2

When somebody is patient/sick (what is the difference?) when we see him and we want to make him feel better?

For example :

  • I hope you getting better soon.
  • I hope see you good soon..

Which one?

Any better words in such this cases?

Improve this question
1
  • Welcome to ELL.SE! If you had any questions about the workings of the site, visit the help center or take a tour of the website.
    – M.A.R.
    Commented Feb 7, 2015 at 13:05

5 Answers 5

Reset to default
3

A "patient" is a person (or animal) who is being treated for a medical (or veterinary) problem. This meaning of "patient" is a noun. There is another meaning of "patient" that is an adjective.

A person (or animal) who is "sick" has a medical (or veterinary) problem that is not merely a simple physical condition. For example, a sickness can include the effects of a disease. Simply having a broken bone (unless there is an infection) is not a "sickness". "Sick" is an adjective.

Neither of your examples is grammatically correct. The following options sound natural to my (American) ear:

  • I hope you get better soon.
  • I hope you get well soon.
  • I hope to see you soon.

As J.R. points out, "Get well soon" is an idiom. Google Images has lots of pictures of "Get well soon" greeting cards.

Improve this answer
2
  • 2
    It's worth mentioning that "Get well soon" is a standard stock phrase that's often found on greeting cards. One can type in "get well soon" or "get well soon card" into Google images and find dozens of examples.
    – J.R. ♦
    Commented Feb 7, 2015 at 13:33
  • Hey, I think you should undelete your "home / house" answer :) It just needs a little tweak (to include plurals) and then it will be very sound, easy to understand, practical advice. Very useful indeed for learners ... :)
    – Araucaria - Not here any more.
    Commented Feb 8, 2015 at 11:50
1

  1. Patient (in the sense of suffering from a disease) is used only as a noun, not an adjective, so you should say When somebody is sick or When somebody is a patient. Sick is to my mind better; patient tends to refer to the relationship between sick people and their caregivers.

  2. Hope takes two sorts of complement clause:

    • a clause with a finite (tensed) verb, optionally introduced by that:

      I hope (that) you will be getting better soon. OR
      I hope (that) you get better soon.

    • a clause with a marked infinitive (the 'marker' is to), whose subject is the same as the person hoping:

      I hope to see you well soon.

Improve this answer
1

We will say

I hope you get better soon.

Improve this answer
0

'I/we hope you get better soon.'

Or we can simply say:

'Get better soon' or 'You'll be better soon'.

You can also add:

'You're in my/our thoughts (and prayers)'.

Note that as a noun, a patient is someone seeking medical assistance. The plural form is patients.

This plural form sounds the same as the noun patience, which means tolerance toward delay or incompetence.

That the two words sound the same allows many jokes or plays on word involving the two words, such as

That doctor would have more patients if he had more patience.

In addition, the adjectival form of patience is patient which allows the following:

A patient patient is a patient (someone seeking medical help) who is patient (showing tolerance toward delay or incompetence).

Improve this answer
0

Nurses say: How are we today? (with a brilliant smile, when one is slightly recovering from near-death)

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .