Topic 3.1: Grammar. Giving and asking for advice: Review and expand.
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TOPIC 3: Giving and asking for advice: Review and expand. |
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GRAMMAR |
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VOCABULARY |
Weak and fatigued: Feeling physically drained and lacking strength or energy. It often involves tiredness even without much activity.
Nauseous: A sick feeling in the stomach that makes you feel like you might vomit.
Dizzy: A sensation of spinning or losing balance, as if the room is moving around you.
All stuffed up: A blocked or congested nose, making it hard to breathe through it due to mucus.
A fever: An elevated body temperature, usually above 100.4°F (38°C), often a sign of infection.
The chills: Sudden feeling of cold, often with shivering, typically occurring with a fever.
Muscle aches and pains: Feelings of discomfort, soreness, or stiffness in the muscles, often caused by overuse, tension, or minor injuries.
Runny nose: A condition where mucus continuously drips or flows from the nose, common with colds or allergies.
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TOPIC 3: Giving and asking for advice: Review and expand. |
When we’re feeling unwell, it’s common to give or ask for advice using specific structures in English. These include using modal verbs, hypothetical situations, and polite questions. Expressions like should, could, or If I were you help us communicate clearly and supportively. This is especially useful when describing symptoms like dizziness, nausea, fever, or a runny nose.
1. Subject + modal + advice
We use modals like should, ought to, and could to give advice when someone feels sick or uncomfortable. These expressions help us suggest the best course of action in a polite and helpful way.
Structure:
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Subject + modal + advice |
Examples:
1. You should rest if you're feeling weak and fatigued.
Deberías descansar si te sientes débil y fatigado.
2. She ought to drink plenty of fluids if she has a fever.
Ella debería tomar muchos líquidos si tiene fiebre.
3. They could try using a humidifier if they’re feeling all stuffed up.
Podrían intentar usar un humidificador si están congestionados.
2. If I were + someone else + result clause
This structure is used to give advice in a more indirect or hypothetical way. It sounds more empathetic or cautious, especially when we say what we would do in someone else’s situation.
Structure:
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If I were + someone else + result clause |
Examples:
1. If I were you, I’d lie down for a while if I felt dizzy.
Si yo fuera tú, me recostaría un rato si me sintiera mareado.
2. If I were your doctor, I’d recommend staying home when you have the chills.
Si yo fuera tu médico, recomendaría quedarte en casa cuando tengas escalofríos.
3. If I were him, I wouldn’t ignore those muscle aches and pains.
Si yo fuera él, no ignoraría esos dolores musculares.
3. Modal question
We often ask for advice using modal verbs in questions, like should, could, or might. These help us politely ask others what they think we should do in situations related to health or symptoms.
Structure:
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Modal question |
Examples:
1. What should I do if I’m feeling nauseous all day?
¿Qué debería hacer si me siento con náuseas todo el día?
2. Could you suggest something to relieve my runny nose?
¿Podrías sugerirme algo para aliviar el goteo nasal?
3. Might it be serious if I’m constantly feeling weak and fatigued?
¿Podría ser grave si constantemente me siento débil y fatigado?
4. If you were me... question
Using "If you were me..." allows us to ask for advice in a more personal way. It invites the other person to imagine themselves in our situation, making the advice more empathetic and realistic.
Structure:
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If you were me... question |
Examples:
1. If you were me, what would you do about this constant runny nose?
Si tú fueras yo, ¿qué harías con este goteo nasal constante?
2. If you were me, would you go to work with a fever?
Si tú fueras yo, ¿irías a trabajar con fiebre?
3. If you were me, how would you handle feeling all stuffed up all night?
Si tú fueras yo, ¿cómo manejarías sentirte congestionado toda la noche?