Lesson 4 of 6
At the Doctor and Pharmacy
Describe symptoms clearly and understand medical instructions.
Health is one of the most important situations to communicate clearly in. Describing pain, symptoms and how long you've had them, then understanding instructions, can really matter. This lesson gives you the core vocabulary and phrases.
LearnThe key ideas
Describing symptoms
| Phrase | Example |
|---|---|
| I have a + symptom | I have a headache / a fever / a sore throat / a cough. |
| My ___ hurts. | My back hurts. My stomach hurts. |
| I feel + adjective | I feel dizzy / nauseous / weak. |
| Since / for | I've had it for three days. / since Monday. |
| Type of pain | It's a sharp / dull / throbbing pain. |
| Scale | On a scale of 1 to 10, it's about a 6. |
At the pharmacy
"I'm here to pick up a prescription for [name]." "Do you have something for allergies?" "How often should I take this?" Typical answers: "Take one tablet twice a day with food." "Don't take more than four in 24 hours."
In the US, a "drugstore" or "pharmacy" sells medicine. "Over the counter" means you don't need a prescription.
ListenListen and repeat
- I've had a sore throat since Monday.Symptom plus duration.
- It's a sharp pain right here.Describing pain.
- I'm allergic to penicillin.Very important information.
- How many times a day should I take this?Understanding instructions.
AvoidCommon mistakes
SpeakShadowing practice
Press Listen, then repeat straight away, copying the speed, rhythm and tone. Say each sentence three times, then record yourself.
- I've had a bad cough and a fever for two days.
- It hurts when I swallow.
- Should I take this before or after meals?
CheckQuick quiz
1. Correct:
2. "Over the counter" medicine:
3. Correct:
PracticeToday's speaking task
Describe a past illness to an imaginary doctor: symptoms, when it started, pain type and level, and any allergies.