Blog about English
Usage with home, hospital, prison, school, work, church, sea, town
Usually "home" doesn't require any articles
Honey, I'm home!
Милая, я дома
I arrived home late yesterday
Вчера я добрался домой поздно
I am going home after work.
Я иду домой после работы.
Home is used without an article after go, come, get, and similar verbs when it means the place where someone lives.
I'm at home so you can come by
Я уже дома, поэтому ты можешь заскочить
She stayed home because she was sick.
Она осталась дома, потому что была больна.
Stay home is a common American English expression with zero article.
He felt unwell so I sent him home
Он плохо себя чувствовал, поэтому я отправил его домой
The Vatican is the Pope's home
Ватикан - это дом Папы Римского
What time are you coming home?
Во сколько ты придешь домой?
Come home uses home without an article.
The kids got home late last night.
Дети вернулись домой поздно вчера вечером.
Get home uses home without an article.
He went home early because he had a headache.
Он пошел домой пораньше, потому что у него болела голова.
Go home refers to returning to one’s home and takes no article.
We usually eat dinner at home on weekdays.
По будням мы обычно ужинаем дома.
At home is a fixed expression with zero article.
After the concert, everyone wanted to go home.
После концерта все хотели пойти домой.
Home has no article because it refers to the speaker’s or listener’s own home destination.
The storm was getting worse, so we decided to stay home for the night.
Шторм усиливался, поэтому мы решили остаться дома на ночь.
Stay home is used without an article in ordinary American English.
If "home" is proceeded or followed by a descriptive word or phrase it is treated like any other noun
After making the down payment they finally moved into their new home
После внесения начального платежа, они наконец-то въехали в свой новый дом
Our history begins at the broom's home
Наша история начинается у жениха дома
We visited the home of my old friend.
Мы посетили дом моего старого друга.
The noun home takes the when it is followed by a phrase identifying the specific home.
The home we bought last year is near the lake.
Дом, который мы купили в прошлом году, находится рядом с озером.
The relative clause identifies the specific home.
Kyiv is the only home I've known. And I'm kind of proud of it
Киев - это мой единственный дом. И я горжусь этим
They renovated the home on Maple Street.
Они отремонтировали дом на Мейпл-стрит.
The phrase on Maple Street identifies which home is meant.
The home near the park has a large backyard.
У дома возле парка большой задний двор.
The is used because the following phrase makes the reference specific.
She returned to the home she had grown up in.
Она вернулась в дом, в котором выросла.
The relative clause identifies a particular home.
The home of the team owner was featured in a magazine.
Дом владельца команды показали в журнале.
The of-phrase specifies which home is being discussed.
After the fire, the home on the corner had to be rebuilt.
После пожара дом на углу пришлось перестроить.
The identifying phrase makes the noun definite.
The home that the couple designed themselves is now worth millions of dollars.
Дом, который супруги спроектировали сами, теперь стоит миллионы долларов.
The noun is definite because the relative clause identifies one particular home.
Public institution and bed if used for their primary purpose don't require any article
to go to bed / to be in bed = to sleep or to rest, to go to church / to be at church = to go there to prey or to listen to a sermon, to go to the hospital / to be in the hospital = to be there as patients, to go to prison / jail / to be in prison / jail = to serve the term, to go to court / to be in court = to be as a witness or a litigant, to go to class / school / college / university = to study there as a student
The kids go to school every weekday.
Дети ходят в школу каждый будний день.
School has zero article when the person is there for its primary educational purpose.
She is in bed already.
Она уже в постели.
In bed means resting or sleeping and normally has zero article.
He is in the hospital after the accident.
После аварии он находится в больнице.
In American English, hospital normally takes the article even when referring to someone as a patient.
She went to church on Sunday.
Она ходила в церковь в воскресенье.
Go to church can have zero article when the purpose is worship.
He is in prison for robbery.
Он находится в тюрьме за ограбление.
Prison can occur without an article when the person is there as an inmate.
She went to court to testify.
Она пошла в суд давать показания.
Court can be used without an article when someone is there in their role in a legal proceeding.
The students go to class at eight every morning.
Студенты ходят на занятия каждое утро в восемь.
Go to class refers to attending a class for its normal purpose.
He went to college in Texas before moving to New York.
Он учился в колледже в Техасе, прежде чем переехать в Нью-Йорк.
College can be used without an article when referring to higher education as an institution or activity.
If these institutions are visited or used for some other reasons, "the" is necessary
Mikhail Krug visited the prison several times, but he himself has never been to prison
Михаил Круг посещал тюрьму несколько раз, хотя сам он ни разу не сидел
Владимирский централ, ветер северный
I went to the church to see its famous stained glass which dates back to the 15th century
Я посетил церковь, чтобы увидить её выдающиеся витражи, датируемые XV веком
I went to the school to talk to the principal.
Я пошел в школу поговорить с директором.
The school refers to the specific building or institution rather than the activity of being a student.
She visited the hospital to see her friend.
