A home
當home單獨用即前后不加修飾詞或短語時,不需要定冠詞:
He is at home.
他在家。
當home單獨用時,可以直接跟在具備運動意義的動詞之后,或緊隨在具備運動意義的動詞+賓語之后。換句話說,
home可以當副詞用:
He went home.
他回家了。
I arrived home after dark.
我天黑將來到家的。
但,當home之前或之后帶有修飾詞或修飾短語時,其使用方法
和其他名詞相同:
They went to their new home.
他們到自已的新家去了。
We arrived at the brides home.
大家到了新娘的家。
For some years this was the home of your queen.
曾有的年頭這里是你們王后的家。
A mud hut was the only home he had ever known.
一間小土屋就是他所了解的唯一的家。
B bed,church,court,hospital,prison,school/college/university大家去這類地方干在這類地方應該干的事時,上述詞匯的前面不需要定冠詞the。比如,we go:
to bed(to sleep or as invalids1) 上床睡覺或(患者)臥床
to church(to pray)去教堂禱告
to court(as litigants2)上法院打官司
to hospital(as patients)去醫院就診
to prison(as prisoners)進監獄坐牢
to school/college/university(to study)去學校/學院/大學念書
同樣可以說:
in bed(sleeping or resting)在床上(睡覺或休息)
at church(as worshippers)在教堂做禮拜
in court(as witnesses)在法庭作證
in hospital(as patients)生病住院
at school(as students)在學校念書
大家可以說:
be/get back/home from school/college/university從學校/大學上學回到家
leave school離校,放學回家
leave hospital出院
be released from prison出獄
假如往這類地方去是因為其他緣由,則要用定冠詞:
I went to the church to see the stained glass.
我到教堂看染色拼花玻璃窗去了。
He goes to the prison sometimes to give lectures.
他有時去監獄給囚犯演講。
C sea
go to sea(as sailors)(當水手)出海
be at sea= be on a voyage(as passengers or crew)(作為旅客或船員)坐船航行
但:
go to/be at the sea=go to/be at the seaside去/在海邊
還可以如此說:
live by/near the sea住在海邊
D work和office
work(工作地址)前不加定冠詞the:
Hes on his way to work.
他在去上班的路上。
He is at work.
他在上班。(在辦公室或工作地址)
He isnt back from work yet.
他還沒有(從辦公室)下班回來。
注意:at work也可表示working(工作):
hard at work=working hard在努力工作
Hes hard at work on a new picture.
他正在努力地畫一幅新畫。
office(工作地址)前需要加定冠詞the:
He is at/in the office.
他在辦公室。
be in office(不加the)則表示擔任一個官/公職(一般指政界職位)。
be out of office=be no longer in power不再擔任某一職務,已去職
E town
在講到主語或說話人我們的城鎮時,town前面的the可以省略:
We go to town sometimes to buy clothes.
大家有時進城去買衣服。
We were in town last Monday.
上星期一大家在城里。