Posted by rfvv on Sunday, October 10, 2010 at 9:17pm.

Question

Posted by rfvv on Sunday, October 10, 2010 at 9:17pm.

1. What does a candy striper do at the hospital?

(Does the hospital mean a specific hospital where she is working or any hospital(in generic use)?

English - Ms. Sue, Sunday, October 10, 2010 at 9:27pm
"The hospital" means a specific hospital.

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(Thank you for your help.)
Candy stripers are teenage volunteers at hospitals. They do different things at the hospital.

(What is the use of 'the' here? Does the hospital mean a specific hospital or any hospital (in generic use)?

Answer 1

In this sentence, it could be a specific hospital or any hospital.

Answer 2

In this context, the use of "the" before "hospital" indicates a specific hospital. When we say "the hospital," we are referring to a particular hospital that is known or has previously been mentioned. It is not a generic reference to any hospital.