Vocabulary
12 key words for this lesson
FEVER
A high body temperature.
I have a fever. My body is very hot.
COUGH
Forcing air out of your throat with a sudden noise.
I have a bad cough. It won't stop.
SORE THROAT
Pain in the throat.
My throat hurts when I talk.
HEADACHE
A pain in your head.
I have a headache. My head hurts a lot.
RUNNY NOSE
When liquid keeps coming out of your nose.
I have a runny nose. I need a tissue.
SNEEZE
To blow air suddenly out of your nose, often with a loud sound.
I keep sneezing because of my cold.
FATIGUE
Extreme tiredness.
Fatigue is common with the flu.
CHILLS
Feeling cold and shaking when you are ill.
I feel cold, but my body is hot. I have the chills.
SYMPTOM
A sign of illness, like a fever or cough.
A fever is a symptom of the flu.
PRESCRIPTION
A written order from a doctor for medicine.
The doctor gave me a prescription.
ALLERGY
A bad reaction to something like dust, pollen or food.
I have an allergy to penicillin.
RECOVERY
Getting better after an illness.
Rest helps your recovery.
Phrases
8 phrases and their meanings
What are your symptoms?
The doctor asks what problems you have.
"Good morning. What are your symptoms?"
How long have you been feeling this way?
The doctor asks when the illness started.
"How long have you been feeling this way?" → "Since Monday."
I've had a … since…
Say how long you have had a symptom.
"I've had a fever since Tuesday."
I'm allergic to…
Tell the doctor about allergies before you get medicine.
"Before you prescribe anything — I'm allergic to penicillin."
You should get some rest.
Advice to relax and recover.
"You should get some rest and drink plenty of water."
If it gets worse, come back to see me.
Return if you don't get better.
"If your fever gets worse, come back to see me."
COME DOWN WITH
To start to get an illness.
I think I'm coming down with a cold.
GET OVER
To recover from an illness.
It took me a week to get over the flu.
In Action
Hear how these phrases sound in real B2B situations
“Use the present perfect + "since" (a point in time) or "for" (a period): since Monday / for three days.”
Register
Understand when and how to use each phrase — formal, neutral, or informal
Videos
Watch these terms used in context
Dialogue
Read the dialogue and hover the blue words for definitions
TimGood morning, Tim. Please sit down. What are your symptoms?
I feel terrible. I have a sore throat, a runny nose and a bad cough.
How long have you been feeling this way?
Since Sunday. Last night I had a fever and the chills. And I can't stop sneezing.
Do you have a headache or muscle pain? Any fatigue?
Yes, I'm exhausted. I think I came down with something at work.
It sounds like the flu. Do you have any allergies to medicine?
No, none.
OK. Here's a prescription for something to bring the fever down. You should get some rest and drink plenty of water. Your recovery should take about a week.
If it gets worse, come back to see me.
Exercises
Complete all three exercises to see your final score
Matching
Click a word, then click its correct definition.
Click a word on the left, then its definition on the right.
Words
Definitions
Fill in the Blank
Drag the correct words from the word bank to complete each sentence.
Sentence 1
I feel tired all the time. I think I have— — —.
Sentence 2
The doctor gave me a— — —for antibiotics.
Sentence 3
A fever is a— — —of the flu.
Sentence 4
I've had a cough— — —Monday.
Sentence 5
I think I'm coming— — —with a cold.
Sentence 6
It took me a week to get— — —the flu.
Tip: Think about the meaning of each word and what makes sense in the sentence.
Multiple Choice
Choose the best answer for each question about the dialogue.
1.What is a "symptom"?
2.Which sentence is correct?
3.What does "get over" mean?
4.What does the doctor mean by "If it gets worse, come back"?
5.In the dialogue, since when has Tim felt ill?
6.How long should Tim's recovery take?