Aches and painsNouns: We only use ache with the following: I've got toothache (U), a stomach-ache, backache (U), earache (U) and a headache. For other parts of the body we use pain, e.g. I woke up in the night with a terrible pain in my chest. Verbs: You can use ache for some things, e.g. my back aches; but hurt is more common to describe real pain, and it can be used with or without a direct object: She hurt her foot when she jumped off the bus and fell over, (also injured here) or She hurt herself when she jumped off the bus and fell over. I hit my leg against the table and it really hurts. (= gives me a terrible pain) Adjectives: The only common adjective is painful (≠ painless): I had an injection yesterday and it was very painful. A: Did it hurt when you had your filling? (= when the dentist fills a hole/cavity in the tooth). B: No, it was painless C. Serious illnesses Doctors believe smoking is the major cause of lung cancer. He had a heart attack and died almost immediately. Hepatitis is a liver disease. Asthma (chest illness causing breathing problems) has become more common. Note: Illness and disease are often used in the same way, but disease is used for a serious condition caused by an infection e.g. a liver disease. Illness is a more general word.
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