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Tmn111 Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

At the doctor's

Hi, is it correct to say:

I was at the doctor's yesterday. (I mean I went to the doctor for some advice because I didn't feel well).

or

do I have to say:

I went to the doctor.

What I want to know is whether these two sentences can be used as "to get some advice"

or the first one only implies that for example: "I was at the doctor's yesterday when my phone rang".
  

Top answer

If you went there for advice/treatment then you would normally say "I went to see the doctor yesterday" or "I went to the doctor's yesterday". However, "I was at the doctor's yesterday" does not exclude the possibility that you went there for advice/treatment. You might, for example, say this if you wanted to explain your whereabouts yesterday.

— Mr Wordy

  • If you went there for advice/treatment then you would normally say "I went to see the doctor yesterday" or "I went to the doctor's yesterday".
  • However, "I was at the doctor's yesterday" does not exclude the possibility that you went there for advice/treatment.
  • You might, for example, say this if you wanted to explain your whereabouts yesterday.
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5 Answers
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If you went there for advice/treatment then you would normally say "I went to see the doctor yesterday" or "I went to the doctor's yesterday".

However, "I was at the doctor's yesterday" does not exclude the possibility that you went there for advice/treatment. You might, for example, say this if you wanted to explain your whereabouts yesterday.
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Is it possible to use interchangeably:

I was at the doctor's office for check-up

I went to the doctor for check-up/

Do both mean the same?

Thanks
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People use them interchangeably. No problem. But you must use the article, "for a checkup," or a pronoun, "for my check-up."

Technically, you may go to the doctor's office and be treated by the staff - especially in a "clinic." Perhaps you only need x-rays, or to have your blood pressure checked, or to have a dressing changed.
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They mean the same as far as informal, non-technical communication is concerned.

However:

"I was at the doctor's office for a check-up" doesn't necessarily mean that the doctor gave you the check up - perhaps a nurse gave you a check up at the doctor's office. You also may have gone to the doctor's office for a check-up, but the office was closed, therefore you didn't r
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This is the logic:

If one goes to a doctor, he is thought to be either feeling ill/ unwell. . It's understood.

When he has other reasons that he must go to the doctor for, then the reason needs clarification,

"for a check up", for a consultation etc.
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