Read about the rules for using articles (a / an /the) with places in a town.

"A" and "The" with Institutions and Places in a Town

I'm going to the pet shop.I'm going to the post office.

Remember:

  • We don't usually use 'the' or 'a' with institutions (school, college, university, prison, hospital or church).
  • We use 'the' or 'a' when there is an adjective before the institution, or when we are thinking about the building, not what usually happens in the building.


There are 30 random questions here - choose the correct answer - a/an/the or nothing.

You might get the same question more than once - hopefully this will help you remember the rules.