useful vocabulary for talking about everyday problems and what you can do to fix them.
Mini Situation
Read this short conversation:
Tom arrives at work looking stressed. His colleague, Maria, asks him what is wrong.
Maria: "You look tired. Is everything OK?"
Tom: "Not really. I missed my bus this morning, so I was late. Then I realised I forgot my phone at home. It's been a terrible morning!"
Maria: "Oh no! Don't worry. You can borrow my phone if you need it."
Tom: "Thank you! That really helps."
In this situation, Tom has two problems — a missed bus and a forgotten phone. Maria offers a simple solution. In this lesson, you will learn words like these so you can talk about your own everyday problems and solutions.
Key Vocabulary & Meaning Breakdown
1. Everyday Problems
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech & Meaning | Example Sentence | Collocations / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| problem | noun — something difficult or wrong that needs to be fixed | I have a problem with my computer. It won't turn on. | have a problem, fix a problem, serious problem |
| miss | verb — to be too late for something (e.g. a bus or train) | She missed her train and had to wait for the next one. | miss the bus, miss a flight, miss a meeting |
| forget | verb — to not remember something | He forgot his umbrella and got very wet. | forget your keys, forget a name, forget to call |
| lose | verb — to not be able to find something | I lost my wallet on the bus this morning. | lose your keys, lose your phone, lose money |
| break down | phrasal verb — to stop working (machines or vehicles) | My car broke down on the way to work. | the car broke down, the machine broke down |
| run out of | phrasal verb — to have no more of something left | We ran out of milk, so I went to the supermarket. | run out of time, run out of money, run out of petrol |
| be late | adjective phrase — to arrive after the expected time | The bus was late, so I missed my appointment. | be late for work, be late for school, arrive late |
| be stuck | adjective phrase — unable to move or continue | We were stuck in traffic for an hour. | stuck in traffic, stuck in a lift, stuck on a question |
| spill | verb — to accidentally drop liquid from a container | I spilled coffee on my shirt before the meeting. | spill coffee, spill water, spill a drink |
| not work | verb phrase — when a machine or device stops functioning | The printer is not working today. | the Wi-Fi is not working, the heating is not working |
2. Feelings About Problems
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech & Meaning | Example Sentence | Collocations / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| worried | adjective — feeling nervous or anxious about something | She was very worried about the exam results. | worried about, feel worried, look worried |
| stressed | adjective — feeling pressure and unable to relax | He looked stressed because he had too much work. | feel stressed, be stressed out, look stressed |
| upset | adjective — feeling sad or unhappy about something | She was upset when she lost her purse. | feel upset, get upset, be upset about |
| frustrated | adjective — feeling annoyed because something is not working | He felt frustrated because the Wi-Fi was not working. | feel frustrated, get frustrated, frustrated with |
| embarrassed | adjective — feeling uncomfortable because of a mistake | She was embarrassed when she spilled her drink. | feel embarrassed, be embarrassed about |
3. Solutions and Helpful Actions
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech & Meaning | Example Sentence | Collocations / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| solution | noun — a way to fix a problem | We found a good solution to the problem. | find a solution, offer a solution, a simple solution |
| fix | verb — to repair something that is broken | Can you fix the broken chair? | fix a problem, fix a machine, fix a mistake |
| repair | verb / noun — to make something work again | They repaired my phone at the shop. | repair a car, repair a device, need a repair |
| borrow | verb — to take something from someone for a short time and return it | Can I borrow your umbrella? It's raining. | borrow money, borrow a book, borrow a pen |
| ask for help | verb phrase — to request assistance from another person | If you don't understand, you should ask for help. | ask for help, ask someone for help, need help |
| call | verb — to telephone someone | I called the doctor when I felt very ill. | call the police, call a taxi, call customer service |
| replace | verb — to put something new in the place of something old or broken | We need to replace the old battery in the remote. | replace a battery, replace a part, replace something |
| try again | verb phrase — to make another attempt after a failure | The website was down, so I tried again later. | try again later, try again tomorrow |
| complain | verb — to say that something is wrong or that you are not happy | She complained to the manager about the cold food. | complain about, complain to someone, make a complaint |
| return | verb — to take something back to a shop or person | He returned the broken item to the shop. | return an item, return to the shop, return a product |
Collocations & Useful Expressions
Learning words together as natural pairs helps you use English more fluently. Here are common collocations for everyday problems and solutions:
miss + the bus / the train / a flight
I missed the bus, so I walked to the office.
