Understanding English 1: hurt vs. to be hurt

[English Club]

Understanding English 1: hurt vs. to be hurt

 

These are a few recent questions from parents about using and understanding English. 

 

 

to hurt vs. to be hurt

 

 

To hurt

 

To hurt means to make someone else feel pain. 

 

Examples:

 

-         I am sorry I hurt you.

-         Don’t hit your friend.  You will hurt him.

-         You hurt Mommy when you bit me.

-         If you hurt someone you must say sorry.

  

 

To be hurt

 

To be hurt means you feel pain.

 

Examples:

 

-         I fell down the stairs.  Now I am hurt.

-         You hit the table with your head!  Are you hurt?

-         Why are you hurting Mommy?

-         You kicked your friend.  Now he is hurt.  Can you please go and say sorry?

 

The important difference to understand between “to hurt” and “to be hurt” is that “to hurt” means you are causing pain while “to be hurt” means you are feeling pain.

 

 

Here are some exercises to check your understanding.  Choose the correct form of “hurt”:

 

1.      Yesterday a dog bit me.  Now I ________.

a.      hurt

b.      am hurt

 

2.      It _______ me when you say mean things to me.

a.      hurts

b.      is hurting

 

3.      Can you please stop ________ me?

a.      hurts

b.      hurting

 

4.      Did I ______ you?  I am sorry.

a.      hurt

b.      am hurting

 

5.      My arm _______ because you hit me.

a.      hurts

b.      am hurting

 

 

 

 

Scroll down for answers:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did you already try to answer the questions?

 

 

 

Are you sure????

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“hurt” answers: b, a, b, a, a

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mr. Peter C. Meltzer]

Yes, you are correct. Good job!

Also it is very good that you understand when to add "s" to "hurt". Excellent!

[ปาจรียา(แม่ป้อของอิง+หมิง+หลง)]

Thank you, Mr.Peter.
However, I still have one question. Can we say "where are you hurting?" -->which part of the body that you feel hurt now. Or we can just ask "Where do you hurt?" or " Where are you hurt? "

[Mr. Peter C. Meltzer]

Good question.

"Where are you hurt?" is the most common question. "Where does it hurt?" is also common.

[ปาจรียา(แม่ป้อของอิง+หมิง+หลง)]

Thank you.

[นรณฤต]

 

เจอจาก แคมบริจด์ ดิกชั่นนารี พอใช้ได้ไหมครับ

Tell me where it hurts.

My head hurts.

She says that her ear hurts her.

Emma hurt her back when she fell off her horse.

Several people were seriously/badly hurt in the explosion.

[sasiwan]

Careful! If you fell down the stairs, you will be hurt.

Can I use this?

[Mr. Peter C. Meltzer]

Very close.

Careful! If you fall down the stairs you will get hurt.

[แม่อ๋อ]

Thank you very much. I love your quizzes!

I have two questions please.
1. How to tell them apart when people ask "where (on your body) are you hurt?" and "Where (which pleace) are you hurt?"
or should I use only past tense for the latter situation, e.g. "Where did you get hurt?"
2. I heard Caillou said "Leo hurts himself". If it is not Leo's false, can we still say like that?

Thank you very much.

[นรณฤต]

Thank you