eslHQ Home
User Name Password
Lost Password? | Join eslHQ.com, it's FREE!
View today's posts
Search Extras Help   

Reply
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Unread Sep 7th, 2012, 09:19 pm
CKC CKC is offline
eslHQ Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Aug 21st, 2012
Posts: 52
CKC is on a distinguished road
Default definite article before BUILDING

.....

Last edited by CKC : Sep 27th, 2013 at 02:11 am.
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Unread Sep 8th, 2012, 02:44 am
Sue
 
Join Date: Oct 8th, 2006
Location: Milan
Posts: 1,406
susan53 is on a distinguished road
Default Re: definite article before BUILDING

Complex place names in English which incorporate what could be a common noun (bulding, hotel, restaurant, etc) are torn between two rules. The first is that names in English don't usually have an article:

He works for Microsoft in Washington.

Following that rule you get complex place names such as :

He stayed in Queens Hotel in Acacia Road in Crystal Palace
We visited Westminster Abbey.
They're refurbishing Charing Cross Station.
She lives in Buckingham Palace.

The second that a common noun with specific reference takes the definite article :

We stayed in the best hotel in the town.

following that rule you get :

We stayed in the Clarendon Hotel in the High Street.
We visited the British Museum.
We went to the top of the Empire State Building.

Some of these nouns tend to go one way or the other, while some (like Hotel) are frequently found in both forms. All the examples I've found with "building" use the article, and I can't imagine it being used without, so I'd advise you always to use it :

We saw the Chrysler Building.
He works in the Swiss Re Building.
The Biochemistry Department is located in the Henry Wellcome Building

but I'm sure there are counter-examples out there somewhere
__________________
An ELT Notebook
The DELTA Course
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Unread Sep 8th, 2012, 11:09 pm
CKC CKC is offline
eslHQ Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Aug 21st, 2012
Posts: 52
CKC is on a distinguished road
Default Re: definite article before BUILDING

Thank you so much.

Last edited by CKC : Sep 27th, 2013 at 02:13 am.
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Unread Sep 13th, 2012, 05:58 pm
CKC CKC is offline
eslHQ Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Aug 21st, 2012
Posts: 52
CKC is on a distinguished road
Default Re: definite article before BUILDING

thanks.

Last edited by CKC : Sep 27th, 2013 at 02:13 am.
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Unread Sep 14th, 2012, 01:51 am
Sue
 
Join Date: Oct 8th, 2006
Location: Milan
Posts: 1,406
susan53 is on a distinguished road
Default Re: definite article before BUILDING

Yes to "the" and it depends to "at". "in" would often be more usual : He works in the Fung King Hey Building.

"at" is usually used for a place which is both inside and outside, and when you're being vague about exactly where the person is - eg : He works at the station. Does he work in the ticket office, or outside on the platform? Similarly at the hospital, at the university - all three places are large areas with both buildings (inside) and grounds or outside areas. But a building, by definition is generally "inside".

You might however say : I'll meet you at the Fung King Hey Building, where you're not actually specifying if you want to meet inside or outside.

For other differences in the use of "at" and "in" with institutions, see here : in or at
__________________
An ELT Notebook
The DELTA Course
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Unread Sep 15th, 2012, 08:38 pm
CKC CKC is offline
eslHQ Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Aug 21st, 2012
Posts: 52
CKC is on a distinguished road
Default Re: definite article before BUILDING

thank you very much.

Last edited by CKC : Sep 27th, 2013 at 02:15 am.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads Replies
article 1
use of the definite article 12
why no definite article? 1
Definite and Indefinite Article Game 1
The Indefinite Article 0

Find the Best TEFL, TESL, TESOL & CELTA Certification Courses - User Submitted Ratings & Reviews for Online, Distance & Abroad TEFL Courses. Over 3,500 reviews of 100+ TEFL schools!

Teach English in Thailand - Onsite and Combined TEFL certification courses in Phuket, Thailand.


Free ESL Flashcards


Similar Threads Replies
article 1
use of the definite article 12
why no definite article? 1
Definite and Indefinite Article Game 1
The Indefinite Article 0


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:53 am.

All materials from this website are for classroom-use only. Digital redistribution of materials, in part or in whole, is strictly forbidden!

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0 PL2