No article with common nouns
Note that there are a number of common fixed expressions with prepositions
involving everyday time and place nouns where no article is required:
after school / at school / before school / from school /in school
to school
after university / at university / to university
in bed / out of bed / to bed
at home / from home / go home / leave home
after work / at work/ before work / from work / to/into work
/leave work
from town / in town / out of town/ to/into town
after breakfast* at breakfast* before breakfast* for breakfast*
to breakfast*
* OR: lunch, tea, dinner, supper
by bike/car/bus/taxi/tube/train/plane/boat - BUT on foot
- More and more people work from home these days at
least one or two days per week.
- I'm going into town this afternoon. Do you want me
to get you anything?
- I find it difficult to get out of bed, but always
exercise for half an hour before breakfast, have fruit
juice and muesli for breakfast and then walk to work.
- At school I studied biology, geography and English,
but at university I'm going to study psychology.
- It's quicker on foot or by bike. It will take
you ages to get there if you go by car.
However, if you are referring to a specified breakfast, bed, school,
piece of work etc, the definite article will normally be required:
- The bed I slept in last night was most uncomfortable.
- The lunch you prepared this morning was delicious.
- I'll meet you outside the school at eight thirty.
- The work that you did on the Tudors was excellent.
- The car you sold me for £500 is unreliable.
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