10 Tech Words Learners Get Wrong — Easy English Conversation

Transcript

Introduction

A: Yesterday we fixed tech problems. Today we’re fixing ten tech words that English learners often get wrong.

B: Some are false friends, some are pairs that are easy to mix up, and some are small grammar slips with verbs and prepositions.

A: Listen for notebook or laptop, charge or charger, download or upload, log in or sign up, on the internet, and send me the link. We’ll cover four more useful corrections too.

B: After the ten, you’ll hear two everyday conversations, then a short practice where you answer out loud.

A: You can practice today’s phrases in Recursio — link in the description.

Devices

B: Let’s start with the things on your desk. Number one: “I brought my notebook to the meeting.”

A: That’s fine, isn’t it?

B: It depends on what you mean. In several languages, “notebook” means a small computer. In everyday American English, a notebook is usually paper — the thing you write in with a pen.

A: So the computer is…

B: A laptop. “I brought my laptop.” “My laptop died in the meeting.”

A: Is “notebook computer” wrong, though?

B: Not wrong — you may see it in shops or old ads. But in conversation, “laptop” is the safe choice. If you say “notebook,” people will probably picture paper.

A: Number two. I’m sure it’s about batteries.

B: It is. Charge or charger. “Can I borrow your charge?”

A: Ah. The thing with the cable is the charger.

B: Exactly. “Charger” is the device you use to charge your phone. Depending on the charger, you may also need a cable. “Charge” is the verb: “I need to charge my phone.” It can also be a noun: “My phone has no charge.”

A: So: “Can I borrow your charger? I need to charge my phone.”

B: Perfect — both words in one sentence.

A: Number three: cell phone.

B: Many learners say “my mobile.” In British English, that’s completely normal — “mobile phone,” or just “mobile.”

A: And in American English?

B: “Cell phone,” or “cell,” or, most often, just “phone.” “What’s your cell number?” “Call my cell.” In the US, “mobile” alone can sound British.

A: So I can just say “phone,” and nobody will be confused.

B: Exactly. “Phone” works everywhere. And one more device word while we’re here: “tablet.” People say “my tablet,” or the brand name. Some learners say “my pad” — that’s not the usual word.

A: Laptop, phone, tablet. Three devices, no false friends.

B: And a “computer” usually means a desktop or a laptop — either one. “My computer is so slow today.”

A: But I see “mobile” on American websites too.

B: You do — “mobile number” on forms, “mobile app,” “the mobile version of a website.” But for the phone in your pocket, Americans usually just say “phone” or “cell.”

Getting things onto your device

A: Number four is a pair I always have to stop and think about. Download or upload.

B: Think of the internet as being “up” there, and your device “down” here. Download — the file comes down to you. Upload — you send it up.

A: So I download a movie, and I upload a photo to social media.

B: Exactly. “I downloaded the app.” “She uploaded the video.” “The upload is taking forever.”

A: And when I send a photo to a friend in a chat?

B: Usually you just say “send.” “I’ll send you the photo.” People often use “upload” for websites and cloud storage.

A: And in an email? I put a file inside it.

B: Then you “attach” it. “I attached the file.” “Please see the attached document.” And the file itself is “an attachment.”

A: So I might attach a file to an email, upload one to a website, or send a photo in a chat.

B: That’s a useful way to remember them. You’ll hear some overlap too.

A: Number five. A website asks for my name and email to make a new account.

B: That’s “sign up” — you create an account for the first time. Next time, you enter your email and password. That’s “log in.”

A: Sign up when I create the account, then log in when I come back.

B: Exactly. You’ll also hear “sign in,” which means basically the same as “log in.” And notice the spelling: the verb is two words, “log in.” The noun is often one word: “Your login is your email.”

A: And the opposite?

B: “Log out” or “sign out.”

A: And when I sign up, I also choose a username?

B: Often, yes — “username” is the name you use to log in. And sometimes the site says, “Create an account.” That’s another way to say “sign up.”

A: Number six. A new app. I say, “I set up the app on my phone.”

B: People do say that. “Install” focuses on putting the app on your device. “Set up” focuses on getting it ready to use — choosing settings or signing in. The two activities can overlap.

A: So I install an app, and then I set it up.

B: Yes. “I installed the app, but I haven’t set it up yet.” And with a new phone, you set up the whole phone: “It took me an hour to set up my new phone.”

A: And is “setup” ever one word?

B: Yes, as a noun. “The setup took an hour.” “I love your desk setup.” The verb is two words: “set it up.” Same with “login” and “log in.”

A: And “update”? My phone asks me every week.

B: “Update” is both a verb and a noun, same spelling. “I need to update my phone.” “There’s a new update.” You’ll also hear, “My phone is updating — give me a minute.”

A: Quick tip before the last group. If words like these keep switching places in your head, save them in Recursio and review them later.

Small words, big difference

B: Now, prepositions and verbs. Number seven: “I found it in the internet.”

A: It should be “on.”

B: Yes. We say “on the internet,” “on a website,” “online.” “I read it on the internet.” “I saw it online.”

A: Why “on”?

B: There isn’t a perfect logical reason — it’s just how English talks about media and devices: “on TV,” “on the radio,” “on my phone.” Learn it as a set.

A: “On TV, on the radio, on the internet.” That’s easy to remember.

B: One small exception that confuses people: apps. You’ll hear both “on the app” and “in the app.” “I found it in the app,” “You can pay on the app.” Both are fine.

A: So I should listen for which one people use in a particular sentence.

B: Exactly. Number eight. You’re at the movies, and you say, “Make your phone quiet.”

