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🎁 Gratuit · English From Zero · Level A2 · Lesson 36

🤒 My Throat Hurts! — Aches, Sympathy & Advice

Oh no, someone is sick! Today you will say where it hurts in three ways (My head hurts · I have a sore throat · I have a stomachache), show sympathy ("Sorry to hear that. Feel better soon!"), give advice and learn when to ask "What's up?" and when to ask "What's wrong?"

🎬 Let's Imagine...

A Sick Day At Home

Read the little scene below.

MomGood morning, Nora! Time for school. Oh… what's the matter, sweetheart?
NoraMy throat hurts, Mom, and I have a headache. I feel terrible.
MomOh, I'm so sorry! You should stay home today. Drink lots of liquids, get lots of sleep, and we can see the doctor this afternoon.
🧑‍🏫 Teacher SamiPoor Nora! Did you hear it? What's the matter? · My throat hurts · I have a headache · I'm so sorry · Drink lots of liquids. Let's learn to talk about aches and to take care of people!

🤔 What do you say to a sick friend?

🎨Illustration à venir : le matin dans la chambre de Nora — elle est au lit avec une écharpe autour du cou, sa maman lui touche le front et lui apporte un verre d'eau et une tasse de thé.
Step 1

🧍 Where Does It Hurt?

There are three ways to say where you feel pain. Learn all three!

1part + hurts

My head hurts. · My throat hurts.

Plural → hurt: My feet hurt. My eyes hurt.
2have a sore + part

I have a sore throat. · I have a sore arm.

Plural → no "a": I have sore eyes.
3have a + part-ache

I have a headache. · I have a stomachache.

The 5 common ones: head, stomach, tooth, back, ear → an earache!
⚡

We use the verb have with sore and -ache: "I have a sore throat" ✅ — not "I am a sore throat" ❌. And there is no "throatache" or "armache": say "a sore throat", "a sore arm".

🧍 The Body Map

Click a red dot on Leo's body. Listen to the two ways to say it — and to Teacher Sami's tip!

🩹 Hurt, Sore Or Ache?

The doctor asks: "What's the matter?" Choose the correct answer. Watch out for the traps! 8 patients.

Step 2

💌 Sympathy & Advice

When someone is sick, first show sympathy (you understand and you care). Then give advice to help them feel better.

💌 Show sympathy

  • That's too bad.
  • Sorry to hear that.
  • I'm so sorry.
  • Feel better soon! · I hope you feel better.

💡 Give advice

  • Imperative (direct): Drink lots of liquids. Get lots of sleep. Take it easy.
  • should (softer): You should see a doctor. You should stay home.
  • I think…: I think you have the flu.
💊

Safety first! Only take medicine that the doctor or your parents give you. Never take medicine alone. So we say: "Take the medicine the doctor gives you."

💌 The Get Well Card Maker

Someone you love is sick. Choose the person, the problem, a sympathy phrase and your best advice — then read your card out loud!

🎨Illustration à venir : Leo au lit avec un bras en écharpe ; ses camarades Nora et Adam lui apportent une carte « Get well soon » dessinée (sans texte lisible) et des fruits.
Step 3

❓ What's Up? Or What's Wrong?

Questions with what can be a friendly greeting — or a question about a problem. Choose the right one!

😃 A friendly greeting

We ask about what is happening in general.

  • What's up?
  • What's happening?
  • What's going on?
Answer: "Not much. What's up with you?" · "I don't know. What's going on with you?"

😟 Something is wrong

We ask about a negative situation.

  • What's wrong?
  • What's the matter?
  • What's the problem?
Answer: "My leg hurts." — or, if you don't want to talk: "Nothing. Don't worry about it."

🎭 What's Up Or What's Wrong?

Look at the situation and choose the best question. 8 situations!

🎧 Sound Lab

Listen And Repeat!

Click 🔊 Listen to hear the phrase, 🐢 Slowly to hear it slower, then 🎙️ My turn and say it out loud into your microphone!

Step 4

✍️ Practice Time!

Exercise 1 — True Or False?

Exercise 2 — Complete The Dialogue

Fill in the missing word in each line of the conversation.

Step 5 · Final Task!

🎭 Create & Record: A Friend Is Sick

Your friend doesn't look well. Write a short dialogue: ask "What's the matter?", your friend says where it hurts (hurts / sore / -ache), then show sympathy and give two pieces of advice.

What's the matter?My stomach hurts. I have a sore throat.Sorry to hear that. You should see a doctor.Drink lots of liquids. Take it easy.Feel better soon!

🎙️ Now, Record It!

Read your dialogue out loud — use a tired voice for the sick friend! Then listen back.

✨ Available now

🎯 Final Quiz — Aches, Sympathy & Advice

Answer 7 questions to test everything you learned in this lesson!