problem
part of speech
noun (problem, problems)
meaning for a pupil
1) A problem is a question you have to work out, like a maths story: a word problem. tree →
2) A problem is something that is wrong or hard and needs to be fixed: The car has a problem. tree →
3) «No problem» means it is easy, or you are welcome. tree →
sense in the lessons
a word problem to solve («Read the whole problem first, then choose»); some problems have two steps; in science solving problems by testing; in everyday life fixing problems, «What's the problem?»; in friendship talking about a problem helps; «problem solving»
examples
- Read the whole problem first, then choose. tree →
- This problem has two steps. tree →
- Tom solved 6 problems and Kim solved 9. tree →
- Can you help me with this maths problem? tree →
- We have a problem: the tap is leaking. tree →
- If you have a problem at school, talk to your teacher. tree →
- «Thank you!» «No problem.» tree →
- Litter is a big problem for sea animals. tree →
- He pursued the problem like the sleuth-hound that he was. tree →
note
Read all of it before choosing. Trap: some problems need two operations. Verb: «solve a problem» (not «do a problem» in everyday talk, though teachers say both).
In the corpora
- Debt becomes a problem when the repayments are more than the family can afford.
- Non-urgent appointments can be weeks away because doctors have more patients than time; urgent problems are seen sooner.
- An annual check-up is a routine visit to catch problems early, even when you feel fine.
- Dentists check teeth every six months to a year to catch small problems, like holes, before they hurt.
- Grown-ups keep friends' secrets too, so whispering on the phone is often about someone else's private problem.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «problem» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.