Beginner· A1–A2Health & doctor6 min

Buying medicine at a pharmacy

Describe a minor problem, ask a pharmacist for advice and understand how to take medicine.

The scene

You have a cold and a sore throat. You go to a pharmacy to ask for something to help you feel better.

Speaker A
Pharmacist
Speaker B
You (customer)

Your goals

  • Describe simple symptoms
  • Ask the pharmacist for a recommendation
  • Understand instructions about how to take medicine

Key vocabulary

Press the speaker to hear each word or phrase.

  • pharmacist

    a person trained to prepare and sell medicine

    Ask the pharmacist for advice.

  • sore throat

    pain in your throat

    I have a sore throat.

  • cold

    a common, mild illness with a runny nose and cough

    I think I have a cold.

  • painkiller

    medicine that reduces pain

    Can I take a painkiller?

  • prescription

    a doctor's written order for medicine

    Do I need a prescription for this?

  • dose

    the amount of medicine you take at one time

    Don't take more than the dose on the box.

  • side effects

    unwanted effects of a medicine

    Does it have any side effects?

Useful phrases

  • Can you recommend something for …?

    Asking for advice

  • I have a sore throat and a runny nose.

    Describing symptoms

  • How often should I take it?

    Asking about instructions

  • Does it make you sleepy?

    Asking about side effects

  • Do I need a prescription?

    Checking if you need a doctor's note

Practice studio: speak the dialogue

Pick your role and press Start. Your partner's lines are read aloud; then say your line into the microphone (or type it) and see which words you got right.

Your role

  1. Pharmacist

    Hello. How can I help?

  2. You (customer)

    Hi. Can you recommend something for a cold? I have a sore throat and a runny nose.

  3. Pharmacist

    How long have you had these symptoms?

  4. You (customer)

    Since Sunday, so about three days.

  5. Pharmacist

    Do you have a fever, or are you taking any other medicine?

  6. You (customer)

    No fever, and I'm not taking anything else.

  7. Pharmacist

    OK. These throat lozenges can help, and you can take this painkiller if your throat hurts.

  8. You (customer)

    Thank you. How often should I take the painkiller?

  9. Pharmacist

    Follow the dose on the box, and see a doctor if you feel worse or it lasts more than a week.

  10. You (customer)

    OK, I will. Does it make you sleepy?

You speak 5 lines as You (customer); Pharmacist is read aloud for you.

Speech recognition is done by your browser (in Chrome and Edge this uses the browser maker's online service). Nothing is stored by AltFTool.

Your turn: speak freely

Answer out loud in your own words. There is no score here: aim for full sentences and fewer filler words.

  1. 1. Describe the symptoms of a cold to a pharmacist.

  2. 2. Ask two questions about how to take a medicine.

  3. 3. Ask whether a medicine has any side effects.

Quick quiz

Choose an answer to see if you are right and why.

  1. 1. What is a 'prescription'?
  2. 2. Which sentence describes symptoms?
  3. 3. What does 'dose' mean?
  4. 4. Which question asks about side effects?

0 of 4 answered

Common mistakes

  • Avoid: I have pain in my throat very much.

    Say: I have a really sore throat.

    'Sore throat' is the natural phrase.

  • Avoid: I am cold since Sunday.

    Say: I've had a cold since Sunday.

    'I am cold' means you feel low temperature; 'have a cold' is the illness.

  • Avoid: How many times I take it?

    Say: How often should I take it?

    Use 'How often…?' and put 'should' before the subject.

Tips

  • Tell the pharmacist about any other medicine you take and any allergies.
  • Read the label and ask if anything is unclear; pharmacists expect questions.
  • This lesson teaches language only. Always follow a professional's advice about medicine.

Questions about this lesson

How do you ask for medicine in English?

Say 'Can you recommend something for…?' and describe your symptoms: 'I have a sore throat and a headache.'

What is the difference between 'I am cold' and 'I have a cold'?

'I am cold' means you feel a low temperature. 'I have a cold' means you have the illness.

Finish the lesson

Finish the practice studio and the quiz and this lesson is marked complete for you.

Next lesson: Describing symptoms to a doctor

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