Она пришла в больницу навестить подругу.
The hospital refers to a specific building or institution.
He went to the church to take photographs.
Он пошел в церковь фотографировать.
The church refers to a particular building rather than the purpose of worship.
The lawyer went to the court to review the documents.
Адвокат пошел в суд изучить документы.
The court refers to a specific court building or institution.
The parents went to the school for a meeting.
Родители пошли в школу на собрание.
The school refers to the specific institution and not the activity of studying there.
She went to the hospital to visit her brother.
Она пошла в больницу навестить брата.
The hospital refers to the specific hospital being visited.
The teacher returned to the classroom after lunch.
Учитель вернулся в класс после обеда.
The classroom identifies a particular room rather than a general educational purpose.
He stopped by the prison to meet the attorney handling the case.
Он заехал в тюрьму, чтобы встретиться с адвокатом, который вел дело.
The prison refers to the specific institution being visited.
W/o any article it means to be on a ship. To go to see = to be a sailor To be at see = to be on a ship as a passenger or a member of the crew
After months at sea, the crew finally returned home.
После нескольких месяцев в море команда наконец вернулась домой.
At sea is a fixed expression meaning on a ship.
He has spent most of his career at sea.
Он провел большую часть своей карьеры в море.
At sea refers to being on a ship rather than being at the seaside.
The sailors were at sea for three weeks.
Моряки были в море три недели.
At sea is used without an article in this occupational meaning.
The captain spent twenty years at sea.
Капитан провел двадцать лет в море.
The expression refers to life and work aboard ships.
The fishing boat was at sea when the storm arrived.
Рыболовное судно было в море, когда начался шторм.
At sea means away from shore on a vessel.
She hopes to work at sea after graduating from the maritime academy.
Она надеется работать в море после окончания морской академии.
At sea is used for a career or period spent aboard ships.
The crew remained at sea until the damaged engine was repaired.
Экипаж оставался в море, пока поврежденный двигатель не отремонтировали.
At sea describes the vessel’s location away from land.
After a decade at sea, he decided to take a job on land.
После десяти лет в море он решил устроиться на работу на суше.
At sea contrasts with on land and refers to a maritime career.
When we are near some of the institutions, use the indefinite article
There is a school near my apartment.
Рядом с моей квартирой есть школа.
A school introduces one school as a non-specific institution or building.
We found a hospital on the other side of town.
Мы нашли больницу на другом конце города.
A hospital introduces one non-specific hospital.
There is a church at the end of the street.
В конце улицы есть церковь.
A church introduces one church without identifying it further.
We passed a prison on our way downtown.
По дороге в центр мы проехали мимо тюрьмы.
A prison refers to one institution as a physical building or location.
She wants to find a college with a strong engineering program.
Она хочет найти колледж с сильной инженерной программой.
A college introduces one possible institution from a larger set.
There is a court complex downtown.
В центре города есть комплекс зданий суда.
A court introduces one court as a physical institution or location.
The town built a new hospital to serve the growing population.
Город построил новую больницу для обслуживания растущего населения.
A introduces the hospital as a newly established institution.
They are planning to build a larger school in the fastest-growing part of the county.
Они планируют построить более крупную школу в самой быстро развивающейся части округа.
A presents one possible institution that has not previously been identified.
To go to the sea / to be at the sea / to live by the sea means to be at the seaside
We spent the afternoon at the sea.
Мы провели день у моря.
The sea refers to the seaside or shore area rather than being on a ship.
They live by the sea.
Они живут у моря.
By the sea means near the coast.
We walked along the sea at sunset.
Мы гуляли у моря на закате.
The sea refers to the coastal environment.
Their house is close to the sea.
Их дом находится недалеко от моря.
The is required in the expression the sea when referring to the coast.
We rented a house by the sea for the weekend.
Мы сняли дом у моря на выходные.
The sea refers to the seaside location.
The town developed around its location by the sea.
Город развивался благодаря своему расположению у моря.
By the sea refers to a coastal location.
After years of living inland, they moved to a house by the sea.
После многих лет жизни вдали от побережья они переехали в дом у моря.
The sea contrasts with inland and refers to the coastal area.
Tourists often gather near the sea to watch the sunset.
Туристы часто собираются у моря, чтобы посмотреть на закат.
The expression refers to the coastline or seaside.
When talking about a specific town or location within the town the definite article is required
The town has a new library.
В городе есть новая библиотека.
The town refers to a specific town already identifiable from context.
The town where I grew up is very quiet.
Город, где я вырос, очень тихий.
The relative clause identifies the specific town.
We drove through the town before reaching the highway.
Мы проехали через город перед тем, как выехать на шоссе.
The identifies the particular town in the situation.
The town center was crowded on Saturday.
Центр города был переполнен в субботу.
The town identifies the specific town being discussed.
The town has changed dramatically since the new factory opened.
Город сильно изменился с тех пор, как открылась новая фабрика.
The refers to the town known from the context.
The town near the border attracts many tourists in the summer.
