Difference: Go to school vs go to the school

[K1ngk0ng]

My teacher told me, go to school is a fixed phrasal verb used to express the idea of someone coming to a school to do his studies while go to the school suggests someone coming to a school not to study something, he comes to do something else other than study.

Could anyone shed some light on these for me, please?

Thanks

KK

[Kitosdad]

" Go to school", is a general term and could apply to any school.

"Go to the school", refers to a specific school.
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[Alan]

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Hi,

Let's put them both into a sentence:

Charlie goes to school (he is a student) and his mother has to go to the school to take him home at the end of the afternoon.

Alan
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[K1ngk0ng]

I understand that Mr. Bill.
Mr. Alan, if we put them together as in your example, they clearly make sense, however, could I ask if there is any situation where "go to the school" stands alone and covers the meaning as I mentioned above, please?

Thanks

KK

[Jamie (K)]

Think of it this way: In "go to school", "school" indicates an activity. In "go to the school", "school" indicates a physical place, and "the" makes it specific.

Q: "Where does your son go to school?"
A: "He goes to the school on the corner."

Q: "Where does your son go to school?"
A: "He goes to school in the next town." (There is probably more than one school in that town.)

[Kiprida]

I don't like this example. It confuses pupils at school.I've heard this example since I was on 5th form.
This is how I understand it:
I go to school. - going to the place where you study .
I go to the school- when I'm talking about the building (construction), which place is known exactly.
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