SIOC Language Labs · Real-Life Dialogues · Cars · Reviewed with care · 9 August 2026

Explaining a mechanical symptom

Practise the kind of conversation you may genuinely need. Start simple, then add detail as your confidence grows.

EnglishA2–B2CarsBranching dialogue
A friendly way to use this lesson: You do not need a perfect sentence. Start with the key message, listen to the reply, and add one useful detail.

A2 — get the message across

You
The brakes are making a noise.
Mechanic
Could you tell me a little more about that?
You
The brakes are making a grinding noise at low speed.
Mechanic
Thanks, that makes it much clearer.

B1–B2 — add a useful detail

You
There’s play in the steering.
Mechanic
Could you tell me a little more about that?
You
There’s a little play in the steering wheel.
You
The clutch is slipping.
Mechanic
Could you tell me a little more about that?
You
The clutch is slipping when I accelerate hard.

Useful phrase bank

The brakes are making a noise.
brakes

The brakes are making a grinding noise at low speed.

There’s play in the steering.
steering

There’s a little play in the steering wheel.

The clutch is slipping.
drivetrain

The clutch is slipping when I accelerate hard.

The suspension feels too soft.
suspension

The suspension feels too soft over long bumps.

Can you check the wheel alignment?
alignment

Can you check the wheel alignment after fitting the new tyres?

Branch the conversation

Change the situation

Change the time, place or person and answer again.

Add a preference

Say what you would prefer, what you need, or what you want to avoid.

Ask one question

Turn the dialogue around and ask the other person for one useful detail.

Safety note: This lesson teaches language for communication. In real driving, workshop, mechanical or sailing situations, follow local rules and qualified safety procedures.

Your turn

Read the dialogue aloud twice. Then change the time, place, person, problem or preference and say it again without looking.

Try changing one detail and continue the conversation.

Ready for another?

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Nice work. Real conversation gets easier when you practise a small number of phrases in situations that matter to you.