Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[ingamike]

Please help me with prepositions. when do you use in, on, or at. for instance what is correct:
She is in the hospital or
She is at the hospital.
Thank you for your help.
Miguel

[myprofe]

She's in the hospital or She's in hospital = She's a patient.
She's at the hospital = She's in the building for some other reason.

You go to school if you are a student.
You go to the school for any other reason.

You go to bed to sleep or rest.
You go to the bed for an unspecified reason.

You go to church to pray or to attend mass.
You go to the church (the building, the place) for any other reason other than the normal activity associated with this place.

When you use the article you refer more to the place or building.
Without the article you refer to the activity associated with this place.

I may have to go to the prison some day but I hope I never have to go to prison.
_________________
I'm never going to learn if you don't correct my mistakes!

[ingamike]

Profe,
Thank you so much for your help.