Aches/is sore/in pain

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Angliholic

#480571 Sat, 23 Feb 08 05:46 AM

Jeff went to the dentist this morning, so now his mouth is sore.

Hi,

Is it the same to say "his mouth aches" and "his mouth is in pain" instead of "his mouth is sore?" Thanks.

Angliholic

Joined on Wed, Feb 14 2007

SomewhereinFormosa

Veteran Member (5,659)

Without true love, life is meaningless and worthless since our physical world is nothing but a dream. ~~Angliholic~~簡瑞達

Hoa Thai

#480582 Sat, 23 Feb 08 06:59 AM

Hi Angliholic,

When you simply say 'is in pain', I understand but I cannot sense the painful effect (i.e., the degree).

Between 'aches ' and 'is sore', the former sends a message of a dull pain, while the latter conveys an irritation feeling.

Maybe a native English speaker can sense the difference better.

Hoa Thai

Joined on Mon, Oct 15 2007

Vietnam

Contributing Member (1,100)

Best Regards - Hoa Thai

Angliholic

#480586 Sat, 23 Feb 08 07:43 AM

Thanks, HT.

Ache sends a message of a dull pain, "be sore" an irritation feeling, and how about "be in pain?" How should I interpret "be in pain?"

Angliholic

Hoa Thai

#480598 Sat, 23 Feb 08 08:40 AM

Angliholic

Ache sends a message of a dull pain, "be sore" an irritation feeling, and how about "be in pain?" How should I interpret "be in pain?"

Physically, 'be in pain' expresses a feeling we have when part of out body hurts.

To describe a degree of pain, we use words such as: dull, excruciating, mild, nagging, severe, sharp, shooting.

Unless we witness the pain one is suffering with, 'be in pain' lacks the degree / intensity.

Sorry! That the best that I can share with you.

Hoa Thai

Yankee

#480643 Sat, 23 Feb 08 12:09 PM

Hi Angliholic

"Be in pain" is usually used in a very general way. In other words, rather than saying specifically "his mouth was in pain" it would be much more typical to say "he was in pain" (without mentioning a specific part of the body) You would have to get information about the specific location(s) or type of the pain from the broader context.

"He was in a great deal of pain after his root canal." (Presumably something in his mouth hurt.)

"By the end of the triathlon, John was in so much pain that he collapsed." (Probably various parts of John's body hurt.)

"She is in pain over the death of her beloved dog." (emotional pain)

Yankee

Joined on Sat, Apr 15 2006

Connecticut, USA

Senior Member (4,513)

Amy "You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." - Mark Twain