Technology

Useful vocabulary

PIECES OF TECHNOLOGY

• Terms to refer to electronic equipment:• device• machine• gadget (small objects)• gizmo (small objects, informal)• appliance (mostly for housework)

• More generic terms:• item• thingummy

COMPUTERS

Types of computers:

desktop computer

laptop computer

tablet

COMPUTERS - HARDWARE

tower

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

screen / monitor

keyboard

COMPUTERS - HARDWARE

mouseon a mouse mat (BrE)or a mousepad (AmE)

scanner

printer

COMPUTERS - HARDWARE

What is the plural form of this type of “mouse”?

mice

mouses

COMPUTERS - SOFTWARE

PHONES

Types of phones:

mobile phone

cell phone (AmE)

landline phonesmartphone

with a touch screen

PHONES

What type of phone can you use while you’re driving?

a hands-free phone

TELEVISION

Types of televisions:

flat-screen television

plasma screen television

high-definition television

portable television

TELEVISION

How do you change the channel if you don’t want to stand up? You use a...

remote (control)

USEFUL PHRASAL VERBS

If you want to use any electronic device, the first thing you have to do is turn it...

on

If you have finished using it, then you turn it...off

An alternative for the verb “turn” in these sentences is the verb...

switch

USEFUL PHRASAL VERBS

If the music is too low, you can turn it...up

If it is too loud, you can turn it...down

If a machine stops working, it may have broken...

down

USEFUL PHRASAL VERBS

If the battery of your mobile phone is flat, you need to charge it...

up

If you want to have a document in paper, you need to print it...

out

Or you can also print it...off

USEFUL PHRASAL VERBS

If the document you are reading is long, you use the mouse to scroll...

down

If you want to re-read a section of the document, you can always scroll back...

up

If you want to use any of these machines, you need to plug them...

in(into a socket)

USEFUL ADJECTIVES

POSITIVE NEGATIVE

modern

up-to-date

state-of-the-art

cutting-edge

groundbreaking

old-fashioned

outdated

obsolete

FILL IN THE GAPS

1. A washing machine is a kind of .2. This is missing the letter “p”.3. You will need a if you want to

digitise those documents.4. Now that I have a mobile phone, I barely use

the .5. I went on a hiking trip the other day and my

phone had no there.

FILL IN THE GAPS

6. This piece of furniture is very narrow: I think that only a TV would fit.

7. Where’s the ? I want to switch the channel.

8. Please turn the volume. That’s too loud.9. Can you scroll back ? I couldn’t read the first

question.10. The mobile phone was a

invention.

FILL IN THE GAPS

1. A washing machine is a kind of .2. This is missing the letter “p”.3. You will need a if you want to

digitise those documents.4. Now that I have a mobile phone, I barely use

the .5. I went on a hiking trip the other day and my

phone had no there.

appliance

keyboard

scanner

landline

reception

FILL IN THE GAPS

6. This piece of furniture is very narrow: I think that only a TV would fit.

7. Where’s the ? I want to switch the channel.

8. Please turn the volume. That’s too loud.9. Can you scroll back ? I couldn’t read the first

question.10. The mobile phone was a

invention.

flat-screen

remote (control)

downup

groundbreaking