i have colds?

[marose]

is I have colds correct?

 

[BobSmith]

[AmE - not a teacher]

In the US, if you are sick with a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory system which affects primarily the nose, you say

I have a cold.

 

[bhaisahab]

Is "I have colds correct"?

Welcome to the forums, marose. No, I'm afraid not. It's "I have a cold".

 

[BobK]

:up: (But you can 'Have the hots for somebody' - but that's nothing to do with physical health...;-))

b

 

[Tullia]

While I don't disagree with any of the comments about viral infections, and the way we express them, above, I wonder if the OP in fact was trying to say simply "I am cold."?

I don't know much about Tagalog but I know that speakers often have issues with omitting or using incorrectly the Eng verb "to be", and that many languages use "to have" with words like cold/hunger/thirst etc.

 

[bhaisahab]

While I don't disagree with any of the comments about viral infections, and the way we express them, above, I wonder if the OP in fact was trying to say simply "I am cold."?

I don't know much about Tagalog but I know that speakers often have issues with omitting or using incorrectly the Eng verb "to be", and that many languages use "to have" with words like cold/hunger/thirst etc.

Yes, that's possible. I don't know Tagalog either, but it's certainly true that French uses "to have". Incidentally, in Irish Gaelic they say "there is cold/hunger/thirst on me".

 

[Tullia]

Incidentally, in Irish Gaelic they say "there is cold/hunger/thirst on me".

Really? That's awesome, it's really evocative and makes you look at it in a different way, doesn't it?

 

[BobSmith]

That's awesome.

Is this expression common in BrE? It's like super common here in the US. (I use it all the time, I'm not disparaging anyone or thing )

 

[Tullia]

Is this expression common in BrE? It's like super common here in the US. (I use it all the time, I'm not
disparaging anyone or thing )

We're going a tad off-topic, but yes it's pretty common here, although primarily among the younger generations I think - and I'm clinging to being able to define myself as "among the younger generations" by the skin of my teeth!

 

[bhaisahab]

Really? That's awesome, it's really evocative and makes you look at it in a different way, doesn't it?

Yes, it does. The Irish language is quite poetic.