is he ill

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is he ill" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when inquiring about someone's health or well-being, typically in a context where the speaker is concerned about the person's condition. Example: "I haven't seen Mark in a while; is he ill?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Is he ill?

The New York Times

"Is he ill?" asked the councillor.

The Guardian - Opinion

Is he ill?' And that gives you a bit more spark".

The Guardian - Sport

(pause) "Is he ill?" I hang up the phone having both failed to deliver the heart-to-heart my mother craves, and having proved myself a Bad Parent in her eyes.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

But is he mentally ill?

The Guardian - Books

"The answer is he was severely mentally ill".

Vice

Aba Zillah nurses her ex-husband when he is ill, he dies.

The New Yorker

Never was he charged with being mentally ill.

Huffington Post

He was ill, he was tired, and, he said, "My brain was scrambled".

The New York Times

"He is really ill," he said.

The Guardian

When he was ill he could not work.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When inquiring about someone's health, consider the context and relationship with the person. Using "is he ill" is suitable in many situations, but other phrases like "is he feeling okay?" might be more appropriate in informal settings.

Common error

Avoid using "is he ill" if you already know the person has a minor ailment like a cold. A more general question such as "how is he feeling?" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is he ill" functions primarily as an interrogative clause, used to inquire about someone's health. As Ludwig AI underlines, this construction frames a question seeking information on whether a specific individual is experiencing illness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Unknown

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is he ill" serves as a grammatically correct and direct way to inquire about someone's health, especially when there's reason to suspect they might be unwell. Ludwig indicates that it's most commonly found in news and media contexts, often used to report on the health status of individuals. While simple and straightforward, it's essential to consider the context and relationship with the person when choosing this phrase. Alternatives like "is he sick" or "is he unwell" can offer subtle variations in tone or formality. The most important thing, as the sources demonstrate, is to ask with genuine concern and consideration for the individual's well-being.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is he sick

Replaces "ill" with a more common synonym "sick".

is he unwell

Substitutes "ill" with "unwell", providing a slightly more formal tone.

does he feel well

Inquires about well-being directly, rather than assuming illness.

is he not feeling well

Expresses concern by implying a negative state of health.

is he under the weather

Uses an idiom to ask about a mild illness or discomfort.

has he been feeling poorly

Asks about a prolonged state of feeling unwell.

is his health failing

Inquires about a serious or declining state of health.

is he in good health

Poses a direct question about the person's health status.

is he suffering from something

Implies that he might have an underlying ailment.

is he healthy

Asks directly about the subject's state of health.

FAQs

How can I ask about someone's health more directly?

You can use phrases like "Is he healthy?" or "Is he feeling okay?" as a more straightforward way to inquire about someone's well-being.

What is a more formal way to ask "is he ill"?

A more formal approach would be, "Is he unwell?" or "Is he not feeling well?".

What does it mean to say someone is "under the weather"?

Saying someone is "under the weather" is an idiom that means they are feeling slightly ill or unwell. It's a milder way of saying "is he ill".

Which is correct, "is he ill" or "he is ill"?

"Is he ill?" is a question, while "He is ill" is a statement. The correct form depends on whether you are asking a question or making an assertion.