Unit 3: Complaints, Complaints

A. Write a sentence to describe each problem.

1. The computer crashed.
2. The car has a dead battery.
3. The carpet has a stain.
4. The wall needs to be repainted.
5. The car has a flat tyre.
6. The faucet is dripping.

B. Write the past participle for each verb.

1. break broken
2. sew sewn
3. damage damaged
4. scratch scratched
5. stain stained
6. tear torn
7. repair repaired
8. paint painted
9. clean cleaned
10. fix fixed

C. What needs to be done? Complete the sentences with need + to be + a past participle. For each past participle, choose a verb from the box.

1. That tie needs to be dry-cleaned.
2. The pencils need to sharpened.
3. His hair and clothes need to be dried.
4. The grass needs to be cut.
5. The wall in my bedroom needs to be repainted.
6. Her face and hands need to be washed.
7. That car needs to be repaired.

D. Salim bought a house. What needs to be done before he can move in?
Write two sentences about each photo.

1. clean / kitchen

The kitchen needs to be cleaned.
She's going to have the kitchen cleaned.

2. living room / decorate

The living room needs to be decorated.
She's going to have the living room decorated.

E. Look at the picture. Write sentences about what needs to be done.
Use the words in the box to make past participles.

1. cabinet door the cabinet door needs to be repaired.
2. clothes the clothes need to be washed.
3. delivery man the delivery man needs to be paid.
4. cat the cat needs to be fed.
5. pizza the pizza needs to be eaten.

F. Write the conversations. Use the words provided. Then ask Why? Use the verb in parentheses to answer the question.

1. have / garage door / repair (break)

A: We're having the garage door repaired.
B: Why are you having the garage door repaired.
A: The garage door is broken.

2. get / sidewalk / fix (crack)

A: We're getting the sidewalk fixed.
B: Why are you getting the sidewalk fixed?
A: The sidewalk is cracked.

3. have / roof / replace (damage)

A: We're having the roof replaced.
B: Why are you having the roof replaced?
A: The roof is damaged.

4. have / doorknob / check (break)

A: We're having the doorknob checked.
B: Why are you having the doorknob checked?
A: The doorknob is broken.

5. get / window / fix (break)

A: We're getting the window fixed.
B: Why are you getting the window fixed?
A: The window is broken.

G. READING

Answer the questions.

1. What do you need to do before you buy a car?

You need to know a few things.

2. What are two things you need to check?

You need to check the price of the car and how much oil is the car right now.

3. What is the most important thing you need to do when shopping for a car?

The most important thing is to take the car for a ride.

4. Where do you need to test drive your car?

You need to test drive the car on city streets and on the highway.

5. What should you have a mechanic do?

You should have a mechanic look at the car before you buy it.

6. What do you need to keep?

You need to keep copies of everything you sign.

H. You bought these items over the Internet. When they arrive at your home, something is wrong with each one. Write what is wrong.

1. pants the pants are too long.
2. memory stick the memory stick doesn't work.
3. TV The TV is faulty.
4. shirt There are two buttons from the shirt.
5. sunglasses the sunglasses are too small.
6. jacket the jacket is torn on the back.
7. hair dryer the hair dryer has a loose cable.
8. novel There are 15 pages missing from the end of the novel.

I. Write short replies to your friends’ emails. Use need + to be or get/have + a past participle.

Hi,

• I'm sorry to hear your laptop has crashed.
• You need to have it checked by a technician or better still you need to have it replaced.
• I'll be over in ten minutes to help.

Hi,

• No, I'm afraid there are no open stores at this time but you can have it fixed very quickly.
• I'll give you a ring as soon as i get the address and tell you where to go.

J. Write as many words as you can in the organizer about the picture. Use the words to tell the complaints of one of the men. Write the other man’s answers.

1. Complaint: This is fifth time you have been two hours late this month.
Answer: I am sorry but i come by bus and it is not very reliable.

2. Complaint: You've said that before I told you to take a taxi if the bus is late and charge it to the company. You never listen to anything I say.
Answer: Of course, I do. Honest! I don't mean to be late. Please give me one more chance to prove that I can be reliable.

3. Complaint: You have not been reliable about anything in the two months you've been here. When are you likely to start.
Answer: I am really and truly sorry. I'll get a bike, that way I won't be late.

L. Read the conversation and complete the gaps with: already, yet, just.

Sylvia: So, Karen, has your nephew left (1.) yet?
Karen: Yes, Greg has (2.) already gone. At long last!
Sylvia: How long did he stay?
Karen: (3.) just three months. He was doing a research project here at the university.
When he arrived, I said, “Make yourself at home.” And he did just that.
Sylvia: But he seemed like such a nice young man.
Karen: Oh, he is, and I was happy to help out. The trouble is that he took over our house. He used our things and never put them back. He never cleaned up after himself, and I’ve never seen anyone eat so much!
One day I walked into the living room, and there was Greg eating and making a mess, with his feet on the furniture…
Sylvia: That’s a bit much, isn’t it?
Karen: That’s what I thought. And to top it all off, he hasn’t called us (4.) yet to say ‘thank you’! But my sister (5.) has already apologized for his behavior…

N. Complete the sentences. Use the correct object pronoun: me, you, him, her, us, or them. Each object pronoun can be used once, more than once or not at all.

1. He wants to complain about the service at the restaurant. He’s going to email them.
2. Her grandparents are upset that Nura hasn’t visited. She’s going to visit them.
3. I don’t want to ask my neighbours. I don’t know them.
4. We want to come to your graduation. Don’t forget us.
5. I’m going to be at home tonight. Please call me.
6. Please listen to me when I’m talking to you.

O. Unscramble the sentences.

1. my / to call / need / I / friends

I need to call my friends.

2. running his car/ complains/ the cost of/ about/ Ali/ often

Ali often complains about the cost of running his car.

3. snacks / to buy / you / Do / need?

What snacks do you need to buy.

4. like / laptop / He / to share / doesn’t / his

He doesn't like to share his laptop.

5. don’t / an invitation / need / We / to send

We don't need to send an invitation.

6. him/ Faris/ the elevator door/ asked/ to/ hold/ open

Faris asked him to hold the elevator door open.