Common expressions without articles

Common expressions without articles

In some common fixed expressions of place, time and movement countable nouns are normally treated as uncountables, without articles. Here are the most common expressions of this kind:

To school / at school / in school / from school
To university / at university / from university (GB)
To university / in university / from university (US)
To / at / in / into / from church 
To / in / into / out of bed / prison
To / at sea
To / in / from town
At / from home
Leave home / school / university / college
Start school / university / college
Enter school / university / college
To / in / into / out of hospital
To / at / from work
By car / by bus / by bicycle / by plane / by train / by boat
On foot
By radio / phone / letter / mail

In some cases, place nouns are used with articles. There is usually a difference of meaning. For example, when we say at the university, we are referring to the building, not to the activities going on there.

Compare:

John has to go to hospital. He has got heart problems. (as a patient.)
I went to the hospital to see James. (Here we are referring to the bricks and mortar structure.)

Notes

In American English, the words hospital and I are always used with articles.

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