The use of articles with the nouns

When the nouns lose the concrete

meaning and express the purpose

for which they serve: NO ARTICLE

When the nouns denote concrete objects the articles are used in accordance to the general rules

to be at school/college/university to go to school/college/university to leave school/college

□ After 1 left school 1 went
to university, (as a student)

□ Why aren't the children

at school today? (as pupils)

to go to the school (the building is meant) to leave the school (to leave the building)

□ Mr Kelly went to the school
to meet his daughter's
teacher.

□ Excuse me, where is
the university, please?

in church/at church

□ Mrs Kelly goes to church

on Sundays (for a religious service).

□ The church was built in
the 17th century.

□ There is a church in
the village.

to be in prison

to be sent to prison/jail

to be put in prison

□ Ken's brother is in prison
for robbery.

□ Fred robbed a bank but he was
caught and sent to prison.

□ Ken went to the prison
to visit his brother.

□ They lived near a prison.

to go to bed to be in bed to stay in bed

□ It's time to go to bed.

□ Is Tom still in bed?

□ Her portrait was on the wall
beside the bed.

□ There is a table, 6 chairs,
a bed and a cupboard

in the room.

to go to work

to be a t work

to start work

□ Why isn't Ann at work today?

Institution or place:

an orphans home,

a nursing home,

a maternity home.

Place where an animal or

a plant is native:

the home of the tiger.