a head ache / head ache

[Keralite]

I have bad head ache / I have a bad head ache. I am suffering from it for the past 5 years.

I would like you to help me to understand whether the above sentence is correct.

[TheParser]

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Hello, Keralite:

I believe that most native speakers would write "I have a bad headache." [one word]

I have been suffering from bad headaches for the last 5 years.

If you do not wish to use the noun "headache," you could also say "My head aches badly. Do you have any

aspirin?"

Please remember that people usually spell the -ache words as one word:

headache
backache
stomachache
earache
heartache

[Keralite]

Thank you Parser. This reply is really useful.

[emsr2d2]

If you said "I have had a bad headache for 15 years" it would mean that your head started to hurt 15 years ago and it has not stopped hurting since then! If that were true, you would badly need to see a doctor!

If, however, you have suffered from headaches regularly since 1997 then you would say "I have had bad headaches for the last 15 years".

"Headache" is indeed just one word (but of course "My head aches" would be separated if "aches" were the verb. It is equally possible to say "My headaches" when referring to the noun "headache" in the plural).