Magic verbs for speaking

Question 1

X prevents Y from (happening / noun)
X prevents Y noun

Answer 1

Fibre prevents constipation.

There was nothing you could have done to prevent this condition as it is congenital.

Anaesthesia prevents movement during an operation.

Take regular breaks from the computer to prevent your hand from staying in one position.

Mask wearing prevents COVID from spreading

Good hand hygiene prevents COVID from spreading

Vaccination prevents serious illness if you’re infected.

*more formally ‘Vaccination is effective in preventing serious illness’

Question 2

X relieves Y

SAME: X reduces Y

Answer 2

Taking painkillers can relieve the pain in the short term.

Exercising your hand can relieve any cramps

Mindfulness often relieves stress

Getting a good night’s sleep relieves fatigue.

Wearing natural fibres often relieves the itchiness.

Applying calamine lotion can relieve the soreness.

*Don’t say ‘improve a bad thing’, eg. ‘Painkillers improve pain’. This is illogical. Only say ‘reduce/relieve’ a bad thing’

Question 3

X stimulates Y

Answer 3

What does X stimulate? /What is stimulated by Y?

Coffee stimulates the brain. The brain is stimulated by coffee

Caffeine stimulates the adrenal glands to produce adrenaline. This can lead to cramps.

Question 4

X damages Y

Answer 4

Often this is a heavy sentence , so lead with ‘Can we talk about the effects of (smoking / drinking alcohol / using tanning beds) ?

• smoking damages the lungs
• Drinking too much alcohol damages the liver
  Drinking too much alcohol can lead to liver damage
  the liver can be damaged by drinking a lot of alcohol
• Using tanning beds excessively damages the skin

Often you’ll need to follow up with a couple of sentences explaining this…

Question 5

It’s understandable that you feel (… )

Answer 5

• concerned
• anxious
• frustrated
• embarrassed
• relieved
• angry
• confused
  -tired
• uncomfortable

Question 6

Y improves (intransitive / no object verb)

Y improves Z (transitive verb)

Answer 6

Your health will improve.

Your quality of sleep tends to improve if you simply get into bed earlier.

Being vaccinated significantly improves your immunity

Vaccination improves herd immunity (by reducing the number of infected people who can pass on a pathogen)

Eating more fibre improves your digestion.

Question 7

(Someone with X condition) (is or are) susceptible to (Y bad thing )

Hint: Often related to comorbidities or lifestyle

Answer 7

Older people are susceptible to falls

People with weakened immune systems are susceptible to infections.

Alcoholics are susceptible to mood swings

Question 8

X stops Y process (transitive verb)

Someone/something stops someone/something doing another thing

*also ‘X compromises Y’ where Y is something positive.

Answer 8

Vaccination stops a pathogen spreading through the population (inappropriate to say ‘compromise’ here)

Playing football too soon after an injury might (stop/compromise) your bone healing.

Putting weight on an injured limb could (stop/compromise) the fusion.

*Gaining too much weight could (stop/compromise) your joints recovering

Reducing your caffeine intake stops the production of adrenaline and you’ll feel calmer.

In biliary atresia, the bile ducts are blocked, which stops the liver digesting fat.

This medication cannot stop a migraine, but it can bring some relief.

Other pattern ‘I was advised to stop smoking’

             My injury stopped me playing football.

Question 9

X carries something from place A to B

Answer 9

Blood carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body

Question 10

X protects SOMEONE AGAINST bad thing Y

Answer 10

Antibiotics will protect you and your family against pertussis.

Vaccines protect up to 3 million people worldwide against serious disease.

Practising safe sex protects people against sexually transmitted infections.

Contraception protects against unwanted pregnancy.

Washing your hands protects your family against flu.

Physical distancing protects you against COVID.

Question 11

X encourages Y to do Z good thing

Answer 11

I encourage you to try this!
The doctor encouraged the patient to walk further.
The dietician encouraged the patient to comply

Question 12

X slows Y

Answer 12

This enzyme slows the production of bile.

Consuming fermented products slows the destructive cells.

Question 13

A (X TEST) rules out (Y condition)

Answer 13

You need a skin biopsy to rule out cancer
You need a blood test to rule out diabetes
You need a pathergy test to rule out allergies

Question 14

X builds Y

Answer 14

Pool running and hydrotherapy will build your stamina

Eating more protein is one way to build muscles.

