Some nouns do not require an article, but only when we are talking about the noun in a general sense. Some nouns can countable, uncountable and general, for example: - I just drank a coffee... this means a cup of coffee or one cup of coffee - I just drank three coffees... 3 cups of coffee - I just drank coffee.... this means a general, non-specific amount of the beverage called coffee The best way to understand 'general nouns' is to see examples: - Everyone loves to eat bacon. - Lots of people don't like broccoli. - Candy causes tooth decay. - I want to buy some cheese. - Do you like chicken? - I never met someone who does not like chocolate. - Coffee is a very popular beverage. - Fish live in the water. - Meat is a good source of protein. - Milk conatins calcium. - Computers are used by many people. - Cars are found in every country. - Dogs make good pets. - Cats are usually quiet. - Spiders are scary. - Children love elephants. - Air contains oxygen. - Burning coal causes air pollution. - Gold is valuable. - English is a popular language. - Spanish sounds nice. - I like to study English. - I like to study mathematics. - I like to study chemistry. - I like to study people. - I like to study computer languages. OTHER NOUNS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE AN ARTICLE WHEN THE NOUN IS BEING USED TO TALK ABOUT THE NOUN (THING) IN GENERAL... - ice, leather, paper, petroleum, plastic, rain, rubber, silver, snow, soap, steel, wood and wool. - advice, anger, beauty, confidence, courage, employment, fun, happiness, health, honesty, information, intelligence, knowledge, love, poverty, satisfaction, truth, and wealth - biology, chemistry, clothing, equipment, furniture, homework, jewelry, luggage, lumber, machinery, mail, money, news, poetry, pollution, research, scenery, traffic, transportation, violence, weather, and work. ... AND MANY MORE ... UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS NOT A COMPLETE LIST OF GENERAL NOUNS Hope this helps...

[another explanation] ZERO ARTICLES Articles are the small words 'a' 'an' and 'the' that we use before nouns. However sometimes we don't use any articles and this is what some people call the 'zero' article. Firstly, we don't use an article with plural nouns or uncountable nouns when we're talking about things in general: Example 1: I'm terrified of heights. Example 2: I hate cheese. Example 3: I'm into music. Secondly, before countries, towns, streets, languages and single mountains: Example 1: I'm from China. Example 2: I've climbed Mount Everest. Example 3: English is a confusing language, nonetheless I still like English. Thirdly, before some places and with some forms of transport: Example 1: I live at home with my parents. Example 2: I came here by car. Finally, in exclamations with what plus an uncountable noun: Example 1: What beautiful weather! Example 2: What loud music! Example 3: What great coffee!

I think this is the case of the count noun vs the non-count noun. Count nouns are nouns that you can put a number in front of and still have them make sense (three dollars, 5 cats, seven DVDs, 10 superheroes). Non-count (or uncount) nouns cannot have numbers in front of them (6 airs, twelve moneys) because they are not countable (air, money). They are usually group or mass nouns, or concepts - a dollar is a unit, and is coutable; money is the group that unit belongs to, so is not countable. English is a non-count noun, and you don't use articles with non-count nouns if you mean that thing in general. When your friend says "I like to study English", she's talking about liking to study English in general, or as a whole. Plus, languages are abstract nouns, which makes them not countable, and not touchable. (Sometimes, you also don't use articles with count nouns, like if you mean any or all of that thing [I like cats].) Hope this helps!

I think it's some sort of exception, like "go home".