The teacher

[tomolonight]

They are the teachers of this school.　
They are teachers of this school.　

'the teachers' refer to particular teachers in the school??
'teachers' refer to all the teachers in the school??

[Anglika]

The first means all the teachers; the second means some of the teachers

[tomolonight]

The first means all the teachers; the second means some of the teachers

Can you explain more about ' the teachers' and ' teachers' of the school.

[Anglika]

What do you need explained?

The teachers in this school has agreed that bullying is unacceptable - all the teachers have agreed this.
The children in this school have been warned - all the children have been warned.

Teachers in this school have agreed that bullying is unacceptable - it is not clear if all or only some of the teachers have agreed this. It cannot be taken for granted that all the teachers are involved.
Children in this school have been warned - it is not clear if all or only some have been warned.

[tomolonight]

[QUOTE=Anglika;337012]What do you need explained?
[B]

Thanks. I am now much more clear about 'the'.
But, isn't 'the' used to denote particular things, as in below:

1) I went to the shopping centre this morning. ( specify which shopping centre I went).

compared to this sentence:

2) The teachers in this school....( It can be particular teachers who are involved in, not all the teachers.)

Please advise me .

[2006]

[QUOTE=tomolonight;338089]

What do you need explained?
[B]

Thanks. I am now much more clear about 'the'.
But, isn't 'the' used to denote particular things, as in below:

1) I went to the shopping centre this morning. ( specify which shopping centre I went).

compared to this sentence:

2) The teachers in this school....( It can be particular teachers who are involved in, not all the teachers.)

Please advise me .

'the shopping center'(= one thing) is not equivalent to 'the teachers'(= more than one)
"the teachers" means ALL of the teachers.
'the involved teachers' would mean some of the teachers, those who are involved.
.

[tomolonight]

[QUOTE=2006;338126][QUOTE=tomolonight;338089]

'the shopping center'(= one thing) is not equivalent to 'the teachers'(= more than one)


1) 'The' is only used to refer particular one thing not many things?

2) The teachers - (refer to particular things / people - not all)
- Why is it not acceptable?

[tzfujimino]

[quote=tomolonight;338254][quote=2006;338126]

'the shopping center'(= one thing) is not equivalent to 'the teachers'(= more than one)


1) 'The' is only used to refer particular one thing not many things?

2) The teachers - (refer to particular things / people - not all)
- Why is it not acceptable?

Hi, tomolonight!

Can you see the difference between 'teachers' and 'the teachers'?

As to 1), the number doesn't matter. 'The' can be used with both singular and plural nouns.

And as to 2), yes, 'the' is used when we know 'which one.' So...
'the teachers' could mean either 'the teachers that we know(we're talking about in the conversation)' or 'all the teachers (of whatever defined by the clause or phrase that follows).

Please forgive me if I'm wrong.(If so, somebody, please correct me.)
I'm not a native speaker of English.

[Raymott]

[quote=tomolonight;338254]

2) The teachers - (refer to particular things / people - not all)
- Why is it not acceptable?

No-one has said "the teachers" is unacceptable, have they? They've only said that it doesn't mean what you think it does, in this context.