Quick question for our British friends.

HistoryWes · 09-30-2011, 05:08 PM

Quick question for our British friends:

I know that you say "I've been in hospital," where we American's would say "the hospital."

Would the correct British sentence be "we need to get him to hospital"?

HarryT · 09-30-2011, 05:32 PM

Yes, that's right. We'd never say "I've got to go to THE hospital"; it would always just be "hospital". I've no idea why; just one of those things. There are other words that are used the same way, such as school, work, university, college. They all seem to be words that mean "places where you go to do something".

mr ploppy · 09-30-2011, 06:30 PM

I would say "got to get him down the hospital" or to be more precise "gorra get im daahn thee ozzy". But I would also say both "I've been in hospital" and "I've been in thee ozzy" depending on circumstances. But I would never say "I've been in ozzy" because then people might think I'd been to Australia.

HistoryWes · 09-30-2011, 08:31 PM

Thanks guys. As always, I appreciate the help.

Dr. Drib · 09-30-2011, 10:10 PM

You do it with "University," too.

American English: I'm enrolled in the University.

Don

crich70 · 10-01-2011, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

You do it with "University," too.

American English: I'm enrolled in the University.

Don

I've always thought it was, "I'm enrolled in college" here in the states though I do concede the point that many colleges are part of universities.
I remember a thread sometime back where there was a good deal of discussion about differences between America and England in terms of word choice. It was very interesting as I recall.

SmokeAndMirrors · 10-01-2011, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crich70

I've always thought it was, "I'm enrolled in college" here in the states though I do concede the point that many colleges are part of universities.
I remember a thread sometime back where there was a good deal of discussion about differences between America and England in terms of word choice. It was very interesting as I recall.

I think in America the word "university" is a bit more arbitrary. University and college are usually interchangeable, except possibly in the case of community colleges.

In the UK, "college" usually means what we would consider the latter half of high school (6th form, in the UK, typically for students 16-18 years old).

When I'm talking to my UK friends, or even my NZ friends, I tell them "I'm in university," not college. And it's phrased similarly to "going to hospital," with no "the."

Also, emergency hospital is not "ER" in the UK. It's "A&E" (Accident and Emergency).

HarryT · 10-01-2011, 04:19 AM

Do Americans not say "going to church", rather than "going to the church"?

jhempel24 · 10-01-2011, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Do Americans not say "going to church", rather than "going to the church"?

The way I see it depends on what you are doing at the location (American English that is)

"I've got to go to school" - I'm going there to use the location for it's intended purpose
"I've got to go to the school" - I'm going there for some other reason LOL.

"We're going to church" -Going there for worship or whatever
"We're going to the church" -Going there because it's the location of say a wedding

HarryT · 10-01-2011, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhempel24

The way I see it depends on what you are doing at the location (American English that is)

"I've got to go to school" - I'm going there to use the location for it's intended purpose
"I've got to go to the school" - I'm going there for some other reason LOL.

"We're going to church" -Going there for worship or whatever
"We're going to the church" -Going there because it's the location of say a wedding

That's exactly how it's done in Britain, too.

"I'm going to hospital to have an operation".

"I'm going to the hospital to visit Uncle Fred".

But if you asked me to define the "rules" which govern each usage, I'd struggle. I just know what "feels right"

.

Dr. Drib · 10-01-2011, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Do Americans not say "going to church", rather than "going to the church"?

American English makes no sense!

I was raised in the South, which has its own culture. We say "I'm going to church."

Don

ekster · 10-03-2011, 09:59 AM

Couldn't you folks just get along and stick with one version of English? You guys are making it really hard for Canadians as we have to deal with both versions every damn day.

pdurrant · 10-03-2011, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ekster

Couldn't you folks just get along and stick with one version of English? You guys are making it really hard for Canadians as we have to deal with both versions every damn day.

The solution's obvious. Have your own version!

I don't think there's ever been one version of English.

"There are nine and sixty ways of constructing tribal lays,
"And every single one of them is right!"

mr ploppy · 10-03-2011, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ekster

Couldn't you folks just get along and stick with one version of English? You guys are making it really hard for Canadians as we have to deal with both versions every damn day.

You could always use French instead.

pdurrant · 10-03-2011, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HistoryWes

Would the correct British sentence be "we need to get him to hospital"?

I think it depends on the circumstances. If it was that someone needed to be taken to any nearby hospital, it would be "to hospital". If a specific hospital had been referenced earlier, as opposed to other possible hospitals, "to the hospital" might be appropriate.

So if any hospital will do "to hospital", if a specific hospital "to the hospital".

09-30-2011, 05:08 PM	#1
HistoryWes Teacher/Novelist Posts: 632 Karma: 2274466 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Nevada Device: Nook STR, iPad	Quick question for our British friends. Quick question for our British friends: I know that you say "I've been in hospital," where we American's would say "the hospital." Would the correct British sentence be "we need to get him to hospital"?

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09-30-2011, 05:32 PM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Yes, that's right. We'd never say "I've got to go to THE hospital"; it would always just be "hospital". I've no idea why; just one of those things. There are other words that are used the same way, such as school, work, university, college. They all seem to be words that mean "places where you go to do something".

09-30-2011, 06:30 PM	#3
mr ploppy Feral Underclass Posts: 3,622 Karma: 26821535 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Yorkshire, tha noz Device: 2nd hand paperback	I would say "got to get him down the hospital" or to be more precise "gorra get im daahn thee ozzy". But I would also say both "I've been in hospital" and "I've been in thee ozzy" depending on circumstances. But I would never say "I've been in ozzy" because then people might think I'd been to Australia.

09-30-2011, 08:31 PM	#4
HistoryWes Teacher/Novelist Posts: 632 Karma: 2274466 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Nevada Device: Nook STR, iPad	Thanks guys. As always, I appreciate the help.

09-30-2011, 10:10 PM	#5
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 44,737 Karma: 55645321 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	You do it with "University," too. American English: I'm enrolled in the University. Don

10-01-2011, 04:19 AM	#8
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Do Americans not say "going to church", rather than "going to the church"?

10-03-2011, 09:59 AM	#12
ekster Currently without a title Posts: 203 Karma: 3209914 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Canada, Qc Device: Kobo Touch	Couldn't you folks just get along and stick with one version of English? You guys are making it really hard for Canadians as we have to deal with both versions every damn day.