Lesson 85 — Illness & Must

Showing Concern About Illness

In this lesson you describe **how you feel**, use **present perfect continuous** for ongoing symptoms, and learn **must** for obligation and deduction.

• I feel dizzy / weak / nauseous · short of breath
• I've been coughing since … (present perfect continuous)
• I have pain in my chest / stomach / ribs
• must = obligation (fixed form) OR strong deduction
• probably / most likely — probably before the verb

• I feel dizzy. (سرگیجه)
• I feel weak. (ضعف) — not week (هفته)
• breath (noun) / breathe (verb) — short of breath
• I have been vomiting. (غذا بالا می‌آورم)
• I feel nauseous. (حالت تهوع)

• I have been coughing. (چند روز است سرفه می‌کنم)
• sneezing (عطسه) · wheezing (خس‌خس سینه)

**Present perfect continuous** (have been + -ing): started in the past, still continuing. Doctors ask: *How long have you had this?* — and it is still going on.

• I have pain in my chest. (قفسه سینه)
• I have pain in my stomach. (شکم)
• I have pain in my ribs. (دنده‌ها)
• I've broken my ribs. (دنده‌ام شکسته)
• I have pain in my hip. (لگن)

• A: I'm sorry, but I don't think I can come to the meeting this morning.
• B: Really? Is there anything wrong?
• A: Well, actually, I don't feel very well. I've been coughing since last night, and I feel a little short of breath.
• B: Oh no. That must be awful.
• B: Would you like me to call a doctor?
• A: That's really nice of you, but I'm sure I'll be fine.
• B: Then call me later and let me know how you feel, OK?
• A: I will. Thanks.

**Must** = have to / obligation. Same form for all subjects — verb stays base form (no -s).

• You must do it.
• He must study hard.
• You must practice.
• They must pay the fee.

**Must** can also mean a strong guess about now — like *probably* but stronger. Compare: **must** ≈ almost certain · **probably** ≈ likely · **most likely** ≈ very likely

• I think I just broke my ribs. — Oh no, that must hurt.
• The doctor said I should come next week. — That's good. It must not be an emergency.
• You look awful. You must be in a lot of pain.
• The doctor said you're in perfect health. — You must feel really good.
• I called the dentist's office. No one answered. — They must be in today.

For probability, put **probably** before the verb (not *aren't probably*). Negative: **probably aren't / probably isn't / probably doesn't**

• They are probably at the dentist's office.
• They are most likely at the dentist's office.
• They're probably at home.
• She is most likely watching a movie.
• It's probably going to rain.
• They probably aren't at the dentist's office.
• She probably isn't watching a film.
• The dentist probably doesn't have time to see you.