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Sebayanpendam Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

A headache versus headaches

hello,
I want a certainty regarding the words 'ache'. I'm not sure whether it is a British style of writing or speaking. I was told by my lecturer that when somebody wants to say he has headaches, he should say,
"I always have headaches". The reason is due to the adverb of time is present in the sentence. But one should say 'I have a headache when I get on a boat". The reason is the headache happens because of a specific situation.

So can anyone please explain this further?

Thanks
Avid English learner.
  

Top answer

This is not specifically British style. And it has nothing to do specifically with headaches or the word ache . It is an illustration of how the present tense works.

— CalifJim

  • This is not specifically British style.
  • And it has nothing to do specifically with headaches or the word ache .
  • It is an illustration of how the present tense works.
  • I have a headache.
  • You are suffering from a headache at the moment you say it.
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2 Answers
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This is not specifically British style. And it has nothing to do specifically with headaches or the word ache. It is an illustration of how the present tense works.

I have a headache. You are suffering from a headache at the moment you say it. This is the narrow present.

I often have/get headaches. You suffer from a headache frequently -- not the same h
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When you get on a boat it's a single occasion, so you have one headache, even if the adverb of time is present - "I always have get a headache when I get on a boat". You could say "I have get headaches when I get on boats." - many boats, many headaches.
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