Describing cough symptoms before calling a clinic | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: At home before calling a clinic, two adults organize cough symptoms, recent changes, worries, and questions about urgent help..

EN → ES / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Describing cough symptoms before calling a clinic to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Tengo que llamar a la clínica porque mi tos no mejora.

TEN-goh keh yah-MAR ah lah KLEE-nee-kah POR-keh mee tohs noh meh-HOH-rah. I need to call the clinic because my cough is not getting better.
B

Diles qué ha cambiado y qué te preocupa más.

DEE-lehs keh ah kahm-BYAH-doh ee keh teh proh-oo-KOO-pah mahs. Tell them what has changed and what worries you most.
A

Ha empeorado y me siento afiebrado y cansado.

Ah ehm-peh-oh-RAH-doh ee meh SYEHN-toh ah-fyeh-BRAH-doh ee kahn-SAH-doh. It has gotten worse, and I feel feverish and tired.
B

Menciona cuándo empezó y si algo te ha ayudado.

Men-SYOH-nah KWAHN-doh ehm-peh-SOH ee see AHL-goh teh ah ah-yoo-DAH-doh. Mention when it started and whether anything has helped.
A

También necesito saber qué hacer si empeora esta noche.

T ahm-BYEHN neh-seh-SEE-toh sah-BEHR keh ah-SEHR see ehm-peh-OH-rah EHS-tah NOH-cheh. I also need to know what to do if it gets worse tonight.
B

Pregunta adónde debes ir si necesitas ayuda enseguida.

Preh-GOON-tah ah-DOHN-deh DEH-behs eer see neh-seh-SEE-tahs ah-YOO-dah en-seh-GHEE-dah. Ask where you should go if you need help quickly.
A

Anotaré los puntos principales antes de llamar.

Ah-noh-tah-REH lohs POON-tohs preen-see-PAH-lehs AHN-tehs deh yah-MAR. I will write the main points down before I call.
B

Eso debería hacer más clara la llamada para los dos.

EH-soh deh-beh-REE-ah ah-SEHR mahs KLAH-rah lah yah-MAH-dah pah-rah lohs dohs. That should make the call clearer for both of you.

