🩺 Lesson 7.3: Health & Appointments
When you're not feeling well, you need to explain the problem — and quickly. In A1 you learned to say "I have a headache." Now let's go further: book an appointment on the phone, describe your symptoms clearly, ask for help at the pharmacy, and understand the advice people give you. Looking after your health in English is one of the most important skills you can have. 💊
📚 What You'll Learn
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Make an appointment on the phone — "I'd like to make an appointment", "Do you have anything on Monday morning?"
- Describe symptoms in more detail — "I've had a headache since yesterday", "It hurts when I…", "I feel dizzy/sick"
- Ask for help at the pharmacy — "Do you have something for a cold?", "How often should I take it?"
- Understand and give advice — You should…, You'd better…, Why don't you…?
⏱️ Estimated Time: 45–55 minutes
🎯 Project: Role-play calling a clinic to book an appointment and describe a health problem — spoken with a partner or recorded on your phone.
In This Lesson
Looking After Yourself
Getting sick in your own language is hard enough. In a new language, it can feel scary. But the conversations at a clinic or a pharmacy are simpler than you think — they follow the same friendly patterns every time. When you know them, you can get the help you need without stress.
Today we build on A1's basic doctor's visit. You'll call to book an appointment, explain your symptoms in more detail, and understand the advice you get. We'll also gently reuse should from A2 Lesson 4.2, because should is the heart of health advice. Let's take care of ourselves in English. 🌿
🧠 Mindset
You don't need medical words to explain how you feel. Simple language works best: "I feel sick," "My head hurts," "I've had a cold since Monday." Doctors and pharmacists are used to helping people who are learning the language — they will slow down and ask questions. Speak simply, and it's enough. 🌱
Note: this lesson teaches everyday language, not medical advice. For real health problems, always talk to a doctor or pharmacist.
The Body & Symptoms
First, a quick refresh of body words and the common problems (symptoms) that go with them.
- head → a headache
- throat → a sore throat
- stomach → a stomachache
- tooth → a toothache
- back → backache
- a fever (a high temperature)
- a cold / a cough
- the flu
There are three common ways to talk about a symptom. Learn all three patterns:
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| I have / I've got + a problem | I have a headache. I've got a sore throat. |
| I feel + adjective | I feel sick. I feel dizzy. I feel tired. |
| My … hurts / It hurts when I… | My back hurts. It hurts when I swallow. |
💡 "hurt", "ache", and "sore"
hurt is a verb: "My arm hurts." ache can be a noun in fixed words (headache, backache, toothache). sore is an adjective meaning painful: "a sore throat," "sore eyes." You don't need to be perfect — "My throat hurts" and "I have a sore throat" both work. In American English, people usually say "I have…"; "I've got…" is also common when you speak.
Making an Appointment
To see a doctor, you usually make an appointment — you book a time to visit. This often happens on the phone. The key opener is "I'd like to make an appointment."
The receptionist will ask for your name, the problem (briefly), and check the times. Listen for questions like "What's it about?" and "Does Tuesday at ten work for you?"
I'd like to make an appointment. — Do you have anything on Monday morning? — Is there anything earlier?
✅ Phone phrases
On the phone, a few small phrases help a lot: "Hello, this is Ana speaking," "Could you speak more slowly, please?" and "Let me check… yes, that works." If you don't catch a time, repeat it back: "So, Tuesday at ten — thank you." 📞
Describing How You Feel
At the appointment, the doctor asks "What's the matter?" or "How can I help?" Now you describe your symptoms. Two useful tools here:
1. How long? Use since and for
To say how long a problem has lasted, we use the present perfect (a taste of Lesson 8.1!): I've had… + since (a starting point) or for (a length of time).
I've had a headache since yesterday. · I've had a cough for three days. · I haven't slept well for a week.
2. When does it hurt? Use It hurts when I…
It hurts when I swallow. · It hurts when I walk. · My arm hurts when I lift it.
⚠️ Watch Out: "sick" and "ill"
In American English, sick just means unwell: "I feel sick" = I don't feel well. In British English, ill usually means unwell, and be sick often means to vomit (throw up), so "I feel sick" can mean "I feel like I might vomit." If in doubt, say "I don't feel well," which is always clear.
At the Pharmacy
For small problems — a cold, a cough, a headache — you can go straight to the pharmacy (drugstore) instead of the doctor. Ask for "something for…" your problem.
