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Andrei Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
A hospital
Doctors will decide in a matter of hours whether Yasser Arafat should be taken to hospital, a spokesman for the Palestinian leader has said.
A Jordanian medical team led by Mr Arafat's personal doctor has arrived at his compound in Ramallah, and Egyptian specialists are expected shortly.
The Palestinian leader has been ill for more than a week, but his condition deteriorated markedly on Wednesday.
He has not left his compound in the West Bank town for over two years.
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If you are gravely ill, you should go to a hospital.
In the above, you will read Yasser Arafat should taken to hospital.
Why did the writer article 'a' here? It should be Arafat should be taken to a hospital.
Am I wrong?
A Jordanian medical team led by Mr Arafat's personal doctor has arrived at his compound in Ramallah, and Egyptian specialists are expected shortly.
The Palestinian leader has been ill for more than a week, but his condition deteriorated markedly on Wednesday.
He has not left his compound in the West Bank town for over two years.
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If you are gravely ill, you should go to a hospital.
In the above, you will read Yasser Arafat should taken to hospital.
Why did the writer article 'a' here? It should be Arafat should be taken to a hospital.
Am I wrong?
Top answer
'Hospital' without an article is British English, Andrei. AmE uses the article.
- 'Hospital' without an article is British English, Andrei.
- AmE uses the article.
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8 Answers
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'Hospital' without an article is British English, Andrei. AmE uses the article.
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Thanks Micawber
I have learnt to say he is in hospital if he is there as a patient. I believe this is both BrE and AmE.
So in the UK it is common to say one could go to hospital in case of a grave illness.
I have learnt to say he is in hospital if he is there as a patient. I believe this is both BrE and AmE.
So in the UK it is common to say one could go to hospital in case of a grave illness.
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'In/at/to/from/into/out of hospital'-- I see no reason why it wouldn't work with any appropriate preposition.
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"in hospital" "to hospital" - British
"in the hospital" "to the hospital" - American
"in a hospital" "to a hospital" just makes it uncertain which hospital is being referred to.
"in the hospital" "to the hospital" - American
"in a hospital" "to a hospital" just makes it uncertain which hospital is being referred to.
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I believe that "a hospital" makes the most grammatical sense, since the indefinite artical should be used when the specific hospital is not known.
That being said, where I live, in westen New York, it is common to say "the hospital".
Curiously, it is common here to exclude an article when reffering to "school" or "college".
I propose that this is because the student
That being said, where I live, in westen New York, it is common to say "the hospital".
Curiously, it is common here to exclude an article when reffering to "school" or "college".
I propose that this is because the student
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It's an interesting theory, but it doesn't explain the fact that the differences between British English and American English with regard to "in hospital" / "in the hospital" have existed since long before any of these particular healthcare systems existed.
American English is the one which is inconsistent in this respect.
in school, in church, in court, in class, in college,
American English is the one which is inconsistent in this respect.
in school, in church, in court, in class, in college,
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You make a fine point.
Your many examples appear to mark a patern though. No article is used when the person is going to participate/join, either voluntarily or involuntarily, in a community (not necessarily a building or location).
Of course, this does not explain the difference between British and American English in the case of hospital.
Do you have any other ex
Your many examples appear to mark a patern though. No article is used when the person is going to participate/join, either voluntarily or involuntarily, in a community (not necessarily a building or location).
Of course, this does not explain the difference between British and American English in the case of hospital.
Do you have any other ex
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I can't think of any at the moment, but maybe someone else can add to the list. 
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