EnglishClub ESL Forums

Could someone help me with the following?

Say, I am lunching in a restaurant. A colleague asks, "Where are you going after this?" Should I say, "(I am) returning to the office" or "(I am) returning to office."

Is the definite article, in such a situation, optional?

What about if I am going to work in the morning --- should it be "I am going to the office" or "I am going to office"?

In all cases "the office" (or "my office" or "his office" etc). "I am going to office" is not English. This applies to most locations - the station, the park, the airport etc. But note that there are few exceptions (which are established expressions), eg:

go home
go to school