[Grammar] A question about the article "a"

[cnjackie88]

Hi guys, long time no see. I have a question about the application of articile "a".
Before some words about illness, such as "headache","toothache","stomochache","cold", when should I put "a" before it?
I also found there are some differences between british English and American English. Who can help to explain this to me in a very clear and fast way.

 

[emsr2d2]

Hi guys. Long time no see.

I have a question about the [STRIKE]application[/STRIKE] use of the [STRIKE]articile[/STRIKE] article "a".

[strike]Before[/strike] With regard to [strike]some[/strike] words about illness, such as "headache", space after a comma "toothache", space after a comma "stomach space here ache", space after a comma "cold", when should I put "a" before [STRIKE]it[/STRIKE] them?

I also found there are some differences between British English and American English. Who can [strike]help to[/strike] explain this to me in a very clear and fast way?

The simplest answer is that you will rarely be wrong if you use the indefinite article before the ailment if you're talking about someone suffering from it.

I have a headache.
She has a cold.
I had a stomach ache yesterday. (Note that "stomach ache" is two words - don't ask me why!)

There are two common exceptions to this in BrE:
I've got toothache.
She has flu/She has the flu.

 

[Tdol]

Cancer is usually used without the indefinite article.

 

[GoesStation]

Cancer is usually used without the indefinite article.

In the movie The Shootist, John Wayne's character frequently says "I have a cancer." The writers included this bit of antiquated usage intentionally as a way of placing the action in a past era.

 

[probus]

There are two common exceptions to this in BrE:
I've got toothache.
She has flu/She has the flu.

The toothache exception does not exist or is vanishingly rare in AmE. As for influenza one can hear any of "the flu", "a flu", or just plain "flu".

 

[emsr2d2]

Cancer is usually used without the indefinite article.

That is true. I was using ailments/illnesses (as in one-off occasional occurrences of relatively short duration) rather than longer-term diseases. Those almost always take no article.

I have cancer.
She has diabetes.
My aunt has hypothyroidism.
They had polio.

 

[Yankee]

The toothache exception does not exist or is vanishingly rare in AmE. As for influenza one can hear any of "the flu", "a flu", or just plain "flu".

I have never heard/used "a flu". (AmE)

 

[PeterCW]

Nor have I (BrE)

 

[Tdol]

In the movie The Shootist, John Wayne's character frequently says "I have a cancer." The writers included this bit of antiquated usage intentionally as a way of placing the action in a past era.

The usage exists, but it is far more common without the article. We do, however, say that we have a tumour.

 

[GoesStation]

The usage exists, but it is far more common without the article. We do, however, say that we have a tumour.

In American English, the article is required with "tumor" and never used with "cancer".

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

No one can explain it clearly, fast, or otherwise. It's like a frustrated Mexican student I once tutored asked: "Why is it a cold, but the flu, but pneumonia?"

It's English, that's why!

 

[Tdol]

And when, like me, you're married to someone who speaks a language without any articles....