Nouns-Home, Hospital, Church?

Question

What makes these nouns different? I can say:
I am going home.
but i cant say, I am going hospital or I am going church
I can say, I am going to church but I cant say, I am going to hospital
I can say, I am going to the hospital but it doesn't sound right if I say , I am going to the home.
WHY?

Answer 1

Differences in patterns are a result of common useage that is eventually accepted. Living languages are alive and growing. They also grow, shrink and change through the years.

We also say "in the house" and "at home." ..."in the factory or job" and "at work" "in the building, and "at school." These prepositions are not interchangeable in the sentences but the nouns means the same things. If you do something wrong, are you "at trouble?"

Answer 2

If you are going someplace in general, you don't need to say the.
I am going into surgery.
I am going to bed.
I am going to church.
I am going home.

If you are going to a specific place, you may say
I am going to the home of Congressman Lee.
I am going to the church where my parents were married.
I am going over to the bed to get my slippers.

The same thing happen with French and other languages.
Some verbs use "de" and some use "a" or don't use anything
at all in the phrase between words. So these phrases must be memorized by using and hearing them over and over again.

The interesting thing about English is that these may change over time. I have heard people start to say "I will see you on tomorrow" instead of "I will see you tomorrow." I can't stand that but if enough people say it that way, it may become a stand option some day. I think it is poor English, but so were other changes that are now considered valid, such as using "host" and "salvage" as verbs when these used to be nouns only.

Answer 3

you use the to describe a specific thing or an only thing/..

the sun
the moon

coz there is only one sun or moon

home is also your one and only house.


just came into my mind...