I've heard people saying "I am going to town", why can't it be "I am going to the town"?
And why is it "I go to the city" and not "I go to city"?
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2Because English.– Hot LicksJan 29, 2020 at 13:42
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2Does this answer your question? Why isn't there a "the" in "I left work", but there is in "I left the office"? (with 'I left New York' ... 'I left [the] school' 'I left [the] church').– Edwin AshworthJan 29, 2020 at 14:10
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...Also see I saw Sue in town yesterday – why is there no article? with anarthrous usages of 'town': '... 'Cam left town about an hour ago, so he should be out at the farm by now' 'I'll be out of town for about a week' 'Guess who's in town? Jodie's sister!' 'Do you know of a good place to eat?' 'I'm from out of town (=from a different town)' 'We're moving to another part of town' ...– Edwin AshworthJan 29, 2020 at 14:17
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1See also Which nouns should include an article after "go to {noun}" in AmE and BE? and Is there a reason the British omit the article when they "go to hospital"?.– Edwin AshworthJan 29, 2020 at 14:19
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See also Which nouns should include an article after "go to {noun}" in AmE and BE? and Is there a reason the British omit the article when they "go to hospital"?. *Barrie England suggests a rationale for the 'to town' usage at 'to school' versus 'to garage'?.– Edwin AshworthJan 29, 2020 at 14:25
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1 Answer
In town and to town are stock phrases meaning in/to our nearby town/city. It used also to be used of London, as in the former BBC radio programme In town tonight. As @HotLicks implies, there is no logical reason for this (except that, in London, the City refers to the business district).
answered Jan 29, 2020 at 14:02
