ENGLISH
REFERENCE

go to school

fixed phr..
A1 Beginner Oxford

fixed phr.. To attend classes regularly at a school, college, or university as a student.

fixed phr.. A conventional verb phrase meaning to be enrolled in or to attend an educational institution, distinct from the literal act of travelling to the building.


SIMPLE

My little brother goes to school now.

CONTEXTUAL

She wants to go to school to become a nurse after her children are older.

COMPLEX

Many children in the region cannot go to school because they must work to support their families from a young age.

Usage

The phrase uses no article ('the' or 'a') when it means to be a student.

Teaching tip

Contrast with 'go to the school', which means visiting a specific building for another purpose, like a parent-teacher meeting.

Pitfall

He goes to the school every day.He goes to school every day.When 'go to school' means to be a student, no article like 'the' is used.

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