見出し1John is sick in the hospital.

・前置詞"at"、"in"、"on"、"to"の目的語に学校・教会・病院などの場所を表す名詞がなり、前置詞句が具体的な場所を示すのではなく、抽象的な意味を表して本来の目的や機能を示す場合、冠詞が付かない。しかし、"university"と"hospital"には"the"が付く。

[正]John is sick in the hospital.
[誤]John is sick in hospital.
[正]Mary got sick and went to the hospital.
[誤]Mary got sick and went to hospital.
[正]My youngest son is at the university.
[誤]My youngest son is at university.
[正]We didn't see you at church this morning.

・イギリス英語においては、"university"と"hospital"にも"the"は付かない。

[誤]John is ill in the hospital.
[英]John is ill in hospital.
[誤]Mary became ill and went to the hospital.
[英]Mary became ill and went to hospital.
[誤]My youngest son is at the university.
[英]My youngest son is at university.
[英]We didn't see you at church this morning.

John is sick in the hospital.の関連項目