articles with kinds of shops

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Verona_82

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Hello,

I'm really confused about the usage of articles with names of different kinds of shops and places.
For example, we say

I went to the bank/post office/shops.

But do we say:

I needed a tie, so I went to a clothes shop.
I needed to book a flight, so I went to a travel agent.
I needed to do some photocopying, so I went to a photocopy shop?


It's also unclear if we always use 'the' with such shops as newsagent('s), chemist('s), baker('s) etc. I've come across sentences where they were preceded with 'a', and I 'm struggling to get the logic.

I needed some aspirins, so I went to the chemist('s) (possibly the one round the corner, or the one I always go to)
On arriving in X, we felt badly and went straight to a chemist('s). (one of the local ones)
Go to the florist('s) and buy her some flowers (a definite florist)
If you need flowers, you should go to a florist('s) (one of those available in town)

Does that make any sense?

I'd really be grateful for help.
Thank you.
 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
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Home Country
England
Current Location
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Hello,

I'm really confused about the usage of articles with names of different kinds of shops and places.
For example, we say

I went to the bank/post office/shops.

But do we say:

I needed a tie, so I went to a clothes shop.
I needed to book a flight, so I went to a travel agent.
I needed to do some photocopying, so I went to a photocopy shop?


It's also unclear if we always use 'the' with such shops as newsagent('s), chemist('s), baker('s) etc. I've come across sentences where they were preceded with 'a', and I 'm struggling to get the logic.

I needed some aspirins, so I went to the chemist('s) (possibly the one round the corner, or the one I always go to)
On arriving in X, we felt badly and went straight to a chemist('s). (one of the local ones)
Go to the florist('s) and buy her some flowers (a definite florist)
If you need flowers, you should go to a florist('s) (one of those available in town)

Does that make any sense?

I'd really be grateful for help.
Thank you.
Yes, you are right, we use the florist's/chemist's etc. if we are talking about a specific location and a florist's/chemist's if we are talking about any shop in the area.
 

Verona_82

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 15, 2010
Member Type
Other
Native Language
Russian
Home Country
Russian Federation
Current Location
Ukraine
Thank you! Should the same logic be applied to the following?

I needed a tie, so I went to a clothes shop.
I needed to book a flight, so I went to a travel agent.
I needed to do some photocopying, so I went to a photocopy shop?
 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
Thank you! Should the same logic be applied to the following?

I needed a tie, so I went to a clothes shop.
I needed to book a flight, so I went to a travel agent.
I needed to do some photocopying, so I went to a photocopy shop?
Yes.
 
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