At the hospital or in the hospital

Mishy · Fri Sep 22, 2006 4:06 am *At the hospital or in the hospital*

Which preposition fits the the sentence I was visiting my sister in/at the hospital?

Zantor · Fri Sep 22, 2006 4:25 am *At the hospital or in the hospital*

They are both pretty acceptable. At the hospital suggests that you were meeting within the entire hospital grounds, where as in the hospital referrs to inside the actual building itself.

Mishy · Fri Sep 22, 2006 6:40 am *At the hospital or in the hospital*

Thanks, Zantor.

Tamara · Fri Sep 22, 2006 7:18 am *At the hospital or in the hospital*

Hi mishy

By the way, in hospital can also be used without preposition when we say generally and don't mean any particular 'building' Smile

She has been in hospital for a week.
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Yankee · Fri Sep 22, 2006 7:49 am *At the hospital or in the hospital*

Tung Quoc · Fri Sep 22, 2006 9:38 am *At the hospital or in the hospital*

Hi,

You wrote:

They are both pretty acceptable. At the hospital suggests that you were meeting within the entire hospital grounds, whereas in the hospital referrs to inside the actual building itself.

What is the differenc in meaning btw inside and within?

In my dictionary, within = inside Confused

Quoc

Zantor · Fri Sep 22, 2006 9:43 am *At the hospital or in the hospital*

I meant the difference between the actual buildings and the entire hospital grounds.

Alan · Fri Sep 22, 2006 9:47 am *Within/inside*

Hi,

Yes, in a small dictionary they would probably be regarded as synonyms.

Alan
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Conchita · Sat Sep 23, 2006 10:04 am *At the hospital or in the hospital*

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