Now let's put it together. Listen to Ana call the clinic, then talk to the pharmacist. Notice the appointment language, the symptoms with since/for, and the advice at the end:
Ana: Hello, I'd like to make an appointment, please.
Receptionist: Of course. What's it about?
Ana: I've had a bad sore throat and a fever since Monday.
Receptionist: I'm sorry to hear that. Do you have a cough too?
Ana: Yes, a little. And it hurts when I swallow.
Receptionist: The first free appointment is on Friday morning at ten o'clock.
Ana: Is there anything earlier? I feel quite unwell.
Receptionist: Let me check… Yes, a doctor can see you today at four. Your name?
Ana: Ana Costa. Thank you! (later, at the pharmacy) Excuse me, do you have something for a sore throat?
Pharmacist: Yes, these lozenges help.
Ana: How often should I take them?
Pharmacist: One every four hours — but not more than four a day. And you'd better rest and drink plenty of water. If it's not better in a few days, see the doctor.
Ana: Thank you very much!
Understanding Advice
When you're unwell, people give you advice — ideas about what's best to do. English has three friendly ways to give advice. You met should back in Lesson 4.2 — here it is again, with two new friends.
| Phrase | How strong? | Example |
|---|---|---|
| You should… | normal advice (a good idea) | You should rest. You shouldn't go to work. |
| You'd better… | stronger advice (important!) | You'd better see a doctor. You'd better not wait. |
| Why don't you…? | a friendly suggestion | Why don't you take a day off? |
All three are followed by the base verb (no to): should rest, better see, why don't you take.
You should drink lots of water. · You'd better stay in bed today. · Why don't you take some medicine?
graph LR
A["Giving advice"] --> B["You should + verb = good idea"]
A --> C["You'd better + verb = stronger, important"]
A --> D["Why don't you + verb? = friendly suggestion"]
💡 "had better" is really strong
You'd better = you had better. It sounds like normal advice but it's stronger — it hints there could be a problem if you don't. "You'd better see a doctor" means "this is important, please do it." For a gentle idea, use should or why don't you…? instead.
🔊 Hear It & Repeat — Model Sentences
Listen to each model sentence, then say it back. Use the 🎧 Audio control (bottom-right) to pick a UK or US voice and make the speed slower. These sentences use the language of appointments, symptoms, and advice.
- I'd like to make an appointment, please.
- I've had a headache since yesterday.
- It hurts when I swallow, and I feel dizzy.
- Do you have something for a cold?
- You should rest, and you'd better see a doctor.
Practice & Project
🏋️ Exercise 1: Symptoms & advice
Objective: Fill each gap with the best word. Use one word per gap (except number 4).
- I'd like to make an , please.
- I've had a sore throat Monday. (a starting point)
- I've had a cough three days. (a length of time)
- You look sick. You rest. (normal advice)
- It when I swallow.
✅ Answer
1. appointment · 2. since · 3. for · 4. should · 5. hurts
🏋️ Exercise 2: Match the problem to the advice
Objective: Read each health problem, then write the letter (a–e) of the best advice.
Advice: a) You should drink lots of water. · b) You'd better see a dentist. · c) Why don't you take some cough medicine? · d) You should stay in bed and rest. · e) You'd better not drive — take a taxi.
- "I've got a bad cough." →
- "I've had a terrible toothache for two days." →
- "I've got the flu and a high fever." →
- "I feel really dizzy." →
- "I've had a headache and I feel hot." →
✅ Answer
1. c · 2. b · 3. d · 4. e · 5. a (other sensible matches can also work — the point is to pair a problem with helpful advice.)
🎯 Your Project: Call the Clinic
Role-play a phone call to a doctor's clinic, then a short chat with the pharmacist. Speak out loud with a partner, or record both parts on your phone.
- (2 min) Book the appointment: start with "Hello, I'd like to make an appointment, please." Ask about a day/time ("Do you have anything on Monday morning?").
- (3 min) Describe your problem: say 2–3 symptoms, and use since or for to say how long ("I've had a sore throat since Tuesday"). Add "It hurts when I…" or "I feel…"
- (2 min) At the pharmacy: ask for "something for…" your problem, and ask "How often should I take it?"
- (2 min) Swap roles and be the receptionist / pharmacist. Give advice using should, you'd better, and why don't you…?
- (1 min) If you recorded yourself, listen back. Did you say how long the problem lasted with since or for?
