at school/ at a school

Guest   Sun Dec 16, 2007 11:28 am GMT
Please, which is correct?

1. Leo is a teacher, he works at school.
2. Leo is a teacher, he works at a school.

Thank you.
JM   Sun Dec 16, 2007 12:29 pm GMT
Both could be correct depending on the context. If I had to go with one or the other I would however go with #2 though.
Humble   Mon Dec 17, 2007 8:04 am GMT
I think there’s enough context, isn’t there?
Guest   Mon Dec 17, 2007 9:34 am GMT
No. Either sentence is a possibility.

1. Leo is a teacher. He does work at his school.
2. Leo is a teacher. He has a job at a school.
.   Mon Dec 17, 2007 4:46 pm GMT
" Leo is a teacher. He works at school." implies "Leo works at my school"


"Leo is a teacher. He works at a school." implies "Leo works at a school but I don't necessarily know where"

It's the difference between "a school" and "the school". With no context #2 would probably be more correct but it's splitting hairs....
Luca Toni   Tue Dec 18, 2007 3:41 am GMT
at school: in the school

at a school: in one of many schools.

Big difference.
Humble   Tue Dec 18, 2007 7:16 am GMT
OK,OK, let's take some more context.

An Irish lady from Wexford is on a holiday in Turkey. She is retired. She tells a new acquaintance of hers about her son who lives in Wexford, too. Her acquaintance is from Edinburgh.