Lesson 80 — Computers & Comparisons

Using Computers & Comparing Things

In this lesson you practice **computer and internet vocabulary**, a **dialogue about a crash**, **would** for past uncertainty, and **as … as** comparisons.

• scroll up/down, upload, download, search, fool around online
• freeze / froze / frozen — crash — do the trick
• I wasn't sure I would … (past uncertainty)
• No matter what …, nothing happens.
• as … as / not as … as / just / quite / nearly

• I scroll down to read the text. (scroll up = opposite)
• I use the internet to read news.
• search for new websites
• upload photos / download photos
• design websites

• to look up information / the meaning of a word
• to shop for things
• to take classes — How many classes do you take every week?
• to keep in touch with friends / parents / family
• Let's = Let us — Let's keep in touch.
• to meet new people
• to look at my bank accounts
• to practice English
• send and receive emails
• to just fool around (browse the internet with no goal)

Before a **vowel sound** (a, e, i, o, u): pronounce **the** like **thee** → **the umbrella**. Before a **consonant sound**: pronounce **the** like **tha** → **the car**.

• A: What are you doing here at this hour?
• B: I wasn't sure I'd find you.
• A: Oh hi, Amy. I'm just fooling around online. I guess I forgot about the time.
• B: Am I interrupting you?
• A: Not at all. Paul and I are just instant messaging.
• B: Sorry to bother you, but I'm a little worried about something.
• A: What's wrong?
• B: I just got this email from someone I don't know, and I clicked on the attachment to see what it was. My computer totally crashed. Everything froze, and no matter what I do, nothing happens.
• A: Actually, you should never open an attachment if you don't know the sender. It could be malware or carry a virus.

When you were **not sure** about something in the past, both parts stay in the past — use **would**: I wasn't sure **I would find you** / **you would call me** / **what you would do**.

• I wasn't sure I would find you.
• I wasn't sure when you would arrive.
• I wasn't sure how you would go to work.
• I wasn't sure you would lend me some money.

• My computer froze. (freeze → froze → frozen)
• My computer totally crashed.
• No matter what I do, nothing happens.
• She never gets angry.
• He never does his homework.

• B: I know. I don't know what I was thinking! It just happened so fast.
• A: Look. First try shutting down and restarting, OK? Sometimes that takes care of it.
• B: You think it would work?
• A: It couldn't hurt.
• B: Listen, Paul's still here. Let me send a quick response, OK?
• A: It'll just be a second.
• B: No problem. I'll go and try restarting to see if it does the trick.

**do the trick** = work / solve the problem (e.g. a painkiller can do the trick).

Compare people and things with **as + adjective + as**. Add **just** for emphasis, **quite** when the gap is small, **nearly** when the gap is large.

• The new speakers are as good as the old ones.
• The new iPhones are just as good as the old ones.
• This city is as beautiful as Paris.
• My PC is as fast as your PC.
• My car is as expensive as your car.
• Your car isn't as expensive as my car.
• My car isn't quite as expensive as your car. (small difference)
• Your car isn't nearly as expensive as my car. (big difference)