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ESL forum >
Ask for help > I need your help...
I need your help...
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denipinheiro
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I need your help...
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Which is the correct form:
at school or in school?
If you could give me some examples...
Thanks a lot |
23 Oct 2009
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eulemrah
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it depends the context. If it is a general context we use �at �, but if it is a specific context we use in.
He is in the school now: this sentence explains a specific situation.
He larns English at school: General context.
I hope this information is going to help...
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23 Oct 2009
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priorita
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Sorry, but I think that at school is correct even in the sentence "he is at the school now". Maybe the difference can be explained in this way: if you mean the school building than it will be in. |
23 Oct 2009
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Sara Almeida
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He �s at school.
He goes to school. |
23 Oct 2009
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priorita
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yes, AT school. Always. But if you say that somebody is reparing something in the school, for instance. Why don �t native speakers respond?  |
23 Oct 2009
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RachaelHarris1
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He �s at school is more natural in British Englsih, whereas in school is more American, both refer to a pupil, if someone is exceptionally present in the building - a parent for example, then we would say �the school �. |
23 Oct 2009
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zoemorosini
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Sorry, I disagree with RachelHarris1.
a. In the United States we say "He is at school" if he �s a student, receiving an education.
b. We say "He is in the school" if he �s in the building itself, but not there to learn.
c. Finally, we say "He is in school" if he is enrolled or matriculated, but not in class at the moment.
Basically, when I teach "at," I generally explain it by saying that it communicates a kind of service being given. For example:
He is at the movies. = He is receiving the service of a film after buying a ticket.
He is at the bus stop. = He is waiting to be served by a bus.
He is at work. = He is performing a service of work.
He is at home. = He is receiving the comforts of (or being served by) his own home.
He is at school. = He is receiving an education served by others.
I will see you at 6:00/at night/at a later date. = An exception to the rule!
Mostly my Spanish speakers struggle with it, because they don �t have one word for all of these ideas.
Good luck!
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23 Oct 2009
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zambia09
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Great explanation, dear Zoe.
Thanks 
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23 Oct 2009
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denipinheiro
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Wow!
Thanks a lot!
All of You help me so much.
Kisses from Brazil  |
24 Oct 2009
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