NOUNS USED WITH ZERO ARTICLE

Quite a lots of nouns , many of them countable, are used without the articles a\ an or the in certain situations . For example:
* What did you learn at school today ?
* Is Dad back from work yet ?
* We are a long way from home.
* Are you going into town ?
* You ' ll end up in prison !
* Helen is still at college.
Dropping the article is like calling them by their own name.
Nouns used with zero article include the following:
* standard places and institutions , typically used with prepositions , especially to, from, at :
* Few folk go to church nowadays.
* I start university in the autumn.
* Hi ! I ' m phoning from work.
* I never learnt much at school.
The use of zero article indicates general rather than specific reference. You use articles when you are being specific .
WITH ZERO ARTICLE                                                     WITH AN ARTICLE
* I never liked school.                                                        * I went to a good school.
* Jim was sent to prison.                                                     * The work is very demanding.
* I usually walk to work.( = my office or place of work )
In British English you are at school when you are attending a school , but in American English you are in school