HOSPITAL/THE HOSPITAL, SCOOL/THE SCHOOL, ETC. Study the following example situation:
James had an accident. He went *to hospital.* He had to stay *in hospital* for many days. I went to* the hospital* to visit him. He got very happy to see me *at the hospital.* Someone goes *to hospital* or is *in hospital* if he is ill or injured. We are not necessarily thinking of a particular hospital. If someone goes to a hospital as a visitor, then we use *the hospital, *because we mean a particular hospital (in our example the one where James is). The same occurs with other places, like *prison, school, university, college, church.* A criminal goes *to prison* (not to the prison), a child goes* to school,* a student goes *to university/college*. We do not use *the *when we are thinking of the idea of these places and what they are used for: Examples: After I leave *school*, I want to go to *university *(as a pupil). Why aren't the children at *school* today? (they are pupils) Mrs. Jones goes to *church* every Sunday. (for a religious service) Mary's brother went to* prison* for robbery. (he is a prisoner) Now study the following examples with *the:* I have to go to *the school* to meet my son's teacher. (not as a pupil) Excuse me, where is *the university?* (a particular building) The workmen went to* the church *to repair the roof. (they didn't go there for a religious service) Mary went to the prison to visit her brother. (she went there only as a visitor) --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "English Learner's Cafe" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/english_learners?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