Word by Word

Tengo In “Tengo que llamar”, “Tengo” contributes the speaker’s need or obligation to make the call. The full obligation comes from the construction “Tengo que llamar”. A speaker can use this construction when explaining what they need to do next.
que In “Tengo que llamar”, “que” links the need to the action that must be done. The complete meaning is “have to call”, not “que” alone. This word commonly appears between an obligation expression and an infinitive.
llamar In “llamar a la clínica”, “llamar” means to call by telephone. The citation form is llamar, and this exact form follows “Tengo que”. Use it when saying that you need or plan to make a call.
a In “llamar a la clínica”, “a” introduces the clinic as the target of the call. It connects the action of calling with the person or place being called. This preposition is used before the recipient or destination of many actions.
la In “la clínica”, “la” identifies a specific clinic. It comes directly before the noun it determines. Use this article when referring to a particular place already understood in the situation.
clínica In “la clínica”, “clínica” means clinic, the medical place the speaker plans to call. The word names the institution receiving the call. It can be used for a place where people seek medical care.
porque In “porque mi tos no mejora”, “porque” introduces the reason for the call. It connects the need to call with the continuing cough. Use it to give a reason for an action or statement.
mi In “mi tos”, “mi” shows that the cough belongs to or affects the speaker. It comes before the noun it describes. Use it before a noun when identifying something connected with yourself.
tos In “mi tos”, “tos” means cough, the symptom being discussed. It names the physical symptom that has not improved. Use it when describing this symptom to a healthcare professional.
no In “no mejora”, “no” negates the statement that the cough improves. It appears directly before the verb here. Use it before a verb to say that an action or change is not happening.
mejora In “mi tos no mejora”, “mejora” means gets better or improves. The citation form is mejorar, and this exact form describes the cough’s condition in the dialogue. Use it to describe a symptom or situation becoming better.
Diles In “Diles qué ha cambiado”, “Diles” tells the listener to tell them something. The form combines the instruction to tell with “les”, referring to the people at the clinic. Use it when directing someone to pass information to other people.
qué In “qué ha cambiado”, “qué” asks which information or change is being discussed. It introduces the content of an indirect question after “Diles”. Use it when identifying unknown information.
ha In “ha cambiado” and “te ha ayudado”, “ha” works with the following participle to describe a completed change or result connected with the present situation. The citation form is haber, and this exact form is the auxiliary used here. It commonly appears before a participle in this type of result statement.
cambiado In “qué ha cambiado”, “cambiado” means changed. The citation form is cambiar, and cambiado is the form used with “ha” to describe what has changed. Use it when reporting a change in a situation or symptom.
y In “Ha empeorado y me siento afiebrado”, “y” joins two pieces of information about the speaker’s condition. It connects the worsening symptom with the speaker’s physical feelings. Use it to add a related action, fact, or description.
te In “qué te preocupa más”, “te” identifies the person affected by the concern: the listener. It works with “preocupa” to say what concerns that person. Use it when describing something that causes concern for someone.
preocupa In “qué te preocupa más”, “preocupa” means worries or concerns. The citation form is preocupar, and this exact form describes the thing causing concern for the listener. Use it to ask or say what is troubling someone.
más In “qué te preocupa más”, “más” marks the greater degree of worry, so the question asks what worries the listener most. It modifies the comparison of concerns in this sentence. Use it when selecting the item that has the greatest degree of a quality or effect.
empeorado In “Ha empeorado”, “empeorado” means gotten worse. The citation form is empeorar, and this exact form appears with “ha” to report the worsening condition. Use it when describing a symptom or situation that has become worse.
me In “me siento afiebrado”, “me” shows that the described physical state is experienced by the speaker. It works together with “siento” in the expression for feeling a condition. Use it when describing how your own body or state feels.
siento In “me siento afiebrado y cansado”, “siento” contributes the meaning feel. The citation form is sentir, and this exact form is used with “me” to describe the speaker’s physical condition. Use this expression to report how you feel.
afiebrado In “me siento afiebrado”, “afiebrado” means feverish. It describes the physical state the speaker feels. Use it when reporting a feverish feeling while describing symptoms.
cansado In “me siento afiebrado y cansado”, “cansado” means tired. It adds another physical condition to the speaker’s symptom description. Use it when explaining that illness or another situation has left you without energy.
Menciona In “Menciona cuándo empezó”, “Menciona” instructs the listener to mention information. The citation form is mencionar, and this exact form is used as a direction about what to tell the clinic. Use it when asking someone to include a particular detail.
cuándo In “cuándo empezó”, “cuándo” asks at what time or point something began. It introduces the information the listener should report. Use it when asking when an event or symptom started.
empezó In “cuándo empezó”, “empezó” means started. The citation form is empezar, and this exact form identifies the beginning of the symptom. Use it when saying when an event or condition began.
si In “si algo te ha ayudado”, “si” introduces an indirect question about whether something has helped. It connects the question about help with the possible thing that provided it. Use it after a request for information about whether something happened or was effective.
algo In “si algo te ha ayudado”, “algo” means something or anything that may have helped. It leaves the helpful thing unspecified. Use it when referring to an unspecified thing whose identity is not yet known.
ayudado In “te ha ayudado”, “ayudado” means helped. The citation form is ayudar, and this exact form appears with “ha” to ask about help received so far. Use it when reporting whether a treatment, action, or other thing has been useful.
También In “También necesito saber”, “También” adds another need to the points already mentioned. It signals that this information is in addition to the earlier information. Use it when adding one more related fact, request, or action.
necesito In “necesito saber”, “necesito” means need. The citation form is necesitar, and this exact form presents the speaker’s need for information. Use it before an action or thing that is necessary for you.
saber In “necesito saber qué hacer”, “saber” means to know. It names the information the speaker needs to obtain. Use it after a need expression when the needed item is information.
hacer In “qué hacer”, “hacer” means to do, referring to the action the speaker should take. The citation form is hacer, and this exact form follows “qué” to identify the action. Use it when asking or discussing what action is required.
empeora In “si empeora esta noche”, “empeora” means gets worse. The citation form is empeorar, and this exact form describes a possible worsening condition in the “si” clause. Use it when talking about what to do if a symptom or situation worsens.
esta In “esta noche”, “esta” means this and points to the night connected with the current situation. Together with “noche”, it refers to tonight. Use it before a time expression to identify the relevant day or period.
noche In “esta noche”, “noche” means night. With “esta”, the phrase refers specifically to tonight rather than to night in general. Use it when discussing something that will happen during the nighttime period.
Pregunta In “Pregunta adónde debes ir”, “Pregunta” instructs the listener to ask for information. The citation form is preguntar, and this exact form is used as a direction before the question content. Use it when telling someone to request information from another person.
adónde In “adónde debes ir”, “adónde” asks where someone should go, emphasizing the destination. It introduces the destination question after “Pregunta”. Use it with movement or going when the desired information is a place to reach.
debes In “debes ir”, “debes” expresses that the listener should or must go somewhere. The citation form is deber, and this exact form gives advice or indicates an obligation in the question. Use it before an action when discussing what someone is expected or advised to do.
ir In “debes ir”, “ir” means to go. The citation form is ir, and this exact form names the movement the listener may need to make for help. Use it after an expression of advice, obligation, or need when describing movement to a place.
necesitas In “si necesitas ayuda”, “necesitas” means need. The citation form is necesitar, and this exact form states the condition in which the listener requires help. Use it in a condition about what someone may need.
ayuda In “necesitas ayuda”, “ayuda” means help. It names the assistance the listener may require quickly. Use it when describing assistance needed in a health, practical, or urgent situation.
enseguida In “ayuda enseguida”, “enseguida” means right away or immediately. It emphasizes that the help is needed without delay. Use it when describing an action or response that should happen quickly.
Anotaré In “Anotaré los puntos principales”, “Anotaré” presents writing the information down as something the speaker plans to do. The citation form is anotar, and this exact form refers to recording the main points before the call. Use it when stating that you will make a written note.
los In “los puntos principales”, “los” identifies the specific points being discussed. It comes before “puntos principales” and refers to more than one point. Use it before a known group of items.
puntos In “los puntos principales”, “puntos” means points or pieces of information. It refers to the details the speaker will write down for the call. Use it when organizing several important items in a discussion or explanation.
principales In “los puntos principales”, “principales” means main or most important. It identifies which points should be written down: the central ones rather than every detail. Use it to describe the most important items in a group.
antes In “antes de llamar”, “antes” means before. It places the writing of the points earlier than the call. Use it to order one action in relation to another.
de In “antes de llamar”, “de” completes the expression that means before doing an action. It connects “antes” with the infinitive “llamar”. Use this pattern when one action must happen before another action.
Eso In “Eso debería hacer”, “Eso” refers back to the action just mentioned, writing down the main points. It presents that previous idea as the subject of the expected result. Use it to point back to an action, fact, or idea already understood.
debería In “Eso debería hacer más clara la llamada”, “debería” expresses an expected or likely result: the notes should make the call clearer. The citation form is deber, and this exact form is followed by an infinitive. Use it when making a careful prediction or suggestion about a result.
clara In “más clara la llamada”, “clara” describes the call as clear. The comparative meaning “clearer” comes from the complete expression “más clara”, not from “clara” alone. Use it to describe communication that is easy to understand.
llamada In “la llamada”, “llamada” means call, referring here to the telephone conversation with the clinic. It names the communication that the written points will help organize. Use it when referring to a phone call as an event or conversation.
para In “para los dos”, “para” marks the people who will benefit from the clearer call. The complete phrase means for both of you. Use it before a person or group when identifying the intended recipient or beneficiary of an action or result.

