in, at, on (vị trí) · Phần 3: in hospital, at work, at a party, on a bus (in / at / on (position 3))
Phần này nói về những nơi mà người ta “ở” theo một hoạt động. in bed / in hospital / in prison; at home / at work / at school / at university / at college (be home = be at home, nhưng do something at home). at a party / at a concert / at a conference / at a wedding (sự kiện). Với toà nhà có thể dùng in hoặc at; at khi nói nơi diễn ra sự kiện hay nhà ai đó (at Helen’s), in khi nghĩ về chính toà nhà (It’s always cold in Helen’s house). Thành phố, thị trấn, làng dùng in (in Paris), at khi coi là một điểm dừng trên hành trình (Does this train stop at Oxford?). Phương tiện: on a bus / train / plane / ship, in a car / taxi, on a bike / motorbike / horse.
in bed / in hospital / in prison; at home / at work / at school / at university
in bed, in hospital, in prison: James isn’t up yet. He’s still in bed. Anna’s mother is in hospital. at home, at work, at school, at university, at college: I’ll be at work until 5.30. My sister is at university. My brother is still at school. Ta nói be at home hoặc be home (có hoặc không at), nhưng do something at home (có at): I’ll be (at) home all evening. Shall we go to a restaurant or eat at home?
- James isn’t up yet. He’s still in bed. — James chưa dậy. Anh ấy vẫn còn trên giường.
- My sister is at university. — Chị tôi đang học đại học.
at a party / at a concert / at a conference / at a wedding
Khi ai đó ở một sự kiện ta dùng at: Were there many people at the party / at the meeting / at the wedding? I saw Steve at a conference / at a concert on Saturday.
- Were there many people at the party? — Có nhiều người ở bữa tiệc không?
in ⇄ at với toà nhà; at somebody’s house; at the station / airport
Với toà nhà thường dùng được cả hai: eat in a restaurant / at a restaurant. Nhưng dùng at khi nói nơi một sự kiện xảy ra: We went to a concert at the National Concert Hall. There was a robbery at the supermarket. at somebody’s house: I was at Helen’s (house) last night. at the doctor’s, at the hairdresser’s. Dùng in khi nghĩ về chính toà nhà: It’s always cold in Helen’s house. The heating doesn’t work well. All the rooms in the hotel have air conditioning. at the station / at the airport: There’s no need to meet me at the station.
- I was at Helen’s last night. — Tối qua tôi ở nhà Helen.
- It’s always cold in Helen’s house. The heating doesn’t work well. — Nhà Helen lúc nào cũng lạnh. Máy sưởi không tốt.
in + thành phố / thị trấn / làng; at = điểm dừng trên hành trình
Với thành phố, thị trấn, làng thường dùng in: The Louvre is a famous art museum in Paris (không nói at Paris). Sam’s parents live in a village in the south of France. at dùng khi coi nơi đó là một điểm hay ga trên hành trình: Does this train stop at Oxford? (= at Oxford station).
- The Louvre is a famous art museum in Paris. — Louvre là một bảo tàng nghệ thuật nổi tiếng ở Paris.
- Does this train stop at Oxford? — Tàu này có dừng ở Oxford không?
on a bus / train / plane / ship ⇄ in a car / taxi; on a bike / motorbike / horse
Thường nói on a bus / on a train / on a plane / on a ship nhưng in a car / in a taxi: The bus was very full. There were too many people on it. Laura arrived in a taxi. Cũng nói on a bike (= xe đạp), on a motorbike, on a horse: Jane passed me on her bike.
- Laura arrived in a taxi. — Laura đến bằng taxi.
- Jane passed me on her bike. — Jane đi xe đạp vượt qua tôi.
Lưu ý
- Nhớ: be home (không at) ≈ be at home, nhưng eat at home (phải có at).