English Learning for Beginners: Problem-solving Language

Dialogue

Alice: Oh no, Bob! This is a disaster!

Bob: Alice, what’s the problem? You look like you’ve seen a ghost… or maybe lost your chocolate.

Alice: Worse! I can’t find my TV remote! My favorite show starts in five minutes!

Bob: Ah, the classic remote mystery. It’s driving you crazy, huh?

Alice: Completely! I’ve looked everywhere.

Bob: Okay, let’s think. Have you checked the sofa cushions? Remotes love sofa cushions.

Alice: Yes, first place! Not there.

Bob: Hmm. Maybe it’s under the stack of magazines? Or behind the lamp?

Alice: Nope, looked there too. It’s like it just vanished into thin air!

Bob: It could be in the kitchen. Sometimes I take mine with me when I get a snack.

Alice: The kitchen? But why? I wasn’t even hungry. Oh wait… I did get ice cream earlier.

Bob: What about the fridge? Or stuck to the bottom of your ice cream tub?

Alice: (Gasps) The fridge! Bob, you’re a genius! (Sound of rummaging) YES! It’s here! Next to the mustard!

Bob: Next to the mustard? That’s a new one! So, that was the problem, a very cold remote.

Alice: Haha, yes! Thanks for your help, Bob! You saved my show!

Current Situation

In everyday life, we often encounter small problems – from losing keys to understanding how a new device works. Knowing how to describe a problem and ask for help is a super useful skill in English. This lesson helps you learn simple phrases to talk about these situations. It’s not just about big, complicated issues; it’s about making your daily communication smoother and more confident when things don’t go exactly as planned. You’ll learn how to state what’s wrong, suggest solutions, and thank others for their assistance.

Key Phrases

What’s the problem?: Used to ask someone about what is wrong. Example: “What’s the problem? You look worried.”
I can’t find…: Used to say that you are unable to locate something. Example: “I can’t find my keys anywhere.”
It’s driving me crazy!: An informal, humorous way to say something is very annoying or frustrating. Example: “This loud music next door is driving me crazy!”
Let’s think. / Let me think.: Used to pause and consider solutions. Example: “We need to solve this puzzle. Let’s think.”
Have you checked…?: Used to suggest a specific place or action to find something. Example: “Have you checked under the bed for your shoes?”
Maybe it’s under…: Used to suggest a possible location. Example: “I don’t see my book. Maybe it’s under the pillow.”
It could be…: Used to suggest another possibility. Example: “The light isn’t working. It could be the battery.”
What about…?: Used to suggest another idea or option. Example: “We can’t go to the park. What about the cinema?”
We need to figure this out.: Used to express the necessity of finding a solution. Example: “The car won’t start. We need to figure this out.”
That was the problem!: Used when you have found the cause of the issue. Example: “Ah! The cable wasn’t plugged in. That was the problem!”
Thanks for your help!: Used to express gratitude after receiving assistance. Example: “You fixed my computer! Thanks for your help!”

Grammar Points

1. “Can’t” (Cannot)

“Can’t” is a short form of “cannot.” We use it to say that someone or something is unable to do something, or that something is not possible.

Examples:
“I can’t hear you.” (I am unable to hear you.)
“She can’t swim.” (She does not have the ability to swim.)
“You can’t park here.” (It is not allowed to park here.)

2. “Have you checked…?” (Present Perfect for simple questions)

For beginners, this phrase is useful for asking if an action has already happened. It implies that the action (checking) might solve the current problem.

Examples:
“Have you checked your pockets?” (Did you look in your pockets already?)
“Have you checked if the door is locked?” (Did you try to see if the door is locked?)

3. Expressing Possibility: “Maybe” and “Could be”

We use “maybe” and “could be” to suggest something is possible, but not certain.

Maybe: Usually comes at the beginning or middle of a sentence.
Example: “Maybe it’s raining outside.” / “It is maybe too hot.”
Could be: Often used as “It could be…” to suggest a possible reason or location.
Example: “The light is off. It could be a power cut.” / “My keys are gone. They could be in the car.”

4. Prepositions of Place

These words tell us where something is. In our dialogue, we used many!

under: below something.
Example: “The cat is under the table.”
behind: at the back of something.
Example: “The pen is behind the book.”
in: inside something.
Example: “The juice is in the fridge.”
next to: beside something.
Example: “The chair is next to the desk.”
on: on the surface of something.
Example: “The phone is on the bed.”

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences using words from the box: what, can't, checked, maybe, thanks.

A: Oh no, I ______ open this jar!
B: ______’s the problem?
A: I ______ find my phone.
B: Have you ______ your bag?
A: It’s not in my bag. ______ it’s on the table.
A: Yes! It was on the table! ______ for your help!

Exercise 2: Match the Phrases

Match the problem-solving phrase with its meaning.

What’s the problem?
I can’t find…
Have you checked…?
Thanks for your help!

a. To express gratitude.
b. To ask what is wrong.
c. To say something is lost.
d. To suggest looking in a place.

Exercise 3: Preposition Practice

Complete the sentences with under, on, in, next to.

The book is ______ the table.
The cat is ______ the chair.
The remote is ______ the sofa cushions.
The flowers are ______ the vase.

Answers

Exercise 1 Answers:

A: Oh no, I can’t open this jar!
B: What‘s the problem?
A: I can’t find my phone.
B: Have you checked your bag?
A: It’s not in my bag. Maybe it’s on the table.
A: Yes! It was on the table! Thanks for your help!

Exercise 2 Answers:

What’s the problem? – b. To ask what is wrong.
I can’t find… – c. To say something is lost.
Have you checked…? – d. To suggest looking in a place.
Thanks for your help! – a. To express gratitude.

Exercise 3 Answers:

The book is on the table.
The cat is under the chair.
The remote is in the sofa cushions.
The flowers are in the vase.

Problem-solving language