ENGLISH
REFERENCE

wrong with sb/sth

fixed phr..
B1 Intermediate Oxford

fixed phr.. you use this to ask or talk about a problem, a fault, or a reason why someone is unhappy.

fixed phr.. used to identify the nature of a malfunction, error, or emotional distress regarding a specific subject or object.


SIMPLE

Is there something wrong with your car?

CONTEXTUAL

I can tell by your face that something is wrong with you today.

COMPLEX

The technician spent hours trying to determine exactly what was wrong with the cooling system before realizing it was a simple fuse.

Usage

usually follows 'what is' or 'something/nothing' and requires the preposition 'with' before the person or thing.

Teaching tip

encourage students to use this in role-plays for diagnosing problems or showing empathy, as it is the most natural way to ask 'What is the problem?'.

Pitfall

What is wrong of your phone?What is wrong with your phone?the adjective 'wrong' must be followed by the preposition 'with' when identifying the source of the problem.

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