Telling a doctor or nurse what is wrong English lesson
Learning to tell a English doctor or nurse your problem
During the English lesson you will learn about how going to the doctor or nurse and telling them what your symptoms are. There are examples of what symptoms means and the different types of symptoms you may have.
What does the word 'symptom' mean?
Symptoms are any feelings and signs of illness or discomfort which are caused by a illnesses.
Going to the doctors and telling them your symptoms
When you see the doctor he (or she) might ask you 'What's is wrong with you?' or 'What's is the problem?'
After you have told him the Doctor will might ask 'What symptoms are you having?'
An example of a symptom
Mrs Smith had flu her symptoms included, a fever, a runny nose, she told the doctor she had been coughing and sneezing a lot.
The doctor might also ask 'When did the symptoms start?'
If you have a pain inside your head
Mrs Jones had a headache and was unable to go to the party.
Mrs Smith told the doctor that her head aches.
Mrs Smith told the doctor her head had been hurting all day.
I have been having headaches for a while now.
Mrs Smith had a bad head and decided to go to the doctor.
If you have a pain inside your stomach
'Mr Smith told the doctor he had stomach ache.
Mrs Smith told the nurse her stomach aches during the night.
Back pain
If your back was hurting you say I've got backache. or that my back aches.
Mr smith's back started hurting after he had been going to the gym, he told the doctor the pain was in is lower back.
Mrs Smith had a bad back and was off work for a while.
Click here for the English lesson Learning how to Phone a Doctor when you are sick and unwell
Video learning health problems
A short video showing some health problems.
Neck pains
Mr Smith had to go to the doctor because is neck hurts when he arrived he told the doctor that he had got neck ache.
Mrs smith told the nurse that her neck aches.
You would alter this for the other parts of your body that were hurt, leg, arm, lips, foot and toe.
Explaining what your problem is to a doctor or nurse
Mr smith had flu and went to the doctor.
Hello, Mr Smith can you tell me what your symptoms are please.
sure, since last week I have been coughing a lot.
Other ways to explain (coughing for a while and still coughing).
- I have been coughing a lot recently
- I have been coughing for the last few days
- I have been coughing since yesterday (yesterday could be changed to, this morning, this afternoon or last week)
Explaining to a doctor we would use 'I have' + ing and the verb (sneezing)
- I have been sneezing a lot.
- My head has been hurting since yesterday.
- I have been having headaches for a week now.
- I have been feeling tired a weak.
- I haven't been sleeping well due to me coughing and sneezing.
- I have a bad back I have + noun
- I have a sore throat. I have + noun
- I have a fever. I have + noun
Sometimes English people will say "I feel followed by an adjective"
- I feel dizzy when I stand up.
- I feel under the weather. This is a English saying which means someone feels slightly poorly.
- I feel run down. Some one who is run down usually means that they need a rest.
Lessons that are related to this one
To view a lesson just click on the link.
Tell a doctor or nurse your problem English lesson
Phoning a Doctor English lesson - sick - appointment
Health and talking about it English lessonEasy pace Learning online dictionary and how to use dictionaries
Click on the following link for the Online English dictionary - English lesson
