Understanding ‘Come Down With’: Definition and Usage
The phrasal verb ‘come down with’ is commonly used in English to describe the onset of an illness. It’s an informal way to express that someone has started to feel sick or has contracted a disease. Understanding and using this phrasal verb correctly can significantly enhance your IELTS performance, particularly in the Speaking and Writing sections.
Definition and Synonyms
‘Come down with’ means to become ill or to start to suffer from an illness. Some synonyms include:
- Contract (a more formal alternative)
- Develop (symptoms or an illness)
- Fall ill with
- Catch (informal)
Contextual Usage
‘Come down with’ is primarily used in informal contexts, making it particularly useful for the IELTS Speaking test. Here are some example sentences:
- “I think I’m coming down with a cold.”
- “My sister came down with the flu last week.”
- “Many students in our class have come down with a stomach bug.”
IELTS Speaking: Using 'Come Down With'
Grammatical Analysis
‘Come down with’ is an inseparable phrasal verb, meaning that you cannot place an object between ‘come down’ and ‘with’. The structure is typically:
Subject + come down with + illness/symptom
For example:
- Correct: “She came down with a fever.”
- Incorrect: “She came down a fever with.”
Application in IELTS
Speaking Test
In the IELTS Speaking test, using ‘come down with’ can demonstrate your ability to use idiomatic language naturally. It’s particularly useful when discussing topics related to health, daily routines, or personal experiences.
Sample answer for “Describe a time when you were ill”:
“Last winter, I came down with a terrible flu. It started with a slight fever, but within a day, I had come down with a full range of symptoms including body aches and a nasty cough. I had to take a week off work to recover.”
Writing Test
While ‘come down with’ is more informal, it can be used effectively in Task 1 of the General Training Writing test or in less formal contexts of Task 2 essays. For example:
“Many employees came down with stress-related illnesses due to the high-pressure work environment.”
However, in more formal Task 2 essays, consider using more academic alternatives like ‘contract’ or ‘develop’.
Related Phrasal Verbs
-
Get over /ɡɛt ˈoʊvər/ – To recover from an illness or difficult experience
Example: “It took me a week to get over the flu.” -
Pull through /pʊl θruː/ – To survive a dangerous situation or serious illness
Example: “The doctors weren’t sure if he would pull through, but he recovered completely.” -
Break out /breɪk aʊt/ – To suddenly start or appear (often used with illnesses)
Example: “A rash broke out all over his body.” -
Ward off /wɔːrd ɒf/ – To prevent something unpleasant from affecting you
Example: “I take vitamin C to ward off colds.” -
Shake off /ʃeɪk ɒf/ – To get rid of an illness or negative feeling
Example: “I can’t seem to shake off this persistent cough.”
Related Phrasal Verbs for Health Topics
Practice Exercises
Fill in the Blanks
- I think I’m ____ ____ ____ a cold. (come)
- Many students ____ ____ ____ the flu during exam season. (come)
- She’s trying to ____ ____ a bad case of bronchitis. (shake)
- The entire team ____ ____ food poisoning after the company dinner. (come)
- He’s taking echinacea to try to ____ ____ the common cold. (ward)
- We weren’t sure if grandmother would ____ ____, but she’s recovering now. (pull)
- A mysterious rash ____ ____ on his arms after hiking in the woods. (break)
- It took him weeks to ____ ____ the disappointment of losing the competition. (get)
- The city is taking measures to ____ ____ a potential outbreak of the virus. (ward)
- She finally managed to ____ ____ her fear of public speaking. (shake)
Sentence Transformation
-
Original: John contracted the flu last week.
Rewrite: John ____ ____ ____ the flu last week. -
Original: A severe rash suddenly appeared on her skin.
Rewrite: A severe rash ____ ____ on her skin. -
Original: It’s important to prevent the spread of the virus in schools.
Rewrite: It’s important to ____ ____ the spread of the virus in schools. -
Original: The patient survived the critical surgery.
Rewrite: The patient managed to ____ ____ after the critical surgery. -
Original: I’m still trying to recover from the jet lag.
Rewrite: I’m still trying to ____ ____ the jet lag. -
Original: Many employees became ill with stress during the busy season.
Rewrite: Many employees ____ ____ ____ stress during the busy season. -
Original: He’s having difficulty eliminating this persistent cough.
Rewrite: He’s having difficulty ____ ____ this persistent cough. -
Original: The whole family contracted food poisoning from the restaurant meal.
Rewrite: The whole family ____ ____ ____ food poisoning from the restaurant meal. -
Original: She’s taking vitamins to avoid catching a cold.
Rewrite: She’s taking vitamins to ____ ____ a cold. -
Original: It took months for him to recover from the accident.
Rewrite: It took months for him to ____ ____ the accident.
Answers and Explanations
Fill in the Blanks:
- coming down with
- came down with
- shake off
- came down with
- ward off
- pull through
- broke out
- get over
- ward off
- shake off
Sentence Transformation:
- came down with
- broke out
- ward off
- pull through
- get over
- came down with
- shaking off
- came down with
- ward off
- get over
Explanations:
- ‘Come down with’ is used to describe the onset of an illness.
- ‘Break out’ is used when something (like a rash) appears suddenly.
- ‘Ward off’ means to prevent something unpleasant.
- ‘Pull through’ is used when someone survives a difficult situation or illness.
- ‘Get over’ means to recover from an illness or difficult experience.
- ‘Shake off’ is used when trying to get rid of an illness or negative feeling.
Memory Tips
To remember ‘come down with’, imagine someone literally coming down from good health to illness. Picture a person on top of a health mountain, then sliding down as they become ill.
Another memory aid is to think of the phrase “Down and out with illness”. The ‘down’ in this phrase can remind you of ‘come down with’.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
-
Mistake: Using ‘come up with’ instead of ‘come down with’
Correction: “I’ve come down with a cold” (not “come up with”) -
Mistake: Separating the phrasal verb
Correction: “She came down with the flu” (not “She came with the flu down”) -
Mistake: Using it with non-illness related issues
Correction: Use ‘come down with’ only for illnesses, not for other problems -
Mistake: Using it in very formal writing
Correction: In formal IELTS Writing tasks, use more academic alternatives like ‘contract’ or ‘develop’
To avoid these mistakes, practice using ‘come down with’ in context regularly. Pay attention to its usage in English media and try to incorporate it naturally in your speaking practice.
Conclusion
Mastering phrasal verbs like ‘come down with’ can significantly enhance your IELTS performance. It demonstrates a natural command of English and can help you express ideas more fluently and idiomatically. Remember to use it appropriately in context, particularly in the Speaking test and less formal writing tasks. Regular practice with this and related phrasal verbs will help you track down better scores in your IELTS journey. Don’t look down on the power of these small but impactful phrases – they can truly elevate your language skills and help you achieve your desired IELTS score.
