Which is correct?

Question

Im going to church
Im going to the church

Which is correct and why?

Thanks

When i was an ESL student my vocabulary teacher told me that the correct one was going to the church.
My conversation teacher told me the correct one is going to church.

Answer 1

Both expressions are correct, BUT they mean something different!

Wthout "the" means to go there or be there to carry out the MAIN purpose of the place

"go to church" / "be in church" or "be at church": these refer to attending services. You are telling people what you are DOING, not talking about the exact location.

With "the":
"go to the church"/ "be in the church", "meet at the church", etc -- These are focusing on the specific location. You use them to tell someone you are going to the building, often for some purpose OTHER than the church's main function. ("The Rotary Club holds its meetings at the church.")

Since "the" puts the focus on the location, you will also use it if you need to explain to someone WHICH church it is you attend, but then you would add more words to explain -- "I go to the church on Mill Street"
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In fact, there are several English expressions of the same type.

Examples:
"go to prison", "be in jail" -- for someone who is placed there AS a PRISONER

But if you are going there to work or to visit you'll say "go to THE prison (or jail)"

similarly with "school" or "college" --
"My daughter will be going to college this fall."/ "My son is still in high school." -- this means they ATTEND the school or college as STUDENTS. But the plumber the school calls to fix a leak in the bathroom goes to THE high school.


Also, just as you can say "I'm going to church" or "I'm going to school" or "I went to jail", you can say "I'm going to work today." In every case you are focusing on DOING what the institution is "there for", rather than on the exact location.

Answer 2

It depends. The first one is a generalization or a church you and and the listener knows the church being talked about. The second implies a specific church, like the church on the corner or the Catholic Church. Both are correct. Oh also, it is "I'm" for "I am"

Answer 3

Both sentences are correct. It depends upon the situations. Generally, the article "THE" is used before a noun, which is very familiar, already known, superior, known fact, existing singly in the world etc. If you want say about a particular noun, you can use the article, "THE" before it. You please read THE following sentences. I like to go to church. On my way, I find a church. Now, I am going to THE church, which I find on my way. Here, the article, "the" is used before the church, which is already mentioned. Another example. I saw a boy. THE boy (he) was handsome.

Answer 4

It depends what you mean, You would normally say it without the definite article, because it's an institution, but when you mean a certain church to which you are on that particular occasion, the article is ok, but you also need a specification (the type of church, the location maybe).
So the first sentence is better, normally.

Answer 5

Well, it depends on you're religious beliefs. I will go with the Christian opinion because I think that's what you're looking for.

According to the Bible, "the church" was used to describe Jesus' followers, not a building. Today, the word "church" is usually used to describe the building His followers meet in. If you are saying that you are going to the building, then I would suggest the use of "I'm going to a church service" to prevent the misuse of the original meaning of the word. The statements listed though, in my opinion, are interchangeable.

Answer 6

Both. In the first one you're talking about the church as an institution. Just as you say you are going to school. In the second one, you are specifically talking about the church as a building or place.

Answer 7

Either one will work, depending on context. "I'm going to church" is generally used to announce the fact that you are going to a church service of some sort being held at the church you attend. "I'm going to THE church" would be used is you were going to the church building for something besides worship, such as a concert, dinner, rummage sale, or something like that. Hope this helps!

Answer 8

According to learn4good.com/ "The definite article is used before singular and plural nouns when the noun is particular or specific."

So if you want to specifiy a specific church building or worship service, you might say "I'm going to the church." But if you just want to let the person know you're going to worship, it's implied the other person already knows the specific church, you might say "I'm going to church," meaning "I'm going to Mass," or "I'm going to (service for) worship."

Proper grammar has declined in teaching, so there doesn't seem to be a standard, but there is. If you can find where James Kilpatrick's English language columns are published, read them, they're very informative.

Answer 9

I'm going to church. Every one goes to a different church. So the "the" can confuse people about which church you're talking about. When people say " The Church". they're usually referring to the Catholic Church, at least in my experiences.

Answer 10

If you are about to attend a service then you would use "Im going to church" because you are about to attend a service and most people refer to this as 'Going to church!

If you are just going to the church building for something other than a service then you would say "I am going to the church" - that pretty much self explains that you are going for reasons other than to attend services!

I hope that helps and makes sense!