premises

Everyday

1. Premises are the buildings and land that a business, school or organisation uses. tree →
2. «Premises» (plural of «premise») are ideas or statements that an argument is built on. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life signs say «No smoking on these premises» or «Dogs are not allowed on the premises». In formal or official language, «the school premises» means the buildings and grounds. In logic, if the premises are true, the conclusion should be true. Phrases: on the premises, leave the premises, business premises, school premises.

Examples

• No dogs are allowed on the premises. tree →
• Pupils must not leave the school premises at lunchtime. tree →
• The shop moved to bigger premises. tree →
• Smoking is not permitted on these premises. (formal) tree →
• The police searched the premises. tree →
• The café has a car park on the premises. tree →

Note

Always plural for buildings: «the premises are», never «a premise» for a building. The singular «premise» means an idea in an argument. It is a formal word; in speech people say «the building» or «the site».