Articles with Names of Meals

1. Names of meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper, tea) usually take no article:

Dinner is ready.

Breakfast tomorrow will be at 8 o’clock.

2. When names of meals are modified by a descriptive attribute they are used with the indefinite article:

I saw to it that he had a good dinner.

He ordered a modest lunch.

I want you to have a nice breakfast.

3. When some particular meal is meant the definite article is used. Specific reference is made clear by the context or situation:

He was eating greedily the lunch his mother had given him.

The dinner was very sound.

 

Articles with the Nouns school, college, prison, jail, church, hospital

These nouns are used without any article when the general idea of these places is meant, i.e. the purpose they are used for. Thus we say A child goes to school; A student goes to university / college; A criminal goes to prison, etc.:

Why aren’t the children at school today? (as pupils)

Mrs. Kelly goes to church every Sunday (for a religious service).

Ken’s brother is in prison for robbing (he is a prisoner).

Two people were injured in the accident and were taken to hospital (as patients).

But: Mr. Kelly went to the school to meet his daughter’s teacher.

Excuse me, where’s the church to repair the roof.

Ken went to the prison to visit his brother.

Nora is now working as a cleaner at a hospital.