當那普通名詞不代表具體的物件,而是以指抽象的內容或行為的時候;如school不指具體的學校這建築物說,而重點是指向學校的授課,那時就不用”the”
如:
The children have gone to school.(所指向是:上學)
They live near the school.(所指向是:那所學校)
He goes to church every Sunday.(所指向是:做禮拜)
He waited for her in front of the church.(所指向是:那所教堂)
其實:go to bed(睡覺), go to hospital(入院:其指向是:進醫院去醫病), go to market(上市場:其指向是買餸), be at table(用餐) 等名詞,皆指向那行動,而不是那物體,所以也無需冠詞