go to hospital vs. go to the hospital

[Twin]

Hi there,

could you have a look at the following sentence:
Jack is going to hospital to visit his wife.

Why is it to hospital and not to the hospital? The latter would be in line with what I know about the usage of articles before the word hospital i.e. when you are a patient you go to hospital while if you visit sb you go to the hospital.

Cheers,

[Cerberus™]

Both are correct. "To the hospital" and "in the hospital" are used in America, "to hospital" and "in hospital" in Britain (and probably Australia as well). Both may be used in either region, but this is typical usage. You are right that the omission of the article is contrary to the "normal" usage of articles, I guess it is idiom.

[Alan]

Hi Twin,

You would use 'the' when the hospital has already been mentioned as in: Fred took his wife to hospital last week and on his way to the hospital his car broke down.

Alan
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[Yuri Yurinov]

Hi,everybody,

But may I use "I go to the theatre" when I am going to be a spectator, and "to theatre' if I am a member of a troup of this theatre?
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[Alan]

Hi Yuri,

If you are visiting a theatre yo see a play, you would say: We're going to the the theatre tonight.

Alan
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[Yuri Yurinov]

Hi, Alan,

Thank you. But wnat about the second part of the question? May I say "I am going to theatre" if I am an actor who works in this very theatre?
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[Alan]

Hi Yuri,

The actor would say: I am going to the theatre. On the other hand, a surgeon would say I'm going to theatre, meaning 'operating theatre.

Alan
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[Yuri Yurinov]

Thank you, Alan.

Excuse me for my persistence but at the university I was taught once a rule that "if you are going to the place where you work or study you may drop the article". I always considered that to be wrong and the aim of my question was to get added evidence that I was right.

Yuri
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[Alan]

Hi Yuri,

This 'rule' doesn't always work, I'm afraid. You would say: I am going to school but you would also say I'm going to the office/factory.

Alan
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[Yuri Yurinov]

Thanks a lot.

Yuri
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[Subhash]

Dear Sir

I have a doubt.Pl check the below mentioned scentence
"Can you give the details on ccna course? OR
Can you give the details about ccna course?"
My question is whats the defference between ON or ABOUT,How to use it?
I expecting your reply for the same.

Regards
Subhash

[Yuri Yurinov]

Hi, Subhash. Nice to meet you.

You can post your question under another title, for example, ' difference between ON and ABOUT'. I am not too competent to answer such a question yet. But native speakers will notice your message and give you advice.

Best regards

Yuri
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[Twin]