The article can shift attention from an institution's usual purpose to a particular place. A pupil goes to school; a parent may go to the school for a meeting.
The idea
Common fixed phrases omit the article when describing the usual activity or status: go to school, be in prison, go to bed. Use ordinary article rules for the identifiable building or object: the school, the bed. British English often uses in hospital for patients.
Examples
- Nora walks to school with her brother.
- Her father went to the school to collect a form.
- Sam is in hospital after an accident.
- Mia is waiting outside the hospital for a taxi.
- I'm tired, so I'm going to bed.
- There is a suitcase under the bed.
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Watch out
American English normally uses in the hospital for patients too, so the does not always signal a visitor. Do not extend article omission to every place: we normally say go to the bank, not go to bank.
Try it yourself
Choose the phrase that presents education as the activity: go to ___. (school / the school)
Show answer or example answer
school
Go to school presents attendance or education as the activity. Go to the school draws attention to the identified place.
Choose the correct article: There is a suitcase under ___ bed. (the / —)
Show answer or example answer
the
The suitcase is under a particular piece of furniture. The ordinary noun phrase therefore needs the.
Choose the usual American patient expression: Sam is in ___ after an accident. (hospital / the hospital)
Show answer or example answer
the hospital
In the hospital is the usual American expression for a patient. British English also commonly uses in hospital.
Practice round
Answer questions and rebuild English sentences to practise. Your score is shown.
Choose the phrase that presents education as the activity: go to ___. (school / the school)
Choose the correct article: There is a suitcase under ___ bed. (the / —)
Choose the usual American patient expression: Sam is in ___ after an accident. (hospital / the hospital)
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Describe a pupil's daily journey and a parent's visit to that school. Contrast going to bed to sleep with putting an object under a particular bed. Label any hospital example by variety.