"Az ő barátja börtönben van."

Translation: Her friend is in prison.

[JanTatouse]

Why can't it be 'her friend'?

[vvsey]

It is correct, it should be accepted.

[Patricia460976]

Does not accept "gaol."

[-BigWayne19-]

-------- really nice try ! . . .

Big 28 jul 18

[hakimomatata]

How about 'Her friend is in a jail". Why is it marked as incorrect?

[AlexandraV.]

In English, if we talk about an institution (hospital, prison, school...) regarding its primary function (one is there as a patient, prisoner, student...) we don't use articles. "in a jail" could be used if a person is visiting somebody in a jail, but not if they are a prisoner.

[Futurulus]

In American English (at least Nevada/California, where I grew up), we also say "in prison", "in jail", "in (or at) school", but it's always "in the hospital", not "in hospital".

[Andrei551534]

I think the question was why 'jail' is not accepted...