Misunderstandings in English grammar

Question

HiDue to the basic fact that I am not a native speaker of English, I have a few misunderstandings regarding its grammar, which I want to finally figure them out.First of all, how do I know if: He went to the home OR He went to homeHe was in the prison OR He was in prisonI mean how do I know if it "to the" or just "to"Secondly, I want to know when to correctly use "IN" and when it's have to be "AT" e.g. The people in the picture OR The people at the pictureLast, but no least, I saw that sentence in a news website:"Russia still hopes a diplomatic resolution can be found to the crisis..."Is that correct to say: "Russia still hopes for a diplomatic solution that (or which) can be found..." if not, why? Is the way that the reported wrote more poetic?Please, answer my questions even shortly.Thanks for your help!!!

Dimsumexpress · Accepted Answer

AnonymousFirst of all, how do I know if: He went to the home OR He ~~went to~~ home
No, both were incorrect. Just say: "he went home"

He was in the prison OR He was in prison

I mean how do I know if it "to the" or just "to"

Secondly, I want to know when to correctly use "IN" and when it's have to be "AT" e.g. The people in the picture ~~OR The people at the picture~~

Last, but no least, I saw that sentence in a news website:

"Russia still hopes a diplomatic resolution can be found to the crisis..."

Is that correct to say: "Russia still hopes for a diplomatic solution that (or which) can be found..." if not, why? Is the way that the reported wrote more poetic?

Russia remains hopeful that a diplomatic solution will be found.

Please, answer my questions even shortly.

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks, but I meant if you can give me the rules for writing correctly in the cases I wrote.

I mean - when to write "in the..." and when just "in...". The words "prison" and "home" were just examples, which emphasizes my meaning.

I do all within my power to imrove my knowledge in English, so sometimes grammar rules are wonderful ways to do it.

If there are no rules to the examples I gave, could you tell me please how I can know the correct use in those cases - the correct writing. For someone who is not a native speaker of English, it is quite difficult to know the little nuances, such as: he went home, and not he went to home...

That's why I chose this site to ask in - a English grammar forum for questions about those subjects.

SO IF THERE ARE ANY RULES FOR WHAT I MENTIONED BEFORE THIS POST, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

THANKS FOR ANSWERING

CalifJim · Answer

The use of home is very idiomatic. That is, it has rules that apply only to the word home.

First, there is no "went to home". That's not right. It's "He went home". This is used to say that he went to his own home.

Second, it is strange to say "went to the home". That is said only in special circumstances.
1. Suppose a realtor is the agent for selling a particular home and you are aware that he is employed in that way. You may ask where the realtor went, and you may receive the answer, "He went to the home", meaning to the home that he is selling.
2. There are homes for elderly people. These are sometimes called nursing homes. If someone works at such a home, or if someone lives at such a home, you may hear, "He went to the home" to mean that he went to the nursing home.
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AnonymousHe was in the prison OR He was in prison

When a person is in prison, he is kept locked in his cell for a crime he has committed.

If a person visits someone in prison, that visitor is in the prison while visiting. He is not in prison.
If a person works as a guard there, he is in the prison during his working hours. He is not in prison.
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AnonymousThe people in the picture OR The people at the picture

It's always in, not at, for pictures. The people are in the picture.
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Anonymous"Russia still hopes a diplomatic resolution can be found to the crisis..."

Is that correct to say: "Russia still hopes for a diplomatic solution that (or which) can be found..." if not, why? Is the way that the reported wrote more poetic?

Yes, you can often find many different ways to say the same thing.

Russia still hopes that a diplomatic solution can be found.
Russia still hopes that someone can find a diplomatic solution.
Russia still hopes for a diplomatic solution to be found.

The way it was reported is not more poetic, but it has the advantage of using fewer words.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you very much!

You clarified your things, so they became much easier to understand.

Keep it UP!!!

Could you please give me a website which teaches those things even more, for begginers or for people who are not native speakers? I mean exactly those little nuances you mentioned, that for you it's easy and obvious, but you have to know - and I don't accuse you - that in other languages this is not exist.

In my language there is no difference between "in the prison" or "in prison", "he worked at his friend's office" or "he worked in his friend's office".

Therefore a good website which teaches that will be a wonderful way to promote my knowledge in English and in English grammar.

Thank you again!!!

Misunderstandings in English grammar

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