he gets sick

USAGE SUMMARY

"he gets sick" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
This phrase is used when you want to indicate that someone is ill. For example, "Every time it rains, he gets sick."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

And he gets sick right away, instant sickness.

Vice

When the caterpillar is greedy he gets sick.

The Guardian - Books

He gets sick and his father is forced to take him home.

The New Yorker

When he gets sick, the sequence turns feverish: 22, 11, 9, 26, 3.

The New York Times - Books

"How will I take care of the baby then, if he gets sick?" she asked.

The New Yorker

"When he gets sick of the color, he can change it," Mr. Hakakian said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

Then he got sick.

The New York Times

He got sick?

The New York Times

So he got sick.

The New York Times - Magazine

He got sick on bad seafood.

The New York Times

He was shooting until he got sick.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formally, consider more sophisticated alternatives like "he falls ill" or "he becomes unwell" instead of the more common "he gets sick".

Common error

Avoid using "he gets sick" in highly formal or academic writing. Choose a more elevated phrase to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he gets sick" functions as a verb phrase, where "gets sick" acts as the predicate describing the subject's condition. Ludwig's examples illustrate its use in describing when someone becomes ill.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "he gets sick" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a male person becoming ill. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a usable phrase in written English. While often found in news and general contexts, it may be less appropriate for formal or scientific writing where alternatives like "he falls ill" might be preferred. The phrase serves to inform about a state of health and is widely understood, with numerous examples available to illustrate its proper usage. When choosing to use the phrase, be mindful of your audience and the level of formality required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he falls ill

Replaces "gets sick" with a more formal synonym.

he experiences sickness

Offers a more general description of illness.

he becomes unwell

Substitutes "sick" with "unwell", indicating a state of poor health.

he is taken ill

Uses a more passive phrasing to indicate sudden onset of sickness.

he is afflicted with illness

Emphasizes the impact of the sickness.

he's not feeling well

Uses a more colloquial expression to express the idea of feeling sick.

he contracts a disease

Focuses on the acquisition of a specific illness.

he succumbs to sickness

Highlights a yielding to illness.

he develops an ailment

Focuses on the gradual development of a minor illness.

his health declines

Indicates a gradual deterioration of health rather than a sudden illness.

FAQs

What does "he gets sick" mean?

The phrase "he gets sick" simply means that a male person becomes ill or develops a health problem.

What can I say instead of "he gets sick"?

You can use alternatives like "he falls ill", "he becomes unwell", or "he is taken ill" to express the same idea with different wording.

Is "he gets sick" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "he gets sick" is generally considered informal. For formal writing, consider using alternatives such as "he falls ill".

What is the difference between "he gets sick" and "he got sick"?

"He gets sick" is in the present tense and describes a recurring or habitual event. "He got sick" is in the past tense and refers to a specific instance of becoming ill.