Thread: What's the difference?

Hi, everyone!! Could anyone explain to me, what's the difference. and/or are the all variants correct:

1) I study at university
2) I study in university
3) I study at A university
4) I study in A university

It seems to me I've come across all the variants but still I'm not sure.
Thanks a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Mr Cooper

1) I study at university
2) I study in university
3) I study at A university
4) I study in A university

They all mean the same thing. The first two sound a little awkward. The second two are better, but IMO 3 is the best sounding. They all get the point across though.

You can also say "I go to university". (No "a" here).

The third is preferable in American English, I believe.

I think option 4 is the most awkward, and option 1 the most natural. I think you can say 3 as well, but you'll have to specify further (I study at a university in London etc.).

Here we go again with Ukish versus Usan.

I study at university or
I go to university

(at least from my British perspective!)

All are a little unusual: what's wrong with 'I'm a student'?

Originally Posted by joysof

All are a little unusual: what's wrong with 'I'm a student'?

Because "student" may imply "school" and not "university". You know.

How come everyone wants to leave off those useless little articles that make it sound more natural?
I study in a university.
I study in the university.
I go to a university.
I am a student in the university.

Because in British English it does sound more natural to say "I go to university."

Well, thank you for help, guys, but still it's not clear as far as I get it depends on whether we speak about the BrE or AmE. But is there any difference in meaning? Here in Russia we are taught that the preposition "in" expresses physical location and when we use it we mean building, while "at" denotes the process of studying. Wow...

Well, thank you for help, guys, but still it's not clear as far as I get it depends on whether we speak about the BrE or AmE. But is there any difference in meaning? Here in Russia we are taught that the preposition "in" expresses physical location and when we use it we mean the building, while "at" denotes the process of studying. Wow...

In sentences like this (I'm going to school, I'm going to the school, I'm going to hospital, I go to University), there is a difference between BrE and AmE - at least there can be. There was a huge discussion about this recently on a teaching forum that I frequent. You may want to read it, if you have a few spare hours: http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=8258


However the sentences you offered could be right or wrong. It's all about context. We need context.

Originally Posted by waxwing

In sentences like this (I'm going to school, I'm going to the school, I'm going to hospital, I go to University), there is a difference between BrE and AmE - at least there can be. There was a huge discussion about this recently on a teaching forum that I frequent. You may want to read it, if you have a few spare hours: http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=8258

Very entertaining reading

However the sentences you offered could be right or wrong. It's all about context. We need context.

Yeah, context! That is what I always say when someone asks to translate short sentences or phrases into Russian.

Originally Posted by bad manners

Originally Posted by joysof

All are a little unusual: what's wrong with 'I'm a student'?

Because "student" may imply "school" and not "university". You know.

May, but shouldn't. A student is someone in higher education; someone who goes to school is a child and shouldn't be answering questions about his/her occupation.

Originally Posted by emka71aln

How come everyone wants to leave off those useless little articles that make it sound more natural?
I study in a university.
I study in the university.
I go to a university.
I am a student in the university.

In British English at least, none of these are viable.

I am a student
I am at university
I am a waste of taxpayers' money.

Originally Posted by joysof

Originally Posted by bad manners

Originally Posted by joysof

All are a little unusual: what's wrong with 'I'm a student'?

Because "student" may imply "school" and not "university". You know.

May, but shouldn't. A student is someone in higher education; someone who goes to school is a child and shouldn't be answering questions about his/her occupation.

I know. However, this whole discussion is about UK vs US, and "student" is just as divided.

Well, thank you for help, guys, but still it's not clear as far as I get it depends on whether we speak about the BrE or AmE.

Обрати внимание.
I go to university. - Я учусь в университете.
I go to the university. - Я иду в университет. (Предпологается скорее здание университета и при этом вполне определённого)