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Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

In a jail / a prison

I have learned that in jail and in prison are a correct way of writing and I was wondering if in a jail and in a prison are also possible to use in some context or indefinite article a and an are okay to be put in front of jail and prison like a jail and a prison? What do you think?

Thank you so much as usual and have a good day.
  

Top answer

He is in jail. This is a general statement meaning broadly 'he is not free'. He is in a jail.

— Clive

  • He is in jail.
  • This is a general statement meaning broadly 'he is not free'.
  • He is in a jail.
  • This refers to jail as a place.
  • eg He is in a jail in Toronto, not a jail in Montreal.
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2 Answers
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He is in jail. This is a general statement meaning broadly 'he is not free'.

He is in a jail. This refers to jail as a place.
eg He is in a jail in Toronto, not a jail in Montreal.

Same thing with 'prison'.
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AnonymousI was wondering if in a jail and in a prison are also possible to use in some context
Yes. That would be a literal use of the words. "in jail" and "in prison" should be thought of as idioms, i.e., word combinations with a special meaning not necessarily related exactly to the literal meaning of each word in the idiom.

CJ
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