Describir problemas y sugerir soluciones (funciones)
En B1 necesitas explicar qué problema tienes y proponer soluciones de forma clara y educada: en hoteles, tiendas, trabajo, etc.
1) Mapa rápido de funciones
Normalmente sigues este orden:
1) Introducir el problema (“Excuse me, there’s a problem with…”).
2) Describirlo (“The shower doesn’t work.”).
3) Pedir ayuda (“Could you send someone, please?”).
4) (Opcional) Sugerir una solución (“Maybe you could change my room.”).
En inglés, el tono educado es muy importante: usa could, would, maybe, I’m afraid…, please.
2) Introducir y describir problemas
A) Frases para empezar (suaves / educadas)
| Español | Inglés | Uso |
|---|---|---|
| Disculpe, tengo un problema con… | Excuse me, I have a problem with… | Fórmula general para cualquier situación. |
| Me temo que hay un problema con… | I’m afraid there is a problem with… | Más suave, muy común en inglés. |
| Hay algo que no funciona con… | There’s something wrong with… | Muy natural: “algo no va bien”. |
| Quisiera informar de un problema. | I’d like to report a problem. | Más formal (email, recepción de hotel). |
B) Describir el problema
| Tipo de problema | Ejemplos de frases |
|---|---|
| Algo no funciona | The shower doesn’t work. The Wi-Fi isn’t working. The air conditioning is very noisy. |
| Algo está roto / dañado | The screen is broken. The door is damaged. The lamp doesn’t turn on. |
| Servicio / reserva | My booking is not in the system. We booked a double room, but this is a single room. You’ve charged me twice. |
| Personas / comportamiento | The neighbours are very noisy at night. Someone is sitting in my seat. He was very rude to us. |
Puedes combinar: I’m afraid there is a problem with the Wi-Fi. It isn’t working.
3) Pedir soluciones (peticiones educadas)
Después de explicar el problema, pides ayuda o acción usando modales (“Can/Could/Would you…?”).
| Estructura | Ejemplos | Registro |
|---|---|---|
| Can you…? | Can you check it, please? Can you call a technician? | Informal / neutro, educado con please. |
| Could you…? | Could you send someone to my room, please? Could you give me a refund? | Más suave y formal que can. |
| Would it be possible to…? | Would it be possible to change my room? Would it be possible to get another seat? | Bastante formal y muy educado. |
| I’d like… | I’d like to speak to the manager, please. I’d like a replacement or a refund. | Directo pero educado. |
Conversación modelo (hotel):
Guest: Excuse me, I’m afraid there is a problem with the shower.
Receptionist: I’m sorry to hear that. What’s the problem exactly?
Guest: It doesn’t work, there is no hot water. Could you send someone to check it, please?
4) Sugerir soluciones a otros (dar consejos)
Cuando otra persona tiene un problema, puedes usar Should / Could / Why don’t you…?
| Función | Estructura | Ejemplo |
|---|---|---|
| Dar consejo directo (bastante fuerte) | Should + base verb | You should call customer service. You should talk to your boss about it. |
| Consejo suave / sugerencia | Maybe you could + verb | Maybe you could try restarting your computer. Maybe you could send them an email. |
| Idea amistosa | Why don’t you + verb? | Why don’t you ask for a discount? Why don’t you change hotels? |
| Consejo un poco más formal / hipotético | If I were you, I’d… | If I were you, I’d talk to the manager. If I were you, I’d look for another job. |
En inglés se usa mucho maybe, perhaps, I think para sonar menos brusco.
5) Errores comunes al expresar problemas
| Incorrecto | Correcto | Por qué |
|---|---|---|
| *I have a problem of the Wi-Fi* | I have a problem with the Wi-Fi. | Se usa problem with, no problem of. |
| *The Wi-Fi no work* | The Wi-Fi doesn’t work. | Necesitas auxiliar: doesn’t + verbo base. |
| *I want you fix it* | I’d like you to fix it. / Could you fix it, please? | En inglés suena muy brusco; mejor usar could o I’d like…. |
| *You must change my room* | Could you change my room, please? | must suena muy fuerte (orden); could es más educado. |
| *You should to call them* | You should call them. | Después de should → verbo sin to. |
6) Mini-práctica
- Completa con with / to / for:
a) I have a problem ____ my laptop.
b) There is something wrong ____ the TV.
c) Could you do that ____ me, please? - Reescribe las frases haciéndolas más educadas:
a) Change my room.
b) Give me my money back.
c) Fix this now. - Elige la opción más natural para un hotel:
a) (I’m afraid / I’m angry) there is a problem with the air conditioning.
b) (Can / Must) you send someone to check it, please?
c) (You should / You must) ask for a different room. (consejo a un amigo) - Da un consejo usando la estructura indicada:
a) Tu amigo tiene problemas con su jefe. (You should…)
b) Tu hermana quiere mejorar su inglés. (Maybe you could…)
c) Tu compañero odia su trabajo. (If I were you, I’d…) - (Producción guiada) Imagina que estás en un hotel y el agua caliente no funciona. Escribe un mini-diálogo (al menos 4 líneas):
• 1 línea para introducir el problema (Excuse me, I’m afraid…)
• 1–2 líneas para describirlo
• 1–2 líneas para pedir solución usando could o would it be possible…
Respuestas ejemplo (orientativas):
1) a) with b) with c) for
2) a) Excuse me, could you change my room, please?
b) I’d like a refund, please. / Could you give me my money back, please?
c) Could you fix this, please?
3) a) I’m afraid b) Can c) You should
4) (ejemplos)
a) You should talk to your boss and explain the situation.
b) Maybe you could watch series in English every day.
c) If I were you, I’d look for a new job.
5) Ejemplo de diálogo:
Guest: Excuse me, I’m afraid there is a problem with the hot water.
Receptionist: I’m sorry to hear that. What’s the problem exactly?
Guest: The water in the shower is always cold. It doesn’t get hot.
Guest: Could you send someone to check it, please? Or would it be possible to change my room?
7) Próximo paso
Continúa con Revisión integrada B1 (mixto) para repasar los puntos clave del nivel B1 con ejercicios combinados de gramática, vocabulario y funciones comunicativas.