A: That’s understandable.

B: It is. But the usual phrase is “put it on silent.” “Silent” is the mode where the phone doesn’t ring.

A: “Please put your phone on silent.”

B: Exactly. You’ll also hear “put it on vibrate,” and “turn the sound off.” And movie theaters often say, “Please silence your cell phones.” But for your own phone, “put it on silent” is the safe choice.

A: Number nine is from today’s short video. “Throw me the link.”

B: Right. In some languages, you “throw” a link. In English, “send me the link” is the clearest everyday choice. You may hear “throw it in the chat” at work, and “throw me the link” may sound playful to some people.

A: So: “Send me the link.”

B: Yes. “Can you send me the link?” “I’ll send you the link in the chat.” You may also hear “drop the link in the chat” — that’s casual and very common in work chats.

A: “Drop it in the chat.” I like that.

B: You may hear that in online meetings. Last one, number ten: “Please reply me.”

A: Something’s missing.

B: One small word: “to.” “Reply to me.” “Please reply to my email.” “She didn’t reply to my message.”

A: But “answer me” is fine, right?

B: Yes — that’s the trick. When you name the person or message, “answer” doesn’t need “to”: “Answer me.” “Answer the email.” But with “reply,” say: “Reply to me,” “Reply to the email.” You can also just say, “Please reply.”

A: So “answer me,” but “reply to me.”

B: Exactly. For a text, you can also say “Text me back.” For email, “Write back” or “Get back to me.”

A: At work I hear “get back to me” a lot.

B: Very common. “Can you get back to me by Friday?” It’s like “reply,” but it often means “reply after you check something.” And “Sorry for the late reply” is a great way to start an email you answered late.

Setting up a new phone

A: Let’s hear them together. I just got a new phone, and you’re helping me before we go to the movies. We still have an hour.

B: Okay. First, is it charged?

A: Not really. Can I borrow your charger?

B: Here. While it charges, let’s set up the phone. Do you have an account for the music app?

A: No, I need to sign up.

B: Then install the app first. Download it from the app store.

A: Done. Installed. Now I sign up… and log in.

B: Great. Now, your old photos. Did you upload them to the cloud before you changed phones?

A: Yes. I can download them to the new phone later. Let’s make sure our tickets are ready first.

B: Perfect. Oh, and your sister sent you a message an hour ago.

A: I didn’t see it. I’ll reply to her now.

B: By the way, did you find the tickets you bought yesterday? You said the confirmation email was hard to find.

A: Not yet. Can you send me the link to the theater’s website?

B: Sure. I just sent it. Check your messages.

A: I found the ticket page, but it says I need the theater’s app to open my tickets.

B: Okay, download the app, then log in to your theater account. You bought the tickets with your own email address, right?

A: Yes. I’m logged in now. There they are — two tickets, row F.

B: Great. Save them on your phone so you can open them quickly at the door.

A: I found this movie on the internet last week, on my laptop. I’m glad I bought the tickets early.

B: Me too. And before we go inside, put your new phone on silent.

A: Done. Now I’m ready for the movie.

B: Perfect timing. Enjoy it.

A message from work

A: One more short scene. We work together, and it’s Monday morning.

B: Hi! Did you get my email from Friday?

A: Sorry, I didn’t reply to it. My laptop froze on Friday, and I didn’t see the email until this morning.

B: No problem. I attached the report. Can you upload it to the shared folder?

A: Sure. But I’m on a page that says “sign up.” Do I need a new account?

B: No, you already have a work account. Go back and choose “log in.” You can use your work email.

A: Right, now I’m in. And the meeting at ten — is it online?

B: Yes. I’ll send you the link in the chat.

A: Great. Should I install the meeting app?

B: You don’t need to. It opens in your browser.

A: Even better. One more thing — your phone keeps ringing.

B: Oops. I’ll put it on silent. See you at ten!

A: Wait — before you go. The report is uploaded. It’s too big to send as an email attachment, so I’ll send you the folder link.

B: Thanks. I’ll download the report on my laptop before the meeting.

A: Perfect. See you at ten.

Practice

B: Here’s how it works. You’ll hear a situation. Answer out loud in the pause, then listen to our answer. First one: you need to take your small computer to a meeting. What do you tell your coworker?

A: I’m bringing my laptop.

B: “Laptop” — a “notebook” may sound like paper.

A: Your phone’s battery is almost empty, and your friend has a charger. What do you ask your friend?

B: Can I borrow your charger? I need to charge my phone.

A: “Charger” is the object, “charge” is what you do.

B: A website wants your name and email to create a new account. Tomorrow, you only enter your password. What do you do each day?

A: Today I sign up, and tomorrow I log in.

B: Sign up once, log in after that.

A: Your friend asks where you found a recipe — it was on a website. Then you need the web address of a video she mentioned. What do you say?

B: I found it on the internet. Can you send me the link?

A: “On the internet,” and “send me the link” is clear here.

B: You’re at the movies, and your phone might ring. What do you do?

A: I put it on silent.

B: “On silent” — the mode where it doesn’t ring.

A: Your coworker hasn’t answered your email for three days. How do you ask politely for a response?

B: Could you reply to my email?

A: “Reply to” — and “answer” without “to.”

Outro

B: When you’re getting a new phone ready or sharing a file at work, a small word can change what you mean. Try one of today’s corrections the next time you talk about tech.

A: And if you’re unsure, listen to the example and try the phrase again out loud.

B: Open the link below and practice them in Recursio.

A: See you in the next one.