Zero Article: "school" vs "the school" — function vs specific building (B2)

Your task

Fill in the gap in each sentence with the correct word or phrase.

0 / 15 answered

Your score

0 / 150%

Keep practising! Focus on the explanations below.

Her son has been in for three months now — the doctors say he is making good progress.

Correct answer: hospital

"Hospital" (no article) — the son is a patient receiving treatment. Zero article signals the FUNCTION (being treated). "The hospital" would refer to the building as a visitor or outsider.

The nurse showed us around and explained all the new facilities.

Correct answer: the hospital

"The hospital" — a specific building being toured. The visitors are not patients; they are viewing the building as an institution. "Hospital" (no article) = receiving treatment there.

He is at studying for his A-levels, so he can't come out tonight.

Correct answer: school

"School" (no article) — he is there as a student (functional role). Zero article with "school" always signals the educational function. "The school" would suggest the building itself, not the role.

The architect designed as a modern, light-filled building with an open plan.

Correct answer: the school

"The school" — the architect is describing a specific building (not attending as a student). When talking about the physical structure as an object, "the" is used.

She has been in for two years now — she will be released on good behaviour next month.

Correct answer: prison

"Prison" (no article) — she is there as a prisoner (functional role). Zero article signals the institutional function of being incarcerated. "The prison" = the building itself as seen by an outsider.

The investigative journalist was given access to for a week-long documentary.

Correct answer: the prison

"The prison" — the journalist is visiting as an outsider (not as a prisoner). The definite article marks the building as a specific place being visited. "Prison" without "the" would incorrectly imply the journalist is imprisoned.

They go to every Sunday morning for the service.

Correct answer: church

"Church" (no article) — they attend for worship (functional use). Zero article with "church" signals religious attendance. "The church" = the physical building as a structure.

We decorated with flowers and candles for the wedding ceremony.

Correct answer: the church

"The church" — the decorators are treating it as a physical building, not attending for worship. When the church is the object of an action (decorating, repairing, photographing), "the" is used.

He started at the age of five and has been there ever since.

Correct answer: school

"School" (no article) — started attending as a pupil. "Start school" = begin the educational role. "Start the school" = establish or open a school institution, which is a different meaning.

I need to go to to collect my sister — she has just had an operation.

Correct answer: the hospital

"The hospital" — the speaker is going as a visitor to collect a patient, not to receive treatment. As a visitor/outsider, the building is "the hospital". "Go to hospital" = being admitted as a patient.

She went to and got a degree in architecture.

Correct answer: university

"University" (no article) — she attended as a student (functional role). Zero article signals the educational function. Compare: "the university" = the specific buildings or institution as an outsider would see it.

The new library is next to , which was built in Victorian times.

Correct answer: the university

"The university" — referring to the physical building as a local landmark or structure. "Next to the university" treats it as a building (like any other), not a role or function.

He was released from after serving three years of his sentence.

Correct answer: prison

"Prison" (no article) — he was serving a sentence as a prisoner (functional role). "Released from prison" = leaving after incarceration. "Released from the prison" would mean leaving the building in a non-prisoner context.

Several protesters gathered outside to demand better conditions for inmates.

Correct answer: the prison

"The prison" — the protesters are outside the physical building as outsiders. They are not prisoners. Treating the institution as a physical location (outside, near, next to) requires "the".

After work, she went straight to — she was absolutely exhausted.

Correct answer: bed

"Bed" (no article) — "go to bed" = go to sleep (functional idiom). Zero article is fixed in this phrase. "The bed" would mean the physical object: "She made the bed" or "She sat on the bed".

Please answer at least one question first.

Found an error in this exercise? Let us know.

Your task

Fill in the gap in each sentence with the correct word or phrase.

0 / 15 answered

Your score

0 / 150%

Keep practising! Focus on the explanations below.

Her son has been in for three months now — the doctors say he is making good progress.

Correct answer: hospital

"Hospital" (no article) — the son is a patient receiving treatment. Zero article signals the FUNCTION (being treated). "The hospital" would refer to the building as a visitor or outsider.

The nurse showed us around and explained all the new facilities.

Correct answer: the hospital

"The hospital" — a specific building being toured. The visitors are not patients; they are viewing the building as an institution. "Hospital" (no article) = receiving treatment there.

He is at studying for his A-levels, so he can't come out tonight.

Correct answer: school

"School" (no article) — he is there as a student (functional role). Zero article with "school" always signals the educational function. "The school" would suggest the building itself, not the role.

The architect designed as a modern, light-filled building with an open plan.

Correct answer: the school

"The school" — the architect is describing a specific building (not attending as a student). When talking about the physical structure as an object, "the" is used.

She has been in for two years now — she will be released on good behaviour next month.

Correct answer: prison

The investigative journalist was given access to for a week-long documentary.

Correct answer: the prison

They go to every Sunday morning for the service.

Correct answer: church

"Church" (no article) — they attend for worship (functional use). Zero article with "church" signals religious attendance. "The church" = the physical building as a structure.

We decorated with flowers and candles for the wedding ceremony.

Correct answer: the church

"The church" — the decorators are treating it as a physical building, not attending for worship. When the church is the object of an action (decorating, repairing, photographing), "the" is used.

He started at the age of five and has been there ever since.

Correct answer: school

"School" (no article) — started attending as a pupil. "Start school" = begin the educational role. "Start the school" = establish or open a school institution, which is a different meaning.

I need to go to to collect my sister — she has just had an operation.

Correct answer: the hospital

She went to and got a degree in architecture.

Correct answer: university

The new library is next to , which was built in Victorian times.

Correct answer: the university

"The university" — referring to the physical building as a local landmark or structure. "Next to the university" treats it as a building (like any other), not a role or function.

He was released from after serving three years of his sentence.

Correct answer: prison

Several protesters gathered outside to demand better conditions for inmates.

Correct answer: the prison

"The prison" — the protesters are outside the physical building as outsiders. They are not prisoners. Treating the institution as a physical location (outside, near, next to) requires "the".

After work, she went straight to — she was absolutely exhausted.

Correct answer: bed

"Bed" (no article) — "go to bed" = go to sleep (functional idiom). Zero article is fixed in this phrase. "The bed" would mean the physical object: "She made the bed" or "She sat on the bed".

Please answer at least one question first.

Found an error in this exercise? Let us know.