Exercise 1
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence about technology and communication.
Example: She uses her ___ to send messages to her friends. (phone / table / paper)
Answer: She uses her phone to send messages to her friends.
Technology and Communication
Technology is part of everyday life. We use our phones to send messages, search the internet, and speak to friends and family. In this lesson, you will learn important vocabulary about technology and communication that is useful for daily life at home, at school, and at work.
A Typical Day with Technology
Maria wakes up and looks at her mobile phone. She has two new text messages from her friend. She opens her laptop to check her emails before work. On the bus, she uses the internet to read the news. At the office, she makes a phone call to a client and later joins a video call with her team. In the evening, she downloads a film and watches it on her tablet. Technology helps Maria stay connected all day.
Key Vocabulary and Meaning Breakdown
1. Devices and Equipment
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech and Meaning | Example Sentence | Collocations / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| mobile phone | noun — a small telephone you carry with you | I left my mobile phone on the train. | use a mobile phone, charge a mobile phone, lose a mobile phone |
| smartphone | noun — a mobile phone with a touchscreen and many apps | She bought a new smartphone last week. | use a smartphone, buy a smartphone |
| laptop | noun — a portable computer you can carry and use anywhere | He does his homework on his laptop. | use a laptop, open a laptop, carry a laptop |
| tablet | noun — a flat, portable touchscreen device, larger than a phone | The children use a tablet to play games. | use a tablet, watch on a tablet |
| keyboard | noun — the set of keys you use to type on a computer | I need a new keyboard for my computer. | type on a keyboard, wireless keyboard |
| screen | noun — the flat surface on a phone, computer, or TV where you see images | The screen on my phone is broken. | look at a screen, touch the screen, a bright screen |
| charger | noun — a device that puts electricity into a battery | Have you got a charger? My phone is almost dead. | use a charger, phone charger, plug in the charger |
| headphones | noun (plural) — a device you wear over your ears to listen to sound | She listened to music with her headphones. | wear headphones, put on headphones, wireless headphones |
2. The Internet and Online Actions
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech and Meaning | Example Sentence | Collocations / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| internet | noun — the global network that connects computers and devices | Is there free internet in this café? | use the internet, connect to the internet, access the internet |
| website | noun — a page or group of pages on the internet | I found the answer on a website. | visit a website, open a website, a useful website |
| search | verb — to look for information, usually on the internet | I searched for a hotel online. | search for something, search online, search the internet |
| download | verb — to copy a file or app from the internet to your device | He downloaded a new app on his phone. | download a file, download music, download an app |
| upload | verb — to send a file from your device to the internet | She uploaded a photo to her social media page. | upload a photo, upload a video, upload a document |
| Wi-Fi | noun — a wireless connection to the internet | What is the Wi-Fi password? | connect to Wi-Fi, free Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi password |
| password | noun — a secret word or code used to enter a system or account | I forgot my password and cannot log in. | type a password, remember a password, change a password |
| app | noun — a programme or application on a phone or tablet | I use a weather app every morning. | use an app, download an app, open an app |
3. Communication and Messaging
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech and Meaning | Example Sentence | Collocations / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| noun / verb — an electronic message sent over the internet | I sent an email to my teacher. | send an email, receive an email, reply to an email, check your email | |
| text message | noun — a short written message sent by mobile phone | She sent me a text message to say she was late. | send a text message, receive a text message, reply to a text message |
| phone call | noun — a conversation made by telephone | I made a phone call to the doctor's office. | make a phone call, receive a phone call, answer a phone call |
| video call | noun — a call where you can see and hear the other person through a screen | We had a video call with our family in Australia. | make a video call, have a video call, join a video call |
| social media | noun — websites and apps where people share news, photos, and messages | He posts photos on social media every day. | use social media, post on social media, share on social media |
| message | noun / verb — a piece of written or spoken information sent to someone | I left a message on his phone. | send a message, leave a message, read a message, reply to a message |
| contact | verb / noun — to communicate with someone; a person in your phone book | Please contact me by email if you have questions. | contact someone, keep in contact, a contact number |
| online | adjective / adverb — connected to or available on the internet | We bought the tickets online. | go online, shop online, book online, study online |
Collocations and Useful Expressions
Learning collocations helps you sound more natural in English. Here are the most common collocations with technology and communication vocabulary:
make + a phone call
I need to make a phone call before we leave.
send + an email / a message / a text
Can you send me an email with the details?
check + your email / your phone / your messages
He checks his phone every ten minutes.
connect to + the internet / Wi-Fi
I cannot connect to the internet in this room.
charge + your phone / battery
My phone is dead. I need to charge it.
turn on / turn off + a device
Please turn off your mobile phone in the cinema.
log in / log out
You need to log in with your email and password.
download + an app / a file / music
I downloaded the app for free.
post + a photo / a message / a video
She posted a photo of her holiday on social media.
search for + information / a place / a product
I searched for a good restaurant near the hotel.
Important Differences and Confusing Words
Mobile Phone vs Smartphone
A mobile phone is any telephone you can carry with you — this is the general word. A smartphone is a type of mobile phone with a touchscreen, internet access, and apps. All smartphones are mobile phones, but not all mobile phones are smartphones.
✔ I have an old mobile phone — it can only call and send texts.
✔ My new smartphone has a great camera and many apps.
Email vs Message
An email is a formal or semi-formal electronic letter sent over the internet. A message is a more general word — it can be a text message, a voice message, or a chat message (for example, on WhatsApp). Emails are usually longer and more formal.
✔ I sent an email to my boss about the meeting.
✔ She sent me a quick message to say hello.
Download vs Upload
Download means to copy something from the internet to your device (phone, laptop, tablet). Upload means to send something from your device to the internet.
✔ I downloaded a film to watch on the plane. (from the internet → to my device)
✔ She uploaded the document to the company website. (from her device → to the internet)
Search vs Find
Search is the action of looking for something. Find is the result — when you discover what you were looking for. You can search for something and not find it.
✔ I searched for a cheap hotel but I didn't find one.
✔ I searched for his number and finally found it.
Common Mistakes
❌ I did a phone call to my friend.
✅ I made a phone call to my friend. (We use "make" with phone calls, not "do".)
❌ Can I have the Wi-Fi word?
✅ Can I have the Wi-Fi password? ("Password" is the correct noun, not "word".)
❌ She sent me a mail about the meeting.
✅ She sent me an email about the meeting. (In technology, we say "email", not "mail", for electronic messages.)
❌ I need to charge my phone's battery with the charger cable.
✅ I need to charge my phone. (This is enough. The sentence is clear and natural without extra words.)
❌ I go to the internet to check the weather.
✅ I go online to check the weather. (We say "go online" or "use the internet", not "go to the internet".)
❌ I downloaded a photo to Instagram.
✅ I uploaded a photo to Instagram. (You send photos from your phone to the internet, so it is "upload", not "download".)
❌ My mobile phone is without battery.
✅ My mobile phone battery is dead / My phone has no battery. (This is the natural expression in English.)
Technology and Communication: Quick Summary and Review
In this lesson, you have learned key vocabulary about technology and communication at the A2 level. Here is a quick review of the main points:
- Devices include a mobile phone, smartphone, laptop, tablet, keyboard, screen, charger, and headphones.
- Online actions include searching, downloading, uploading, and connecting to Wi-Fi or the internet.
- Communication words include email, text message, phone call, video call, message, and social media.
- Remember to use the correct collocations: make a phone call, send an email, check your messages, connect to the internet, and charge your phone.
- Do not confuse download and upload, or search and find.
- Use go online, not "go to the internet".
Now practise technology and communication vocabulary in the exercises below.
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