With some nouns – school, hospital, prison, church, university, bed, work, home – the article changes the meaning. Without an article we mean the purpose of the place (learning, being treated, being punished). With “the” we mean the building or a specific place.
Form
| Structure | Example |
|---|---|
| no article: the institution's purpose | go to school, be in hospital, go to prison |
| the: the building or a specific place | go to the school, visit the hospital |
| a/an: one of a type; the + superlative; the + unique |
When to use it
- Purpose, no article: go to school (as a student), be in hospital (as a patient), go to church (to pray).
- Building or visit, with “the”: go to the school (for a meeting), visit the hospital.
- Similar pairs: at university / at the university, in bed / on the bed, at sea / by the sea.
- American English often says in the hospital where British English says in hospital.
Examples
- He went to prison for two years.
- She went to the prison to visit her brother.
- My son is at school now.
- I went to the school to talk to the head teacher.
- He is in hospital with a broken leg.
- She works at the hospital as a nurse.
Common mistakes
- He is in the prison for stealing → He is in prison (as a prisoner).
- I go to the work by bus → I go to work by bus.
- She is at the home → She is at home.