- When you see a doctor or nurse for a problem, you must be able to describe what is wrong. Complete the following words to describe pain in your tooth, stomach, back, head or ear:
________ache, ________ache, ________ache, ________ache, ________ache.
Use each word in the following sentence: "Doctor, I have had a __________ache for two days."
- Other types of pain are described differently. Complete the following words or phrases to describe a pain in your throat, neck, back, leg, chest, or abdomen:
lower __________ pain
______________ cramp
sore _______________
________________pain
________________burn
______________ cramps
(There may be more than one right answer. You may need to use a word that is not on the list.)
- The following adjectives describe health problems or injuries:
bruised, swollen, sprained, broken, cut, black.
Use each of these words in one of these sentences:
- I fell off my bike and think my arm might be ____________.
- George got a ____________ankle when he tripped on the stairs.
- Emily's ___________ arms and legs concerned the school nurse.
- Linda had a ___________ eye after the car accident.
- Eric's skin was ____________ in the area of the bee sting.
- Mary had a ______ finger after using the sharp knife.
- Often a word can be either an adjective or a verb. Using the same words as in (3.), complete these sentences by adding the missing verb:
- The fever has now _____________ after several hours of high temperatures.
- Sally ____________ her head when she banged the side of the door.
- Be careful not to ________ yourself on the sharp edge!
- Tom's sore wrist has _____________ to twice its normal size.
- After she _____________ her ankle, Susan had to use crutches
.
This English language exercise is taken from Chapter 1 of Community Life in the USA Book 3. Copyright 1997, Federal Way Branch, American Association of University Women.
Federal Way ESL Project
PO Box 24494
Federal Way, WA 98093.