Grammar Points

tener que + infinitivo

Tengo que llamar a la clínica.

TEN-goh keh yah-MAR ah lah KLEE-nee-kah.

I have to call the clinic.

Spanish uses tener que followed by an infinitive to express obligation. The verb tener changes according to the subject.

haber + participio

La tos ha empeorado.

Lah tohs ah ehm-peh-oh-RAH-doh.

The cough has gotten worse.

The present perfect uses a form of haber plus a past participle. Ha agrees with the subject's person, not its gender.

Spanish Vocabulary

afiebrado adj
ah-fyeh-BRAH-doh feverish
cansado adj
kahn-SAH-doh tired
clínica noun
KLEE-nee-kah clinic
Diles verb
DEE-lehs Tell them
ha cambiado verb
ah kahm-BYAH-doh has changed
ha empeorado verb
ah ehm-peh-oh-RAH-doh has gotten worse
llamar verb
yah-MAR to call
me siento verb
meh SYEHN-toh I feel
mejora verb
meh-HOH-rah gets better; improves
te preocupa verb
teh proh-oo-KOO-pah worries you; concerns you
Tengo que phrase
TEN-goh keh I have to
tos noun
tohs cough

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

clinic

Show Answerclínica

gets better; improves

Show Answermejora

Tell them

Show AnswerDiles

to call

Show Answerllamar