When can I use (the cases) the prep. "at" in English Language instead of prep. "in"?
2007-03-11 23:18:42 · 6 answers · asked by AshOsaki 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
In your home means: Inside the actual building.
At home means: At the place where you live, or at the place you call 'home'.
So you could be at home, but in your garden.
'home' in this case does not refer to the building, but to the meaning of the place.
In hospital means you're inside the actual building. The hospital does not imply an actual function of the place.
2007-03-11 23:26:25 · answer #1 · answered by mgerben 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have always seen "in the hospital" to mean you are a patient there where as "at the hospital" is when you are visiting or working and such.
I've never seen "in home" used to describe a person being there. Think of it like home is a place, people are "at" places.
A house is a thing, people are "in" things.
2007-03-12 06:29:51 · answer #2 · answered by vospire s 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Home usually includes more than just the house. It often refers to the yard, the town, other encompassing parts of " home", but a hospital is usually just a building or a complex of buildings, not much more to be included in the location
2007-03-12 06:27:40 · answer #3 · answered by bambi 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually we use both:
"in the hospital" = you are there as a patient
"at the hospital" = there to visit a patient, or for business.
As far as "at home". That's just the way we say it.
2007-03-12 06:26:22 · answer #4 · answered by rbwtexan 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Who knows, it's just the ways these prepositions are used. There are no actual rules you can follow.
2007-03-12 06:22:57 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
each place has its own specific preposition that you should learn by your heart.
2007-03-12 06:30:55 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