English Grammar

Ill and sick

In British English, ill means unwell. Ill is most common in predicative position.

• She couldn’t come because she was ill.

Before a noun, many British people prefer to use sick.

• She spent years looking after her sick husband. (NOT ... looking after her ill husband.)

Be sick can mean ‘vomit’.

• I feel sick. Where is the bathroom?

Going Deeper

For a comprehensive account of English Grammar visit our section English Grammar.