“I downloaded the form, filled it in and uploaded it.”
Those two verbs describe opposite directions. This lesson gives you everyday technology vocabulary for using devices, managing files and explaining problems.
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Devices and computer parts
A device is a piece of equipment, such as a phone or laptop. Hardware means the physical parts you can touch; software means the programs that make them work.
A touchscreen responds when you tap it. A touchpad is the flat surface on many laptops that controls the pointer.
Say
“The battery is low”
or
“My phone needs charging”
low describes the amount of charge remaining.
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Software, apps, files and folders
An app is a software application. We normally treat software as uncountable:
“some useful software”
not
“three softwares”
For separate items, say three programs or three apps.
A file name identifies the file; an extension such as .pdf indicates its format. A folder can contain several files and other folders. Renaming a file changes its name; it does not necessarily change its format.
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Everyday computer actions
These verbs often appear in instructions. On a computer, click a button; on a touchscreen, tap it. Scroll down to see content lower on the page, or swipe to move across a touchscreen.
Back up is the verb; backup is the noun:
“Back up your files”
“Make a backup”
Plug in means connect equipment to a socket:
“Plug the charger in”
or
“Plug it in”
With a pronoun, put it between the verb and in.
Internet, browsers and accounts
The internet connects networks. A website is a collection of web pages; a browser is the software used to open them. A search engine helps you find pages. A browser and a search engine are different tools.
Use a tab to keep another page open in the same browser window. A link takes you to another page or resource; a URL is its address. Wi-Fi is a wireless network connection, which can provide internet access, but being connected to Wi-Fi does not guarantee the internet is working.
Create an account when you register. Log in or sign in to access it, and log out or sign out when you finish. Login is often a noun or adjective (“login details”); log in is the verb. Keep your username and password distinct.
For broader discussions about technology and society, use our IELTS technology vocabulary. This lesson focuses on everyday tasks.
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Email and online communication
Your inbox holds received email. Compose means write a new message; reply means answer it; forward means send an existing message to someone else. Add an attachment if the recipient needs a file.
In a video call, mute your microphone to stop transmitting your sound, then unmute it to speak. Share your screen to show what is on it.
“You’re on mute”
means your microphone is muted, not that your speakers are silent.
Useful requests include:
“Could you send the link again?”
“I’ve attached the file”
“Can you hear me clearly?”
Practise personal answers with our technology speaking questions.
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Common technology problems
Describe what happened and when:
“The screen froze after I clicked Save.”
“The file won’t open”
reports a problem.
“The file is missing”
says you cannot find it.
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Useful technology collocations
Learn complete combinations: charge your phone, connect to Wi-Fi, browse the internet, open a file, reset a password, send an email and make a video call.
Say :
“click on the link”
not :
“press the link”
Exercises and answers
Answer all 15 questions. Choose the stated option, complete the phrase or correct the sentence. Then check the explanations.
Practice
- Choose the physical equipment: hardware or software.
- A flat surface on a laptop controls the pointer. Is it a touchpad or touchscreen?
- Choose the place used to organise several files: folder or attachment.
- You transfer a worksheet from a website to your laptop. Choose upload or download.
- You send a photo from your phone to online storage. Choose upload or download.
- Complete with in or out: “I can’t log ___ because I forgot my password.”
- Complete with up or down: “Back ___ the photos before replacing the phone.”
- Correct: “Plug in it before the battery runs out.”
- You answer a message. Choose reply or forward.
- You want other callers to hear you. Choose mute or unmute your microphone.
- Correct: “I installed two new softwares.”
- You change a file’s name. Choose rename or restart.
- An app stops responding but stays open. Choose freezes or charges.
- Complete with to or on: “Connect ___ Wi-Fi.”
- A file is included with an email. What is it called?
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Answers and explanations
- hardware — Hardware refers to physical parts.
- touchpad — A touchpad controls the pointer; a touchscreen is the display itself.
- folder — A folder contains files; an attachment belongs to a message.
- download — The file moves to your device.
- upload — The file moves from your device to another system.
- in — Log in means access an account.
- up — Back up means make an extra copy.
- Plug it in before the battery runs out. — The pronoun goes between plug and in.
- reply — Forward sends an existing message to someone else.
- unmute — Unmute restores transmission of your sound.
- I installed two new programs. / I installed two new apps. — Software is normally uncountable.
- rename — Restart means stop and start a device or program again.
- freezes — Freeze describes an app that stops responding.
- to — The usual combination is connect to Wi-Fi.
- an attachment — Attachment describes the file’s role in the message.
Describe a recent computer problem in two sentences. Name the device, say what stopped working and explain what you were doing at the time.
For short weekday English practice on LINE, LEW Daily offers useful activities, a chance to reply and feedback.
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