My father works in/at a bank.

[xiaoen]

1. My father works in/at a bank.
2. My father works in/at bank.
3. My father works in/at the bank.

4. My father works in/at a police station.
5. My father works in/at police station.
6. My father works in/at the police station.

Hi everybody,
I have some doubts about the bold written parts. Could you please tell me which are wrong and which are correct?

Thank you in advance.

 

[xiaoen]

Thank you. I got it.

One more thing, "at" or "in"? What's the difference between them when using with "bank"?
As far as I know "at bank" means around the bank not inside the building.

For bank, we should use "at" or "in"?

For example, suppose that we are talking about someone who works as a bank clerk and it's his permanent job.

 

[GoesStation]

For example, suppose that we are talking about someone who works as a bank clerk and it's his permanent job.

I'd say he works at​ the bank.

 

[xiaoen]

I'd say he works at​ the bank.

I have two questions:

Why did you use "at"? If the clerk isn't inside the bank building? So, why not "in"?

And why did you use article "the"? We usually use "the" when the thing is previously mentioned. But "bank" is not previously mentioned. So, why did you use"the"?

Thank you.

 

[emsr2d2]

One of the most interesting/irritating things about English is that sometimes you just have to learn or memorise particular usages.

I work at the main city hospital.
I work in an office.
He works at a bank.
She works in a shop.
She works at Walmart.
They work at the garden centre.

 

[GoesStation]

And why did you use article "the"? We usually use "the" when the thing is previously mentioned. But "bank" is not previously mentioned. So, why did you use"the"?

Emsr2d2 answered your question about the choice of prepositions. I used the definite article because I was imagining myself using the sentence and had our local bank in mind. (I live in a very small town where there was only one bank until fairly recently.) You're right though, the definite article works only if the writer has referred to a specific bank.

 

[xiaoen]

Thank you.

In what context "in" can work with "bank"?

 

[GoesStation]

In what context "in" can work with "bank"?

Some disconnected possible sentences:

"I saw Heidi in the bank yesterday."

"I just put a thousand dollars in the bank."

"Did you know a trash-can caught fire in the bank yesterday?"

Ask In what context ​can "in" [STRIKE]can[/STRIKE] work with "bank"?

 

[xiaoen]

Then it's hard to identify when to use "at" or "in" with bank.

 

[emsr2d2]

It's a case of listening to as much natural English as you can. Watch TV shows, movies, listen to English radio stations, listen to native speakers having conversations. Preposition usage is an example of the kind of thing learners find very difficult unless/until they are fully immersed in the language.

 

[xiaoen]

Thank you. Do you know a useful book that teaches the correct usage of prepositions?
or an authentic website?

 

[xiaoen]

2. My father works in/at bank.
5. My father works in/at police station.

#2 and #5 are wrong.

No article is needed before bed, church, court, hospital, prison, school, college, university, etc. when these are used for their primary purpose.
http://www.davidappleyard.com/english/articles.htm

But this blue explanation is in contrast with your answer because a bank clerk also goes to bank as a primary purpose. So no article is needed.


I got confused when I saw the blue explanation.

 

[Rover_KE]

The words 'bank' and 'police station' are not included in that list, so you need an article.

 

[GoesStation]

To make matters worse, American and British usage don't always agree. For example, Americans are in or go to the​ hospital.