the use of "the"

[joycewhl]

Do the following sentences have the same or different meanings?

1. People can buy clothes in the department.
2. People can buy clothes in departments.
3. People can buy clothes in a department.
4. People can buy clothes in the departments.

Thank you.

[chamodude]

hello,
people can buy clothes in the departments it is a general term,that is that you are saying that everybody can go to a clothes department and buy whatsoever he/she wants.People can buy clothes in departments is another way to say the same thing as the departments.People can buy clothes at a department is singular.
bye
Carlos