EnglishTalking about health
Talk together: When was the last time you visited a doctor? What happened?
Use these prompts to name the symptom, say if it is mild or serious, and give one piece of advice with should.
Name the symptom and give health advice.
- headache
- Where do you feel pain?
- fever
- What can you measure with a thermometer?
- cough
- Is it a symptom or a treatment?
- pharmacy
- What can you buy there?
Useful words for a doctor visit
Read, repeat, and use the words in short doctor-patient sentences.
- headache [/ˈhedeɪk/]
- pain in your head
I have a bad headache. - sore throat [/ˌsɔː ˈθrəʊt/]
- pain or irritation in your throat
My sore throat is painful. - cough [/kɒf/]
- air forced suddenly from your lungs
She has a dry cough. - fever [/ˈfiːvə/]
- a high body temperature
He has a fever. - prescription [/prɪˈskrɪpʃən/]
- an official order for medicine from a doctor
The doctor wrote a prescription. - pharmacy [/ˈfɑːməsi/]
- a place where you buy medicine
The pharmacy is near my home. - recover [/rɪˈkʌvə/]
- become healthy again
You need time to recover. - symptom [/ˈsɪmptəm/]
- a sign of illness
A cough is a common symptom. - nausea [/ˈnɔːziə/]
- the feeling that you may vomit
I have nausea after eating. - rash [/ræʃ/]
- red spots or irritated skin
The child has a red rash. - appointment [/əˈpɔɪntmənt/]
- an arranged time to see a doctor
I have a doctor's appointment. - medicine [/ˈmedsən/]
- a substance used to treat illness
Take this medicine after food. - pain [/peɪn/]
- an unpleasant physical feeling
Where is the pain? - rest [/rest/]
- time without activity to help your body recover
You should get some rest. - antibiotics [/ˌæntibaɪˈɒtɪks/]
- medicines that treat bacterial infections
Antibiotics do not help every infection.
Speak:
- I have / I feel ...
- The doctor says ...
- I need to ...
Choosing the right level of obligation
Choose the meaning first: internal rule, external rule, advice, warning, prohibition, or no necessity.
Meaning | Modal form | Health example | Form |
|---|---|---|---|
Strong personal obligation | must | I must take my health seriously. | must + base verb |
External rule or requirement | have to | You have to show your insurance card. | have to + base verb |
Advice | should / ought to | You should rest today. | should / ought to + base verb |
Necessary action | need to | You need to drink more water. | need to + base verb |
Strong advice or warning | had better | You had better call a doctor. | had better + base verb |
Prohibition | mustn't | You mustn't mix these medicines. | mustn't + base verb |
No obligation | don't have to | You don't have to stay in bed. | do not have to + base verb |
No need | needn't | You needn't bring cash. | needn't + base verb |
The key contrast
Meaning | Example |
|---|---|
Mustn't = it is prohibited | You mustn't share prescription medicine. |
Don't have to = it is optional | You don't have to bring your medical record. |
Needn't = it is not necessary | You needn't wait outside. |
Form reminder
Use a base verb directly | Use to before the base verb |
|---|---|
must, should, ought to, had better, mustn't, needn't | have to, need to |
You must rest.
You have to rest.
You need to rest.
You had better rest.
Common mistakes
Incorrect | Better English |
|---|---|
You mustn't bring your insurance card. (when it is optional) | You don't have to bring your insurance card. |
You must to rest. | You must rest. |
You had better to call the doctor. | You had better call the doctor. |
She have to take medicine. | She has to take medicine. |
You needn't to stay at home. | You needn't stay at home. |
Make safe health choices
Read each completed sentence aloud. Explain: rule, advice, warning, prohibition, or optional?
Connect each situation with its meaning
Connect each health situation with the best meaning.
- The hospital rule says visitors must wear masks.
- external requirement
- Your friend has a mild cold and feels tired.
- advice
- You have chest pain and it is getting worse.
- strong warning
Connect each situation with the best expression
Connect each situation with the correct modal expression.
- It is optional to bring your medical record.
- don't have to
- It is forbidden to share prescription medicine.
- mustn't
- A patient needs water to recover.
- need to
Choose the most suitable form
- You [___] wear a mask in the laboratory. It is a clinic rule.
- You have a small headache. You [___] drink some water and rest.
- You [___] drive after taking this strong medicine; it can make you sleepy.
Complete the advice
- Visitors [___] smoke near the oxygen tanks. (Use the prohibition form.)
- You [___] bring food to the hospital; meals are provided. (Use the no-obligation form.)
- If the fever continues for three days, you [___] call the doctor. (Use the strong-warning form.)
- I [___] finish this prescription because it is necessary for my recovery. (Use the necessity form.)
At the doctor's office
Listen once for the main problem. Listen again for the doctor’s advice and obligations.
- What symptoms does Maria describe?
- What diagnosis does Doctor James give?
- What must Maria do, and what does she have to do?
- What needn't Maria do, and what mustn't she do?
What to remember
Form | Main meaning |
|---|---|
must | strong personal obligation |
have to | external rule or requirement |
should / ought to | advice |
need to | necessary action |
had better | strong advice or warning |
mustn't | prohibited |
don't have to / needn't | not necessary |
Base verb: must, should, had better, mustn't, needn't
To + base verb: have to, need to
Health words to review
headache • sore throat • cough • fever • prescription • pharmacy • recover • symptom • nausea • rash • appointment • medicine • pain • rest • antibiotics
Speak: Choose five words and make a short doctor-patient sentence using one modal.
