| B |
We use prison (or jail), hospital, university, college and church in a similar way. We do not use the when we are thinking of the general idea of these places and what they are used for.
Compare:
| Ken's brother is in prison for robbery. (He is a prisoner. We are not thinking of a specific prison.) |
Ken went to the prison to visit his brother. (He went as a visitor, not as a prisoner.) |
| Joe had an accident last week. He was taken to hospital. He's still in hospital now. (as a patient) |
Jane has gone to the hospital to visit Joe. She's at the hospital now. (as a visitor, not as a patient) |
| When I leave school, I plan to go to university / go to college. (as a student) |
I went to the university to meet Professor Thomas. (as a visitor, not as a student) |
| Sally's father goes to church every Sunday. (to take part in a religious service) |
Some workmen went to the church to repair the roof. (not for a religious service) |
With most other places, you need the. For example, the station, the cinema, (see Units 72C and 73C).
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