Foo - Why is hospital some sometimes not preceded by the articles the or a?

Any English experts out there?

Why is hospital some sometimes not preceded by the articles the or a? Most people that speak British English would say "I was taken to hospital", instead of "I was taken to a hospital" or "I was taken to the hospital". But I have been noticing a log of Americans dropping the article too. Is there any reason for dropping the article, other than laziness?

I also find it interesting that most people would say "I was taken to the hospital" or "I need to go to the store", as if there is only one.

OK language professors, weigh in. :)

I blame the Brits.

Lime flavored conspiracy!

I had to read the title of this thread several times to get the gist of what it's about.

The Brits can't spell either.
A "u" in color, for shame.

And they call truck lorries and the sidewalk is a the pavement and potato chips are crisps and you won't believe what they call a pack of smokes.

what do they call a pack of cigarettes?

what do they call a pack of cigarettes?

A pride parade?


They call a cigarette a f  aggot, seriously.

Going on holiday?

Drive your soddin' lorry to hospital, arse about on the pavement while sucking on a ***, then take the lift up to the vend, drop some brass and Bob's your uncle! Enjoy an ace bag of crisps, but don't bite y'arm off.

I will give the Brits top score for creative name calling. I have a friend who called a shop keeper here "an old battle axe" after receiving very poor service. She has also referred to me as both an anorak and a big girl's blouse. I am quite sure neither were meant as compliments.

Just don't ask for chips and salsa if you go to there.

Just don't ask for chips and salsa if you go to there.

Else you might end up in hospital whilst on holiday?

The English don't articles before nouns. The Canadians and Australians haven't had the time to move away from that.

There's another sad trend afoot in Pennsylvania. Illustrating the phenomenon will be clearer than attempting to describe it. The lazy folks say things like:

"My car needs fixed."
"The floor needs waxed."
"This bottle needs opened."

To which I often feel like replying: "Your butt needs kicked".

There's another sad trend afoot in Pennsylvania. Illustrating the phenomenon will be clearer than attempting to describe it. The lazy folks say things like:

"My car needs fixed."
"The floor needs waxed."
"This bottle needs opened."

To which I often feel like replying: "Your butt needs kicked".

are you serious? That's just awful!!!

There's another sad trend afoot in Pennsylvania. Illustrating the phenomenon will be clearer than attempting to describe it. The lazy folks say things like:

"My car needs fixed."
"The floor needs waxed."
"This bottle needs opened."There's only one prescription for this.

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/6445/hibbert.jpg

are you serious? That's just awful!!!

I am absolutely serious. I really have to restrain myself when I hear this nonsense.

are you serious? That's just awful!!!
Correct. This is how it should be said.

There's another sad trend afoot in Pennsylvania. Illustrating the phenomenon will be clearer than attempting to describe it. The lazy folks say things like:

"My car needs fixin'."
"The floor needs waxin'."
"This bottle needs openin'."

To which I often feel like replying: "Your butt needs kickin'."

In truth, the English are more consistent with their article use than American English speakers. We might say, "He went to the hospital," and,"She went to college." The English would say, "He went to hospital," and, "She went to college."

I hate the lack of article thing...must be my American blood asserting itself over my Canadian blood.

Take off, eh?

In truth, the English are more consistent with their article use than American English speakers. We might say, "He went to the hospital," and,"She went to college." The English would say, "He went to hospital," and, "She went to college."


I am shocked that the English are more consistent with English.

I am shocked that the English are more consistent with English.

To be fair, that is with their written English. Who know's what the hell they actually say. :P

I also find it interesting that most people would say "I was taken to the hospital" or "I need to go to the store", as if there is only one.

OK language professors, weigh in. :)

I imagine people do this because, in their mind, they are thinking about the store or hospital they regularly visit. Another explanation may be simply that stores and hospitals are often fungible, i.e. I can go to any store around me and get what I need (generally).

I don't know about your other question. My girlfriend drops the infinitive marker sometimes. She is from South Africa, so she speaks British English (that's kind of redundant . . .). For example, she says "I'll try remember that." I have no idea how it developed though.

To be fair, that is with their written English. Who know's what the hell they actually say. :PThis is so not the thread for such things.

This is so not the thread for such things.

Thanks for pointing out my grammaticular error. :P

In truth, the English are more consistent with their article use than American English speakers. We might say, "He went to the hospital," and,"She went to college." The English would say, "He went to hospital," and, "She went to college."


Not exactly. In America, "She went to college," means she is attending the school. The verb (phrase) is "go to college". If she wasn't attending the school and the verb in the sentence was simply "go" and the destination was a/the college, we would say "she went to a/the college."

Not exactly. In America, "She went to college," means she is attending the school. The verb (phrase) is "go to college". If she wasn't attending the school and the verb in the sentence was simply "go" and the destination was a/the college, we would say "she went to a/the college."

If your friend has a medical emergency, they go to the hospital. If they're just going as a destination, they go to the hospital. It's still an inconsistent use. Same with university or any other destination. For some reason, college is different.

Your mother goes to college

There's another sad trend afoot in Pennsylvania. Illustrating the phenomenon will be clearer than attempting to describe it. The lazy folks say things like:

"My car needs fixed."
"The floor needs waxed."
"This bottle needs opened."

To which I often feel like replying: "Your butt needs kicked".


Could this be influenced by "pennsylvania dutch english" (which of course has nothing to do with dutch)?

Could this be influenced by "pennsylvania dutch english" (which of course has nothing to do with dutch)?

I think it's more likely the result of living so close to the Appalachain Trail.

I've noticed some people adding in "the" before a highway/freeway number.

"...then you get onto the 101, then exit at..."

Seems odd to me.

I've noticed some people adding in "the" before a highway/freeway number.

"...then you get onto the 101, then exit at..."

Seems odd to me.

That's a Los Angeles construct. The traffic reporters on KNX are responsible.

I've noticed some people adding in "the" before a highway/freeway number.

"...then you get onto the 101, then exit at..."

Seems odd to me.A previous boss came to the conclusion that it's a northern/southern California thing.

He'd moved here from the LA area, and noticed that most people say "80," "50," "5," etc. up here, whereas people down south said "the 5," "the 210," "the Grapevine," etc.

I'd never thought about it before, but now I catch myself saying "the" sometimes. Argh.

That's a Los Angeles construct. The traffic reporters on KNX are responsible.Well there you go.

*shakes fist at LA*

I think the use of "the" before freeway number in Los Angeles is because all of the freeways there used to be identified by their names, not their interstate numbers. The Hollywood freeway, the Santa Ana freeway, the Ventura freeway (all of which are interstate 101), the Santa Monica freeway, the San Bernardino freeway (both of which are interstate 10), etc. So when using the numbers started to become more common, people still kept the "the" on there out of habit.

There's only one prescription for this.

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/6445/hibbert.jpg

This!

Couch

I think it's more likely the result of living so close to the Appalachain Trail.

I read in a book called "The Story of English" that this is where you could find the most accurate Elizabethan English (ie what Shakespeare spoke).

I read in a book called "The Story of English" that this is where you could find the most accurate Elizabethan English (ie what Shakespeare spoke).

I have read that if one records a Southern drawl and speeds it up, it sounds like proper English.

And then there is the latest in fast food talk.

"What to drink"? instead of "What would you like to drink"?

I guess the later takes too much time. :)