fix

When you repair something, you "fix" it:

• He’s fixing a pipe.
  

  simple	past	past participle
  fix	fixed	fixed

• Someone needs to fix the hole in the street.
• A plumber fixed my toilet.
• Do you know how to fix your car?
• It’s not easy to fix a computer.
• They’re fixing their house. It needs a lot of work.

You often hear the verb "fix" used in the passive voice:

• The electricity was fixed this morning.
• This situation has to be fixed.
• Why wasn’t this fixed earlier?
• My neighbor’s roof needs to be fixed.
• How soon can my car be fixed?

Some Americans use the word "fix" for the preparation of food:

• What are you fixing for dinner?
• They fixed a big dinner for their guests.
• Sandra fixes breakfast and lunch for her kids.

The word "fix" is also used by some Americans to describe any sort of preparation. This is a form of slang which I don’t recommend, but you might hear it used:

• They’re fixing to leave soon.
• I’m fixing to buy some land.
• He’s fixing to get married. (Notice I dropped the "g" sound in "fixing." People who use "fix" in this manner are likely to drop the "g.")

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Published March 4, 2012 / Updated December 24, 2017