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B1At the Doctor

Using 'Come Down With' to Talk About Illness

Phrasal Verb: come down with |Grammar: Present Perfect

Objective

Students will learn how to use 'come down with' and the present perfect tense to describe recent illnesses and symptoms.

Article

When people start feeling sick, they often say they have 'come down with' an illness. For example, you might have come down with a cold or the flu. Doctors hear this phrase a lot because patients use it to explain their symptoms. I have come down with a sore throat and a high temperature, so I went to see the doctor. Many people have come down with seasonal flu this winter. If you have come down with something, you usually notice the symptoms recently. People often say, 'I have come down with a headache' or 'She has come down with a stomach bug.' Using the present perfect tense here is important because it shows the illness started in the recent past and affects the person now. If you think you have come down with an illness, it is best to rest and see a doctor if needed. This helps you get better faster and avoid spreading the illness to others.

Grammar Explanation

Meaning

'Come down with' means to start to suffer from an illness or symptoms.

Grammar Note

The present perfect tense (have/has + past participle) is used to talk about actions or events that started in the past but are connected to the present.

Usage Tips

  • Use 'come down with' to describe the start of an illness or symptoms.
  • Use the present perfect to show the illness began recently and still affects you.
  • This phrase is common in conversations with doctors or when explaining why you feel unwell.

Examples

I have come down with a cold and need some rest.

Explaining recent illness

She has come down with the flu and can't go to work.

Describing someone's sickness

They have come down with a stomach bug after eating at that restaurant.

Explaining cause of illness

Have you come down with any symptoms yet?

Asking about early signs of illness

He has come down with a fever and headache this morning.

Describing specific symptoms

Dialogue

Context: A patient talks to the doctor about recent symptoms.

A:
Doctor, I think I have come down with something.
B:
What symptoms have you noticed so far?
A:
I have come down with a sore throat and a slight fever.
B:
Have you come down with any other symptoms like coughing or tiredness?
A:
Yes, I have come down with a mild cough as well.
B:
Alright, it sounds like you have come down with a common cold. I will give you some advice.

Vocabulary

symptom
A sign or feeling that shows you are ill
Example: A headache is a common symptom of a cold.
Synonym: sign
fever
A higher than normal body temperature
Example: He has a fever of 38 degrees Celsius.
Synonym: high temperature
sore throat
Pain or irritation in the throat
Example: She has a sore throat and finds it hard to swallow.
Synonym: throat pain
cough
A sudden, forceful sound you make to clear your throat
Example: I have been coughing all night.
Synonym: hack
rest
To relax and avoid activity to recover health
Example: The doctor advised me to get plenty of rest.
Synonym: relaxation
infection
The presence of harmful bacteria or viruses in the body
Example: An infection can cause fever and pain.
Synonym: contamination
recover
To get better after illness
Example: She recovered quickly from the flu.
Synonym: get well
diagnosis
The identification of an illness by a doctor
Example: The diagnosis was the common cold.
Synonym: identification
medicine
A substance used to treat illness
Example: I take medicine to reduce my fever.
Synonym: medication
contagious
Able to be spread from one person to another
Example: The flu is very contagious during the first few days.
Synonym: infectious

Tips

  • Always use 'have' or 'has' with 'come down with' to form the present perfect tense.
  • Use 'come down with' only for illnesses or symptoms, not for injuries.
  • Don't confuse 'come down with' (illness) with 'come down to' (result or cause).

Summary

In this lesson, you learned how to use the phrasal verb 'come down with' with the present perfect tense to describe recent illnesses. You studied example sentences, a dialogue with a doctor, and vocabulary related to symptoms and sickness. Now, you can confidently explain when you have started feeling unwell in English.

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