catch a cold vs. have a cold

Preview　（腕試し）

Which of the following sentences are natural?

（次の文章の中では、どれが自然でしょうか？　チェックボックスも利用できます。）

1. I catch a cold.

2. You look sick. Do you catch a cold?

3. I'm catching a cold for three weeks.

4. I've caught a cold, so now I'm a little tired.

5. I caught a cold last week, but now I feel fine.

6. I have a cold, so I'm taking the day off from work.

A. 1, 2, & 3

B. 4, 5, & 6

C. all

D. none

　

Quick Glossary （用語辞典）

(have) a cold = 風邪

(have) a runny nose = 鼻水が 出やすい

Explanation （説明）

This problem occurs because of direct translation. In Japanese, the usual way to express this is: Kaze o hiite imasu （風邪を引いています。）This could be translated as "I'm catching a cold," but the meaning of that English statement is different from the original Japanese.

　

Yuki: I don't feel good.

Hiroaki: What's wrong? Are you tired?

Yuki: No. I have a bad cold.

Hiroaki: Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. How long have you had it?

Yuki: About a week. I think I caught it when I went hiking last weekend.

Hiroaki: Do you have a fever?

Yuki: No, but I've got a sore throat and a runny nose. I'm going to see the doctor this afternoon.

Common Possibilities

1) catch a cold = to first become affected by a cold

I caught a cold when I went camping two weeks ago.

2) have caught a cold = to have caught a cold recently and to be in the condition of having a cold now

I've caught a cold, so now I'm just a little tired.

3) have a cold = to suffer from the symptoms of a cold

I have a cold, so I'm taking the day off from work.

I had a cold two weeks ago.

4) catching a cold = to be in the process of catching a cold (your condition is getting worse and worse)

I think I'm catching a cold. My throat is a little sore.

Exercises（練習）

1. Yumiko looks a little sick. She seems to have had a cold.

2. Shinpei catch caught a cold after he went swimming in Lake Biwa last Saturday.

3. Atsuko has catched caught a bad cold, so she didn't come to class last night.

4. It's cold outside today. You had better put on a coat or you'll catch catching a cold.

5. Yuji has a slight cough and looks a little tired. He must be catching catch a cold.

6. Yuko catch caught a cold two weeks ago, but she is fine now.

7. If you have a sore throat and a runny nose, you definitely catch have a cold. You should see a doctor.

8. How long have you catch had your cold?

9. I have have had a slight cold for about three days. I hope it doesn't get worse.

10. I have a bad catch cold so I don't feel like doing anything at all.

　

Answers:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.