Prepositions are some of the most complicated parts of English learning. As we get deeper into the language, we can see how those little words can change the whole context of what we want to say. The same sentence can change its meaning if we don’t use the correct preposition.
We usually learn how to use each of the prepositions in a general way, but the truth is there are so many variations we are likely to make mistakes. That is why it is essential to learn some specific cases that are commonly used and can be very important when communicating!
Below you will find some common examples of how the same word can vary depending on the article and the preposition we use:
If we say, for example, “he is still in school,” we could be talking about someone that is still a student.
If we use “at” instead of “in” and say “he is still at school” we are talking about someone that hasn’t come back from school yet. That means he is physically at the school building.
This can also change depending on where we are. That is why we will help you with some examples of the correct use of prepositions and articles when using the noun “school”. Stick with us and don't miss any detail!
American English
The word “school” is often used by Americans to refer to each educational institution type. That means it could be a primary or secondary school but also a college or university, unlike the British, for whom the school is a pre-university institute.
Now, with that in mind, we can see what the differences for Americans are between being ‘at school’, ‘at a school’, ‘at the school’ or ‘in school’.
Generally the preposition ‘in' refers to being within enclosed or open spaces with set boundaries or a specific geographic location. However, as mentioned before, there are lots of particular cases in which this preposition doesn’t follow the rules.
For Americans, the expression of being ‘in school’ means that someone is still studying, not at that particular time but at that time in their life.
For instance:
“My husband does not work because he is still in school”
This doesn’t mean the husband is physically at school at that moment, but currently studying to obtain, for example, a future degree or diploma and therefore cannot dedicate his time to work.
We can also use ‘in school’ in questions to know if someone is currently studying: “Are you in school?”
Other valid ways to the same question would be: “do you go to school?” or “do you attend school?”
In American English, the expression ‘being at school’ has a different meaning than all we have said before. When someone ‘is at school’, it means they are physically in the facilities of the educational institution, which could be either a school or a university, or a college.
For example:
“My husband hasn’t been able to pick me up yet because he is still at school.”
This doesn’t mean the husband is a student, but he is at school at that particular time and for that reason, he has not been able to give his wife a ride.
As with the previous example, we can use this expression to ask someone if they are currently present at the school, university, college, or other educational institution:
“Are you at school?”
The above two expressions are the most commonly used in American English. However, there are other expressions that can be used and give a little more specificity to what we mean.
In general, if we add the article ‘a' we could refer to any school:
For example: “Those are resources needed at a school”
On the other hand, if we add the article ‘the' we are probably referring to a particular school for which we already have information.
For example: “I had to walk for 10 minutes but I am already at the school” It means the person is inside the place and knows what school it is.
British English
Unlike American English, in British English, the word school only considers the academic institutions where primary or secondary education is imparted. It does not include a university education.
For British English speakers, to be ‘in school’ is the same as in American English, meaning that someone is a student. British speakers also use “at school” to refer to students.
Just remember: In British English, use it only when referring to a primary or secondary school. If you want to refer to a university or college you will have to say “at university”.
In a nutshell
In American English, you can use ‘in school' to say you are studying at that time in your life, but you are not necessarily at that moment in the school facilities. If you want to express that something or someone is at that particular moment on the school premises, you should use ‘at school'. In British English, it is more common to use ‘at school' to refer to either case.
If you like, you can use the American form ‘in school' to say that someone is a student and ‘at school' to talk about physical presence at the academic institution. This way you will be understood without any problems. However, when talking about college or university, it is preferable to skip the word ‘school’ and use expressions such as ‘in college' or ‘at university' to avoid confusing your listeners.
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