✅ Project Completion Checklist
- ☐ I opened with "I'd like to make an appointment, please."
- ☐ I asked about a time ("Do you have anything on…?")
- ☐ I described 2–3 symptoms and used since or for
- ☐ I asked the pharmacist for "something for…" my problem
- ☐ I gave advice with should, you'd better, and why don't you…?
- ☐ I swapped roles so I practiced both the patient and the staff
🎯 Quick Quiz
Question 1: You started to feel sick on Monday, and it's now Thursday. Which sentence is correct?
Question 2: Which sentence gives advice correctly?
Tips & Common Mistakes
✅ Do's
- Open politely: "I'd like to make an appointment, please."
- Say how long with since (a point in time) or for (a length of time).
- Describe symptoms simply: "I feel…," "I have…," "It hurts when I…"
- At the pharmacy, ask for "something for [problem]" and "How often should I take it?"
- Use the base verb after should, 'd better, and why don't you…?
❌ Common Mistakes
⚠️ Watch Out
- "I've had a cold since three days." ❌ → "…for three days." ✅ (for + a length of time).
- "You should to rest." ❌ → "You should rest." ✅ (base verb after should).
- "I have pain my head." ❌ → "I have a headache" / "My head hurts." ✅
- "Why you don't rest?" ❌ → "Why don't you rest?" ✅ (question word order).
- "I want an appointment." — abrupt → "I'd like to make an appointment, please." ✅
📓 Learning Journal
Keep your learning journal going. After this lesson, take a few minutes to write down:
- Key concepts you learned
- Things that clicked for you
- Questions or confusion points to revisit
- Ideas you want to try
- Your progress and feelings about handling real situations in English
✍️ This lesson's prompt: Imagine you are not feeling well. Write a short phone call to book an appointment: your opening line, two symptoms (using since or for), and the time you agree on. Then write three pieces of advice you could give a friend with a cold, using You should…, You'd better…, and Why don't you…?
📝 Lesson Summary
🎓 Key Takeaways
- Book with "I'd like to make an appointment" and "Do you have anything on…?"
- Describe symptoms with "I have…," "I feel…," "My … hurts," and "It hurts when I…"
- Say how long with since (a starting point) and for (a length of time).
- At the pharmacy, ask for "something for…" and "How often should I take it?"
- Advice uses the base verb: You should…, You'd better…, Why don't you…?
🎉 What You've Accomplished
You can now look after your health in English — call for an appointment, explain clearly what's wrong, ask for the right medicine, and understand the advice you're given. These are calm, confident skills for a stressful moment. And you brought back should from Lesson 4.2 and used it in a real situation. That's how learning grows. 🎉
❓ Common Questions at This Stage
When do I use "since" and when do I use "for"?
Use since with a starting point — a day, a date, a time: "since Monday," "since 9 o'clock," "since last week." Use for with a length of time: "for three days," "for an hour," "for a week." You'll practice this a lot more in the next lesson, present perfect.
What's the difference between "you should" and "you'd better"?
You should is normal, friendly advice — a good idea. You'd better (had better) is stronger — it means "this is important, and there may be a problem if you don't." For a gentle suggestion, use should or Why don't you…? Save you'd better for more serious things.
Do I need to go to the doctor for a cold?
For small problems like a cold or a cough, many people go to the pharmacy first — it's quicker and the pharmacist can help. Ask for "something for a cold." For anything serious, or if it doesn't get better, book a doctor's appointment. (Remember: this lesson teaches language, not medical advice.)
🔭 Looking Ahead
You noticed we said "I've had a headache since yesterday" — that's the present perfect, and it's coming next in a big way. In Lesson 8.1, we'll learn the present perfect with for, since, just, already, and yet — how to talk about experiences and recent actions. You've already had a first taste of it here!
✅ Before the Next Lesson
- Say three symptoms out loud, each with since or for.
- Role-play booking an appointment: "I'd like to make an appointment… Do you have anything on…?"
- Give a friend three pieces of advice using should, you'd better, and why don't you…?
- Write your Learning Journal entry for this lesson.
🌟 Encouragement for the Journey
Being able to ask for help when you're unwell is real independence. You've learned to make the call, describe the problem, and understand the advice — in a language that wasn't yours a year ago. That's something to be proud of. Take care of yourself, and see you in Lesson 8.1! 👋