Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[dido4]

A: My head ___________. What can I do now?
B: Let's go to the hospital.

(A) hurts
(B) got hurt
(C) gets hurt
(D) is hurt
(E) was hurt
(F) is hurting
(G) was hurting

Which of the answers is correct?

I chose A. However, I am confused that my friend told me that answers, B to G, are correct, too. Is he correct? Why?

Thanks in advance!

[Lorikeet]

Questions like this are difficult to answer, because they can depend on the "story" behind them.

A) My head hurts. What can I do now? is okay.
B) My head got hurt. In my opinion this one is possible, but not as good. It says that your head got hurt, but doesn't necessarily mean it is still sore.
C) My head gets hurt sounds like something that happens again and again. For example, "Every time I forget to duck and walk into the door, my head gets hurt" (Although "I hurt my head" sounds better.)
D) My head is hurt sounds like you just realized something happened to your head. Usually, I'd use "My head hurts" instead.
E) My head was hurt is okay for English, but to me it sounds like something happened in the past and isn't the best choice if you need to go to the hospital now.
F) My head is hurting sounds fine and it's a good choice.
G) My head was hurting sounds like it doesn't hurt any more, so why would you need to do anything?