Article (We need THE new curtains)

[Tung Quoc]

Dear teachers,

Please tell me the difference in meaning between:
a. We need the new curtains.
b. We need new curtains.

Best regards
Tung Quoc

[Yankee]

.
a. We need the new curtains.
You have already bought or ordered new curtains (and you might be justifying this fact, for example).

b. We need new curtains.
You have not already bought or ordered new curtains.
.
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Pamela]

Absolutely agree with Amy.

[Tung Quoc]

Dear teachers,

When I say:

Oranges are good for me.

"oranges" in this sentences means "all oranges".

Thus,

When I write:

We need new curtains.

Does "new curtains" mean "all new curtains"?

Best regards
Tung Quoc

[Yankee]

Hi Tung Quoc

You're comparing sentences with two different verbs and that doesn't work very well.

Let me ask you a question:

What does "We need oranges" mean?

Amy
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Tung Quoc]

Dear teacher,
"
Let me ask you a question:

What does "We need oranges" mean? "

It's what's I don't understand. I have a problem with an article.

You know, in class, my teacher said:
Oranges are good for me. (oranges = all oranges). (general meaning)

But: I need oranges.
or: I need new curtains.

I asked my teacher if "curtains" here means "all", she only smiles to me.

Up to now, I wonder what "new curtains" means? "New curtains" have the meaning "all"?If not, why there isn't an article?

Thanks
Quoc

[Yankee]

Hi Quoc

No, it doesn't really mean "all", it means "some". What is true is that the old curtains are not OK anymore. Therefore we need to buy (some) new curtains. But you don't know specifically which curtains yet.

You cannot say the new curtains before you have selected or bought new curtains.

I could also say "The oranges in that basket are bad for you" if those specific oranges are all old and rotten. You use the word the to talk about something (or things) specific.

Amy
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Englishmajor]

Dear Quoc,

I hope you have bought THE new curtains. We needed new curtains. The ones we had were very old.

Englishmajor