Город возле границы привлекает много туристов летом.
The phrase near the border identifies which town is meant.
The town officials approved the redevelopment plan last night.
Городские власти одобрили план реконструкции прошлой ночью.
The town identifies the specific community whose officials are being discussed.
The town that once depended on mining is now a center for outdoor tourism.
Город, который когда-то зависел от добычи полезных ископаемых, теперь является центром туризма на природе.
The relative clause makes the noun specifically identifiable.
"Town" can be used w/o any articles when it is the nearest to the speaker town
She lives in a small town near the mountains.
Она живет в небольшом городе возле гор.
The noun town can be countable and take a/an when introducing a particular town; zero article is not used here.
I am going into town to buy some groceries.
Я иду в город за продуктами.
Go into town can use zero article when town means the nearby or main town in the local area.
He went to town after work.
После работы он поехал в город.
Go to town can mean to go to the nearest town or local commercial center.
The kids went into town for pizza.
Дети поехали в город за пиццей.
Zero article is possible when town means the local town center.
There is a mall in town.
В городе есть торговый центр.
In town means in the local town or town center.
We usually go into town on Saturday morning.
Обычно мы ездим в город в субботу утром.
The expression go into town uses zero article in this local sense.
After moving to the suburbs, they still drive into town for work.
После переезда в пригород они все равно ездят в город на работу.
Here town refers to the nearby urban center rather than a specific named town.
The apartment is outside town, but the nearest shopping center is only ten minutes away.
Квартира находится за городом, но ближайший торговый центр всего в десяти минутах.
Outside town is a fixed local expression with zero article.
"Work" in the meaning of "job" or "employment" doesn't need any article
I am at work right now.
Я сейчас на работе.
Work takes zero article when it means one’s job or place of employment.
She goes to work at eight.
Она идет на работу в восемь.
Go to work is a fixed expression with zero article.
He left work early yesterday.
Вчера он ушел с работы пораньше.
Leave work means leave one’s workplace or job activity.
I have to finish some work before dinner.
Мне нужно закончить работу до ужина.
Work can be an uncountable noun meaning tasks or employment-related activity.
She has been looking for work since January.
Она ищет работу с января.
Look for work means look for employment and uses zero article.
He stayed late at work to finish the report.
Он задержался на работе, чтобы закончить отчет.
At work refers to being at one’s workplace.
After college, she moved to Seattle to find work in technology.
После колледжа она переехала в Сиэтл, чтобы найти работу в сфере технологий.
Find work means find employment.
The company expects employees to return to work after the holiday weekend.
Компания ожидает, что сотрудники вернутся на работу после праздничных выходных.
Return to work uses zero article because work refers to employment.
"Work" in the meaning of "a specific piece of art, literature, or project" requires an article requires the definite article
The work of the artist is displayed in the museum.
Работы художника выставлены в музее.
The work refers to a specific body of artistic work.
The work on the bridge will continue next week.
Работы на мосту продолжатся на следующей неделе.
The phrase on the bridge identifies the specific work being discussed.
The work we completed yesterday was approved this morning.
Работу, которую мы завершили вчера, утвердили сегодня утром.
The relative clause identifies specific work.
The work of Shakespeare is still widely studied.
Творчество Шекспира до сих пор широко изучается.
The work refers to the specific body of literary works.
The work on the new software release is almost finished.
Работа над новой версией программного обеспечения почти завершена.
The identifies a particular project or body of work.
The work of the committee led to several changes in the policy.
Работа комитета привела к нескольким изменениям в политике.
The work refers to a specific set of activities carried out by the committee.
Critics have debated the work that established the author’s reputation.
Критики обсуждают произведение, которое создало автору репутацию.
The relative clause identifies the specific work.
The work produced during the artist’s final decade is considered especially influential.
Работы, созданные в последнее десятилетие жизни художника, считаются особенно влиятельными.
The identifies a specific body of creative work.
"to be in office" means to hold an official, usually political, position. "to be out of office" means to be no longer in power
The president is in office for four years.
Президент находится у власти четыре года.
In office refers to holding an official political position.
The governor is still in office.
Губернатор все еще находится у власти.
In office means still holding the official position.
He has been out of office since the election.
После выборов он больше не занимает должность.
Out of office means no longer holding political or official power.
The mayor has been in office since 2024.
Мэр находится у власти с 2024 года.
In office describes the period during which the official holds the position.
The senator left office after losing the election.
Сенатор покинул должность после проигрыша на выборах.
Leave office means leave an official position.
She remained in office despite criticism from members of her party.
Она осталась на посту, несмотря на критику со стороны членов своей партии.
In office emphasizes continuation in the official position.
The president served two terms before leaving office.
Президент отработал два срока, прежде чем покинуть должность.
Leaving office means ending the period of service in the position.
A change in leadership is expected once the current administration leaves office.
После ухода нынешней администрации с должностей ожидаются изменения в руководстве.
Office refers to the official positions collectively, not a physical room.