Eating more fresh foods builds your immunity

Trying new activities builds your resilience

Meeting different people builds your social network

Negative patterns…

*Excessive alcohol consumption builds a tolerance to alcohol

*Eating fatty foods builds plaque :(

Smoking leads to a build up of tar in the lungs :(

**Cautious pattern: build up to something

‘The rehabilitation program will help you to build up to a safe return to playing basketball after your operation’

Question 15

to promote (something good, usually lifestyle related)

Answer 15

Exercising regularly will promote weight loss.

Eating regularly will promote healthy growth

Using this cream will promote cell regrowth (*this can be a dodgy / suspicious sly fox seller of snake oil)

Question 16

Someone feels (good adjective)

Answer 16

better

calmer

happier

More comfortable with…(same things as confident)

More confident (about exercising, about going outside, about talking to new people)

reassured (about their condition/ prognosis / the procedure / the operation / symptoms / what’s going to happen)

Often ‘reassured is good with “a little more… as being reassured is the opposite to fear/worry/confusion

Question 17

to resume something (that had been suspended due to illness or management)

Answer 17

After the operation, you can resume sexual activity in a month.

You cannot resume football until your leg has completely healed.

You should only resume football when your leg has completely healed.

Question 18

(X ) aggravates/worsens (Y condition)

Hint: lifestyle

Answer 18

Going without sleep worsens/aggravates your mood.

Washing your face 4 times a day aggravates acne.

Does anything seem to aggravate the condition?
Does anything seem to worsen the condition?

Obviously is weaker than X damages Y.

*Not seeing people increases feelings of loneliness.

Question 19

to have feelings of xxx ( abstract noun)

This is a good way to PARAPHRASE/echo back what was said.

A - ‘I was really sad and down during lockdown. I didn’t have any interest in things I usually liked’
B - ‘My sister was on her own for six months, it was hard on her’.
C - ‘My dad kept forgetting where he was and sometimes he missed meetings. It wasn’t like him’.

Answer 19

A - ‘You had feelings of depression?
B - ‘I see. It sounds like she had feelings of loneliness. ‘
C - ‘So, your father had feelings of confusion. You think it might be Alzheimers’..

*also ‘experience feelings of xxx’ but this is heavier.

Question 20

START AND STOP AND REOCCUR Intransitive verbs

eg. This is for describing something in its own terms, with no reference to other causes.

Answer 20

When did your symptoms start?

Have any of those symptoms stopped?

Do any of your symptoms reoccur? How often do they reoccur?

I can assure you that this tumour is unlikely to reoccur once you have had it removed.

I have a recurring nightmare about Reading C.

Question 21

X deteriorates (intransitive)

Answer 21

Our eyesight tends to deteriorate with age.

Unfortunately, your condition (will/might) deteriorate if we don’t do anything.

Question 22

Someone or something supports someone or something else. (transitive)

with social relationships… *keep an eye on someone/ watch out for someone

Answer 22

Your friend can hold your hand and support you while you have the injection.

Your adrenal glands need to be supported with medication.

This wheelie walker will support you (as you regain your strength.)

I encourage you to go to a breastfeeding drop in group. The leaders will support you through this transition…

Do you have anyone close by to support you while you recover?

Question 23

to warn someone about (bad thing)

Answer 23

I must warn you that continuing to smoke will damage your health.

(Maybe follow with … How do you feel about that? Would you be willing to quit? )

I see from your notes that you’ve been warned about the risks of not taking insulin when you are diabetic.

Maybe follow with ‘Tell me what you understand/Tell me how you feel…’

Question 24

to explain something (to someone)

*avoid ‘I want to explain you’

Answer 24

Can I explain the benefits of this medication?
Can I explain the risks of your current behaviour?
Can I explain the treatment options?

Note: ‘to you/ to him / to her’ can be added after each case, but I advise against doing this. It’s redundant.

Question 25

to stress (something) Here, ‘to stress’ is a verb, not the noun meaning ‘anxiety’

Often IMPORTANCE/VALUE/BENEFIT/RISK OF X ACTION/noun

Answer 25

I stress the importance of taking your medication

I stress the benefit of a really getting a good night’s sleep before your test

I stress the value of seeing another specialist

I stress the value of (being patient/patience)

Question 26

More natural expression for ‘Does the pain irradiate?’

Answer 26

Does the pain spread elsewhere ?

Do you have pain anywhere else?