Is there a university in this town?

I think either is ok for a teacher. 'At the' suggests that both people know which university you are talking about (eg if there is only one university in the town). 'At university' makes me think he could be teaching at any university. The same could be true of students but 'at university' is standard. But only 'at the' for a non- academic job, eg 'He's a cleaner at the university '- if you said "He's a cleaner at university' it sounds like he's studying cleaning!

The situation is similar for school, hospital and probably other places as well.

This is all British English. An American would understand "at university," but would be likely to say: "He's going to collge," or "He's in college now." It's not that an American would never say "at university," it's just unlikely. I've noticed that speakers of British English would say "He's in hospital." An American would say "He's in the hospital."

Yes, and American would say "He teaches at the university."

The difference is that "at university" is used generally and "at the university" implies that the listener knows which university is being referred to and is probably one located nearby.

There's an element of snobbery involved as well. If the university was either Oxford or Cambridge the name would be used. "At Oxford". Although residents of Oxford might well say "at the university". Residents of Lancaster, say, would likely use "at the university" if the one being referred to was the university of Lancaster.

The context of the conversation will determine which usage.

It might be ironic.

If you want to sound like a native speaker, WB, then you should use 'the' in those situations that have been variously described by folks in this thread.

Again He is teaching at the university/college/high school/elementary school/hospital/gym/city hall/etc all mean that the place under discussion is a place known to all.

Thank you all. It's a long time since I last saw the thread. I didn't give a reply immediately, because I believed I would have similar questions and then I could accompany my new questions with thanks.
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For 'before/after graduation from university', a German who lived in the US for a long time told me he'd definitely use 'the';

1. Do Americans all use 'the' before university in this case/phrase?
2.In UK English, do native speakers use 'before/after graduation from university'?

It's been a long time since I last saw the thread.



Those Germans do funny things with English.



I refer you to my post before this one of yours, and to Spendius's, the one before mine.

Spendi wrote:
"The difference is that "at university" is used generally and "at the university" implies that the listener knows which university is being referred to and is probably one located nearby."

Unless there are accompanying words pointing to a specific university, this use of university is a general one.

Yes.

I never heard of university without the THE until I was at a2k. I take that as a british usage.

I see that has been explained.