Common Expressions Without Articles

In some common fixed expressions to do with place, time and movement, normally countable nouns are treated as uncountables, without articles. Examples are:
To/at/in/from school To/at/from university/college (GB) To/in/from college (US) To/at/in/into/from church To/in/into/out of bed/prison To/in/into/out of hospital (GB) To/at/from work To/at sea To/in/from town At/from home Leave/start/enter school/university/college By day At night By car/bus/bicycle/plane/train/tube/boat On foot By radio/phone/letter/mail With place nouns, similar expressions with articles may have different meanings. Compare:
  • I met her at college. (When we were students)
  • I met her at the college. (The college is just a meeting place.)
In American English, university and hospital are not used without articles.

Manjusha Nambiar

Hi, I am Manjusha. This is my blog where I give English grammar lessons and worksheets.

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