"Had dinner at a restaurant" vs "Had dinner at restaurant"

Question

"Had dinner at a restaurant" vs "Had dinner at restaurant"

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. The phrase 'had dinner at a restaurant' is the more common and natural way to express this idea. The inclusion of the article 'a' before 'restaurant' is necessary for correct grammar. On the other hand, 'had dinner at restaurant' is not a standard English construction and would be considered incorrect.

Last Updated: March 26, 2024

This phrase is the correct way to express that you ate dinner at a specific restaurant. The article 'a' is necessary before 'restaurant'.

Examples:

We had dinner at a restaurant last night.
She always enjoys having dinner at a restaurant.
I had dinner at a restaurant with my friends.
They had a romantic dinner at a restaurant by the beach.
He suggested having dinner at a restaurant downtown.

Alternatives:

ate dinner at a restaurant
dined at a restaurant
had a meal at a restaurant
enjoyed dinner at a restaurant
had dinner at a nice restaurant

This phrase is incorrect due to the missing article 'a' before 'restaurant'. To be grammatically correct, you should always include the article when referring to a singular noun like 'restaurant'.

Answer 1

Had dinner at a restaurant

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

Answer 2

Had dinner at restaurant

This phrase is not a standard English construction and would be considered incorrect.

"Had dinner at a restaurant" vs "Had dinner at restaurant"

Had dinner at a restaurant

Had dinner at restaurant

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