John 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

• ⇒ 定冠詞の使い方
• ⇒ 不定冠詞(a, an)の使い方
• ⇒ 病名と冠詞