taking shower or taking a shower and more questions

[mektok]

Dear all,
Here are my questions:

1. Which statement is correct? taking shower or taking a shower
2. if we use questions like:

"Have you ever been given a medication before?" or
"Have you ever had a medication before?

• Can we omit the word "before" for both?

• Do we expect us to answer it in present tense or past tense or present perfect tense?

I'm looking forward for a positive response.
Thank you.

[mara_ce]

Originally Posted by mektok

Dear all,
Here are my questions:

1. Which statement is correct? taking shower or taking a shower
2. if we use questions like:

"Have you ever been given a medication before?" or
"Have you ever had a medication before?

• Can we omit the word "before" for both?

• Do we expect us to answer it in present tense or past tense or present perfect tense?

I'm looking forward for a positive response.
Thank you.

1. taking a shower.
2. I wouldn't use "before" because ever is there, and it sounds strange.
I think that this kind of questions require a short answer: Yes, I have. / No, I haven't. I'd use present or past for more details.

Hope that helps.

[Raymott]

Originally Posted by mektok

Dear all,
Here are my questions:

1. Which statement is correct? taking shower or taking a shower
2. if we use questions like:

"Have you ever been given a medication before?" or
"Have you ever had a medication before?

• Can we omit the word "before" for both?

• Do we expect us to answer it in present tense or past tense or present perfect tense?

I'm looking forward for a positive response.
Thank you.

mara is basically right.
Your medication questions sound unnatural. Often a pharmacist will ask you, before dispensing a drug:
"Have you ever had this medication before?" (Yes, I agree it's redundant)
"Have you had this medication before?" (It would be more common to leave out 'ever' where I come from)

The questions are in the present perfect tense: you have had.
You would generally answer in an ellipted form of the present perfect.
Yes I have. [had this medication before], or No I haven't. [had this ... ].

Note the difference between the present tense: "Yes I have" (something), and the ellipted present perfect "Yes I have" (had something).
You could even answer "Yes I have had". if you want to be more emphatic.

[mektok]

Hi, many thanks to both of you!