lose + your keys / your wallet / your phone
She lost her keys and couldn't get into the house.
run out of + money / time / petrol / milk
We ran out of petrol on the motorway. It was a big problem!
break down (for cars and machines)
The washing machine broke down last night.
fix + a problem / a mistake / a machine
The engineer came to fix the problem with the heating.
ask + for help / for directions / for advice
Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it.
call + a doctor / the police / a plumber / a taxi
The pipe was leaking, so we called a plumber.
borrow + money / a pen / an umbrella
Can I borrow a pen? I forgot mine at home.
make + a complaint / a phone call / a mistake
She made a complaint about the noisy neighbours.
find + a solution / your keys / an answer
We found a solution to the problem very quickly.
Important Differences & Confusing Words
Lose vs. Miss
These two words are both common problems, but they have different meanings.
Lose means you cannot find an object. You do not know where it is.
I lost my glasses. I can't find them anywhere.
Miss means you arrive too late for something, such as a bus, train, or appointment.
I missed the bus because I woke up late.
Remember: you lose things (objects), but you miss events or transport.
Fix vs. Repair
Fix is more informal and is used in everyday conversation.
Can you fix my bike? The wheel is broken.
Repair is slightly more formal and is common in shops and professional contexts.
The mechanic repaired the car engine.
Both words have the same basic meaning. In daily life, you can usually use either one.
Borrow vs. Lend
These two words cause a lot of confusion for learners at A2 level.
Borrow — you take something from another person.
Can I borrow your pen? (= I want to take it from you.)
Lend — you give something to another person.
Can you lend me your pen? (= I want you to give it to me.)
A simple way to remember: you borrow from someone, and you lend to someone.
Problem vs. Trouble
Problem is used for a specific thing that is wrong or difficult.
There is a problem with my internet connection.
Trouble is often used in general situations and common fixed phrases.
I'm having trouble with my computer.
He was in trouble because he forgot the meeting.
Use have trouble + -ing verb: I'm having trouble finding the station.
Use have a problem + with + noun: I have a problem with the heating.
Common Mistakes
❌ I missed my keys this morning.
✅ I lost my keys this morning. — Use lost when you cannot find an object. Use missed for transport or events.
❌ Can I lend your umbrella?
✅ Can I borrow your umbrella? — You borrow something from someone. You lend something to someone.
❌ My car broke.
✅ My car broke down. — For vehicles and machines that stop working, always use the phrasal verb break down.
❌ I have a trouble with my phone.
✅ I'm having trouble with my phone. — We say have trouble (not a trouble) in English.
❌ She was embarrassed because she lost the bus.
✅ She was embarrassed because she missed the bus. — We miss the bus, not lose it.
❌ He called to the doctor.
✅ He called the doctor. — We say call someone (no preposition to after call).
❌ I forgot my umbrella at home yesterday, so I got wet. Next time I will remember it.
✅ I left my umbrella at home yesterday. — When you know exactly where something is, use leave, not forget. Use forget when you do not remember something at all.
Everyday Problems and Solutions: Quick Summary & Review
In this lesson, you learned vocabulary to talk about everyday problems and solutions in English. Here are the key points to remember:
- Use lose for objects you cannot find (e.g. keys, wallet, phone).
- Use miss for transport or events you are too late for (e.g. the bus, a meeting).
- Use break down when a car or machine stops working.
- Use run out of when you have no more of something (e.g. money, milk, time).
- Use borrow when you take something from someone, and lend when you give something to someone.
- Common solutions include: fix it, call someone, ask for help, borrow something, return an item, try again.
- Useful feelings words: worried, stressed, upset, frustrated, embarrassed.
- Remember common collocations: miss the bus, lose your keys, run out of time, find a solution, make a complaint.
Now practise everyday problems and solutions vocabulary in the exercises below.
📄 Download the Everyday Problems and Solutions PDF
Download this Everyday Problems and Solutions grammar lesson as a free printable PDF.
It includes grammar rules, examples, and explanations so you can study offline anytime.