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Lesson 109 of 240

New here? This is lesson 109 of a free 240-lesson English course.

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How to take it in English

Ana is at the drugstore across from the Blue Plate. The pharmacist has her pills, and Ana needs to ask how to take them.

Murray followed her in. He is thinking about pie, not medicine.

By the end, you'll ask how often, how many, and when. You'll also ask about food, a missed dose, and how long.

Ask one thing at a time. The pharmacist will answer in short, clear words.

By the end of this lesson

Ask how often, how many, and when to take medicine.

  • How often should I take it?Ask how many times a day.
  • How many should I take?Ask the number of pills each time.
  • Should I take it with food?Ask if you should eat when you take it.
  • When should I take the next dose?Ask the time for the next pills.
  • What should I do if I miss a dose?Ask what to do when you forget a round.
  • How long should I take this?Ask the number of days for this medicine.

Scene — the pharmacy counter

The drugstore on Larch Street is quiet this afternoon. Ana stands at the pharmacy counter with a small paper bag.

The pharmacist waits with a label in her hand. Murray fills the aisle behind Ana, still thinking about Dee's pie.

The clinic is next door. The diner is across the street.

Ana waits at the pharmacy counter with her paper bag while Murray sits in the aisle behind her.

Learn — how often and how many

Six short questions cover how often, how many pills, food, the next dose, a missed dose, and how many days.

Ask them one at a time at the pharmacy counter.

  1. Ana lifts the paper bag toward the pharmacist as she asks how often to take the medicine.

    How often should I take it?

    Ask how many times a day.

    When to use it: Ask this to learn the times each day.

    How often is about times, not about how many pills.

    Say it: Stress take in this question.

  2. Ana looks into the bag and gestures to ask how many pills to take each time.

    How many should I take?

    Ask the number of pills each time.

    When to use it: Ask this for the number of pills each time.

    How many asks for a number, like one or two.

  3. Ana gestures toward her mouth to ask whether she should eat when taking the medicine.

    Should I take it with food?

    Ask if you should eat when you take it.

    When to use it: Ask this if you should eat with the medicine.

    With food means eat something when you take the pills.

  4. Ana turns her wrist upward as she asks when to take the next pills.

    When should I take the next dose?

    Ask the time for the next pills.

    When to use it: Ask this for the time of the next pills.

    A dose is one round of pills at one time.

  5. Ana holds out an open palm as she asks what to do if she forgets a dose.

    What should I do if I miss a dose?

    Ask what to do when you forget a round.

    When to use it: Ask this in case you forget a round.

    If I miss a dose means you forget that round.

    Say it: The final s in miss links to a.

  6. Ana holds the paper bag toward the pharmacist as she asks how many days to take the medicine.

    How long should I take this?

    Ask the number of days for this medicine.

    When to use it: Ask this to learn how many days to continue.

    How long here means the number of days, not the clock.

Story — twice a day, with food

Watch Ana at the pharmacy counter today. She asks how to take the pills, one question at a time.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. Ana holds the bag.
  2. AnaExcuse me. How often should I take it?She gets attention, then asks how many times a day.
  3. PharmacistTwice a day.Take this two times a day.
  4. AnaHow many should I take?Ask the number of pills each time.
  5. PharmacistOne pill each time.Take one pill at a time.
  6. AnaShould I take it with food?Ask if you should eat when you take it.
  7. AnaWhen should I take the next dose?Ask the time for the next pills.
  8. PharmacistYes. Take it with food. Tonight, with dinner.Take it with food, and take the next pills this evening.
  9. AnaWhat should I do if I miss a dose?Ask what to do when you forget a round.
  10. PharmacistCheck the label. Don't take a double dose unless the label says to.Do not take twice the usual amount unless the label says to.
  11. AnaHow long should I take this?Ask the number of days for this medicine.
  12. PharmacistSeven days. Follow the label on the bottle.Take it for one week, as the label says.
  13. Ana checks the words.
  14. AnaTwice a day, with food. Did I get that right?She repeats the plan and checks she heard it correctly.
  15. PharmacistThat's right. Seven days, with food.She confirms the plan.
  16. Murray looks toward the diner.
  17. MurrayTwice a day, with pie. Is it almost ready?He mixes up the words and asks about pie.

Practice — ask one thing

Eleven short exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay tiny, so you can move through them fast.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    How often should I take it?Drop the Simple English here
    How many should I take?Drop the Simple English here
    Should I take it with food?Drop the Simple English here
    How long should I take this?Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

    Drag a Simple English line onto its English, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    The pharmacist said twice a day. You still need the number of pills each time.

  4. What does it mean?

    Should I take it with food?

  5. Fill the gap

    Ask the time for the next pills.

    When should I take the ____ dose?

  6. Build the line

    Ask what to do when you forget a round.

    ?

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Pick the reply

    Pharmacist says:

    One pill, twice a day, with food. If you miss a dose, check the label.

    She told you the times, the number, the food, and a missed round.

    And you reply with:

  8. Swap the word

    You want to know if you should eat when you take the pills.

    Should I take it with ____?

  9. What do you say?

    You walk up to the pharmacy counter. The pharmacist is looking at a computer.

  10. True or false?

    This line asks how many pills to take.

  11. Pick the reply

    Pharmacist says:

    So, one pill twice a day, with food, for seven—sorry, the phone.

    She gave the number and the times, then stopped.

    And you reply with:

Say it — ask the pharmacist

Now you're Ana at the pharmacy counter. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. PharmacistHi. These are ready for you.The pills are ready.
  2. Ana (you)Ask how many times a day.

    How often should I take it?

    Ask how many times a day.

0 of 7 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
How often should I take it?Ask how many times a day.
How many should I take?Ask the number of pills each time.
Should I take it with food?Ask if you should eat when you take it.
When should I take the next dose?Ask the time for the next pills.
What should I do if I miss a dose?Ask what to do when you forget a round.
How long should I take this?Ask the number of days for this medicine.
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