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Stephany Rose Anajada Dacalos Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Preposition "to"

What is the proper usage of the preposition "to"

"to airport" or "to the airport" ?

a. I would like to go to school.
or
b. I would like to go to the school.
  

Top answer

I can't find the rule, but it is instinctive. I’m going to + work, school, church, Walmart, Bob’s house. ) the bathroom, the city, the dentist, the park, the shopping centre.

— Wilpeter

  • I can't find the rule, but it is instinctive.
  • I’m going to + work, school, church, Walmart, Bob’s house.
  • ) the bathroom, the city, the dentist, the park, the shopping centre.
  • ) my brother’s house, my workplace, his girlfriend’s place, her bedroom.
  • ) This isn't a proper answer but a start on it.
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8 Answers
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I can't find the rule, but it is instinctive.
I’m going to +
work, school, church, Walmart, Bob’s house. (These are very specific and known places.)
the bathroom, the city, the dentist, the park, the shopping centre. (Less specific places, except maybe bathroom.)
my brother’s house, my workplace, his girlfriend’s place, her bedroom. (Possession is added.)

This isn't a
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Hello, Stephany Rose—and welcome to English Forums.
Stephany Rose Anajada DacalosWhat is the proper usage of the preposition "to""to airport" or "to the airport" ?
to the airport
Stephany Rose Anajada Dacalosa. I would like to go to school.or b. I would like to go to the school.
Both of those are possible. The first ref
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With most nouns you need "the" (or other determiner):

I would like to go to the airport.
I would like to go to the shops.
I would like to go to the cinema.
I would like to go to the pub.

"school" is a special case (along with a few other nouns, such as "church" and "hospital"). A full explanation of every usage possibility might become quit
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Thank you so much for your answer GPY Emotion: embarrassed

"school" is a special
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Mister MicawberBoth of those are possible. The first refers to the kind of place, so idiomatically it takes no 'the'. The second refers to a specific school.
Thank you so much Mister Micawber for your answer
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wilpeterI can't find the rule, but it is instinctive. I’m going to , school, church, Walmart, Bob’s house. (These are very specific and known places.)the bathroom, the city, the dentist, the park, the shopping centre. (Less specific places, except maybe bathroom.)my brother’s house, my workplace, his girlfriend’s place, her bedroom. (Possession is added.)This isn't a prope
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Mister MicawberOnly a few nouns don't take 'the' referring to a kind of facility: go to school, to college/university, to church, to hospital,
There is an exception for the word hospital, in American English. Americans often talk of "the hospital", even when they mean hospitals in general and not one in particular.
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AnonymousThere is an exception for the word hospital, in American English.
There are exceptions to every rule.
I am going to the hospital: depending on the situation this could mean...
I'm a nurse and on duty today at my workplace. To me, it's THE hospital.
I am going to the church:
My daughter is getting married. It isn't MY church, but the
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