English: Technology & the Internet

Level: B1. Technology English is built from a small set of device words and a set of two-word verbs for doing things online. Once you know them, you can set up an account, describe a problem, and ask for help. This lesson gives you the vocabulary and the exact phrases, with the collocations that English speakers actually use.

By the end of this page you can…

…name your devices and their parts, use the common online verbs correctly, and describe a technology problem clearly enough to get help.

Device vocabulary

A device is any piece of electronic equipment: a smartphone (or just phone), a laptop, a desktop (computer), a tablet. Each has a screen, a keyboard, a battery, and needs a charger and a cable to charge. Small programs are apps; the system that runs them is the software; the physical parts are the hardware.

Online, you visit a website using a browser, you have an account protected by a password, and you connect through Wi-Fi or mobile data. A file sent with an email is an attachment; a clickable address is a link.

Online verbs — mostly two-word verbs

The verbs are the heart of this lesson, and most come in pairs:

• log in / log out (or sign in / sign out): enter and leave your account.
• sign up: create a new account.
• set up: prepare a device or account for first use.
• back up: save a copy somewhere safe.
• download / upload: bring a file to your device / send a file from it.

Single verbs matter too: you install and update an app, charge a battery, search for something, browse a site, stream a film, and enter a password.

Collocations — the right verb with the right noun

English pairs certain verbs with certain tech nouns. Using the wrong one sounds odd:

• charge a phone / a battery (not load a phone)
• install / update an app (not put an app)
• enter / type a password (not write a password, usually)
• connect to Wi-Fi (not open Wi-Fi)

Describing a problem

Tech problems use a few fixed patterns. The most common is not working:

• It’s not working.
• My laptop won’t turn on.
• The app keeps crashing. (crashing = closing suddenly by itself)
• The Wi-Fi is down. (down = not available right now)
• I can’t log in — it says my password is wrong.

A short conversation

Friend: Can you help me? I can’t log in to my account. You: What does it say? Friend: It says my password is wrong, but I’m sure it’s right. You: Try resetting it — there should be a Forgot password link. Friend: Found it. It’s sent a link to my email. You: Open the link, enter a new password, and you’re back in.

Usage notes

• internet vs online: the internet is the network (a noun); online describes being connected (I’m online, an online shop).
• Wi-Fi vs data: Wi-Fi is a local wireless connection; (mobile) data is the internet through your phone network. You can run out of data, not of Wi-Fi.
• log in (verb) vs login (noun): I log in (two words, verb) but my login details (one word, noun/adjective).
• click / tap / swipe / scroll: you click with a mouse, tap and swipe on a touchscreen, and scroll up or down a page.

Example sentences

Press play and say each line out loud — these are everyday tech phrases you will really use.

1. My phone battery is almost dead.
   Dead = completely empty.
2. I need to charge my laptop.
   Charge a battery or device.
3. Could you send me the link?
   A link is a clickable address.
4. I can't connect to the Wi-Fi.
   Connect to Wi-Fi, not open it.
5. The download is almost finished.
   Download brings a file to you.
6. Can you upload the photos to the website?
   Upload sends files away from your device.
7. I forgot my password.
   You forget the password, not the account.
8. Let me log in to my account.
   Log in = enter your account.
9. You need to sign up first.
   Sign up = create a new account.
10. Please update the app before you use it.
    Update an app to the newest version.
11. The app keeps crashing.
    Keeps + -ing for a repeated problem.
12. My laptop won't turn on.
    Won't = refuses to.
13. The Wi-Fi is down again.
    Down = not available right now.
14. Did you back up your files?
    Back up = save a safe copy.
15. I'll install it now.
    Install an app or program.
16. Just tap the screen to open it.
    Tap on a touchscreen.
17. Scroll down to find the button.
    Scroll up or down a page.
18. There's an attachment in the email.
    An attachment is a file with an email.
19. The page keeps loading slowly.
    Describing a repeated slow problem.
20. Enter your password and press enter.
    Enter or type a password.

Quick recap before you practise.

Practice

Practice

Technology and the internet practice

Try each one, then press Check. No sign-up, nothing is sent anywhere — it all runs in your browser.

1 You want to save a photo from a website to your phone. You…

upload it download it install it stream it

Check

Show answer

download it — Download brings a file to your device; upload sends it away.

2 Choose the verb: 'I need to ____ my phone, the battery is dead.' (one word)

Check

Hint: what you do with a plug and cable

Show answer

charge — You charge a phone or battery, not load it.

3 Which sentence is correct?

Open the Wi-Fi, please. Connect to the Wi-Fi, please. Install the Wi-Fi, please. Download the Wi-Fi, please.

Check

Show answer

Connect to the Wi-Fi, please. — You connect to Wi-Fi.

4 A repeated problem: 'The app ____ crashing.' (one word, for something that happens again and again)

Check

Hint: keeps + -ing

Show answer

keeps — Keeps + -ing shows a problem that repeats: the app keeps crashing.

5 Put the words in order to create a new account.

signfirstYouupneed to

CheckReset

Show answer

You need to sign up first — Sign up means create a new account: You need to sign up first.

6 Match each verb to the right noun.

• install Match for install — choose — a passwordan appthe Wi-Fiyour files
• enter Match for enter — choose — a passwordan appthe Wi-Fiyour files
• back up Match for back up — choose — a passwordan appthe Wi-Fiyour files
• connect to Match for connect to — choose — a passwordan appthe Wi-Fiyour files

Check

Show answer

• install → an app
• enter → a password
• back up → your files
• connect to → the Wi-Fi

These are the standard tech collocations English speakers use.

How to say it

A few tech words trip up English learners — copy the sounds, not the spelling.

• Wi-Fi is said WHY-fy, two clear beats, not wiffy.
• password keeps a clear s and stresses the first part: PASS-word.
• download stresses the first part: DOWN-load; upload is UP-load.
• browser rhymes with rouser: BROW-zer, with a z sound in the middle.

Quiz

Check yourself

Technology and the internet quiz

8 questions · pick an answer and you'll see straight away if it's right.

0/8 0 answered

1. 1You put your holiday photos onto a website. You…

   A download them B upload them C charge them D install them
   Show answer

   upload them — Upload sends files from your device to the internet.

2. 2Which collocation is correct?

   A load my phone B charge my phone C fill my phone D power my phone up with food
   Show answer

   charge my phone — You charge a phone or battery.

3. 3To create a brand-new account you…

   A log out B sign up C back up D log in
   Show answer

   sign up — Sign up = create a new account; log in = enter an existing one.

4. 4'The Wi-Fi is down' means it is…

   A very fast B not available right now C switched to data D fully charged
   Show answer

   not available right now — Down means not working or unavailable at the moment.

5. 5Choose the correct sentence for a repeated problem.

   A The app crash every time. B The app keeps crashing. C The app is crash. D The app crashed keep.
   Show answer

   The app keeps crashing. — Use keeps + -ing for something that happens again and again.

6. 6What is an 'attachment'?

   A a type of Wi-Fi B a file sent with an email C a password D a browser
   Show answer

   a file sent with an email — An attachment is a file sent together with an email.

7. 7Which is the noun form?

   A I log in every morning. B my login details C please log in here D did you log in?
   Show answer

   my login details — Login (one word) is the noun; log in (two words) is the verb.

8. 8On a touchscreen you move down a long page by…

   A clicking B scrolling C installing D charging
   Show answer

   scrolling — You scroll up or down a page; you tap and swipe with your finger.

Recap cheat-sheet

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