[Grammar] Go to theater VS. Go to the theater

Status
Not open for further replies.

sky3120

Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2012
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Korean
Home Country
South Korea
Current Location
South Korea
Go to school VS. Go to the school

Go to theater VS. Go to the theater

If we are going to watch movies at a theater, should we use go to theater? And if we have something else to do at a theater, should we use go to the theater like Go to school VS. Go the the school? Or Go to the theater is an idiomatic expression and it means watch movies at a theater?
I hope to make my question clear and hear from you again. Thank you.
 

Rover_KE

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
England
'Go to school (to learn)' and 'Go to church (to worship)' are set phrases which omit the article.

In most other cases an article is needed. 'He's going to the school to pick up his daughter'. 'She's going to the church to arrange the flowers'.

I would go to the theatre (BE spelling) to watch a play and to the cinema to see a film. You cannot omit the articles.

Rover
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top