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You know how to turn on (the) printer(s)!

A child has turned on a computer and you are making a mark. It is the printer, but you are not limiting your meaning to this occasion and you mean printers in general. Would "the" printer convey this meaning?

Usernew
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Joe Kim
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    If you mean printers in general, you should say printers or a printer. If you use the definite article the printer, you're referring to a printer in particular or the concept of a printer (e.g. The printer allows you to output digital data onto paper.). – Vlammuh Jun 08 '15 at 20:54
  • @Sander, thanks. I know the concept you are talking about, but do you understand my concept? – Joe Kim Jun 08 '15 at 20:57
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    Well, in this case I would either use a printer or printers, since you're talking about the machine in general and not about one in particular nor the concept of a printer. – Vlammuh Jun 08 '15 at 21:04
  • If you say 'the printer' or 'the printers' in this sentence, it would mean that the child is able to turn on the specific printer or printers in that room, but is not necessarily able to turn on any other printers. He only knows how to turn on those printers. If you say he is able to turn on 'a printer' or 'printers', he knows how that type of machine works and is able to turn on the machine in general (this includes any printers outside of the building or room you're talking about in this context). – Vlammuh Jun 08 '15 at 21:46

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When you are refering to a printer, for example one in your home you would say "the printer" this is refering to ONE specific printer if you wanted to refer to multiple specific printers you would say "the printers". If you wanted to talk about any printer in general (for example: any printer) you would say "I can turn on a printer".

Trevor

Trevor Clarke
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  • You don't necessarily refer to one specific printer when using 'the'. For example, in the following sentence, 'the' doesn't refer to one single animal: The tiger is a striped animal. – Vlammuh Jun 08 '15 at 21:02
  • Thanks, Trevor. I have to ask you if you are a native since Sander is asking a question relating to my OP. (Can't make a confindent comment as you never know where "the" bomb will blow) – Joe Kim Jun 08 '15 at 21:06
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    @joeKim If you are asking if I am a native speaker, then yes I am. And in the sentence "you never know where the bomb will blow" it still follows my answer you are referring to a specific item. – Trevor Clarke Jun 08 '15 at 21:10
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    @Sander When you use "the" in that sentence it has a totally different meaning, you are refering to a species not an object. Saying "The tiger is a striped animal." is like saying "The human is smart." it is not a correct use of the. Instead you could say " Tigers are striped animals" or in my example "Humans are smart". – Trevor Clarke Jun 08 '15 at 21:40
  • @TrevorClarke, thanks. Then, it should have been bombs and turn on printers with "the" optional, is it? – Joe Kim Jun 08 '15 at 21:40
  • As I said before "the" changes what you are refering to ie if you wanted to say you know how to turn on printers you would say "I know how to turn on printer" but lets say you bought a new printer and you learned how to turn it on you would say "the printer". – Trevor Clarke Jun 08 '15 at 21:42
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    @TrevorClarke The use of 'the' that I wrote about in my comment above, IS correct. Indeed, it does not have the same meaning, it refers to the concept of the tiger and not one tiger in particular. However, the meaning being different does not imply that my sentence was incorrect. I was just trying to explain that there are more types of usage for the definite article than just referring to a specific thing or person. – Vlammuh Jun 08 '15 at 21:43
  • @TrevorClarke. Thanks again. You have written turn on "printer" without any articles to mean printers in general. Is that it? – Joe Kim Jun 08 '15 at 21:46
  • Yes, at least that is one method to do it.... If you really wanted to use plural to refer to printers in general you could also say "I know how to turn on printers"... both work... neither are better. – Trevor Clarke Jun 08 '15 at 21:52
  • @TrevorClarke thanks. Then how far this words without articles to mean general can go? Can this be applied to everything? For example, I like table(tables), car(cars), train(trains), sky; use computer(computers) when working; key(keys) to lock door(door); etc. this is new info to me. – Joe Kim Jun 08 '15 at 22:07
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    @JoeKim No, for singular count nouns, you almost always have to use an article (a/an, the) or a determiner (this/that), possessive (my, Sally's), or something else. You can't say You know you how to turn on printer. Well, you can say it, but it is not in accord with standard grammar. –  Jun 08 '15 at 23:47