article the

[yamamoto]

Hello

I want to know if there are any differences between the sentences below regarding the article 'the'.

1) They were playing the guitars. And, they were playing guitars.

2) I am in the hospital. And I am in hospital.

Thanks in advance.

[billmcd]

Hello

I want to know if there are any differences between the sentences below regarding the article 'the'.

1) They were playing the guitars. And, they were playing guitars. Depends on context. It could be either. " Were they playing the violins? No, they were playing the guitars. I love when they play guitars."
2) I am in the hospital. And I am in hospital. In AmE we would use the article, "the".

Thanks in advance.

b.

[Raymott]

Hello

I want to know if there are any differences between the sentences below regarding the article 'the'.

1) "They were playing the guitars." and "They were playing guitars."

2) "I am in the hospital." and "I am in hospital."

Thanks in advance.

Your question needs to be as above, or:
They were playing the guitars. and They were playing guitars.
They were playing the guitars. and They were playing guitars.
They were playing the guitars. and They were playing guitars.
Or something else. But you can't put "And" in the second sentence unless you intend it to be part of the example. You must find a way to differentiate parts of your question from the examples you give. The traditional, and most popular, way is to quote examples.

If you say "They were playing the guitars", it's implied that the guitars are already identified to the hearer. For example:
"In the room, there were two guitars and two flutes." (You have now identified four instruments) "They were playing the guitars." Here, "the guitars" means "those guitars which I have identified as being in the room with the flutes".

[5jj]

In BrE, "I am in hospital" means that you are a patient. "I am in the hospital" means that you are in a particular hopital for some reason or other - perhaps you work there, or are visiting a patient.