Do I need to add "the" to a plural noun? I am confused by whether or not to add "the" before a plural noun. For example, do the following two sentences mean something slightly different from each other?  (1) We analyzed the potential implications of such practices for consumers.  (2) We analyzed potential implications of such practices for consumers.
Omitting article “the” in front of plural nouns I'm helping someone learn English (second language), and I'm having trouble explaining when to use the and when not to. For example:     Students learn better when teachers are passionate about teaching.   versus     The students learn better when the teachers are passionate about teaching.   There's a subtle difference. The first one is a general statement, whereas the second might imply a study where a group of students learned better than another.  Is the difference simply that, general v. specific?
What is the difference between a telephoto lens and a zoom lens? Looking at the , I notice a distinction between telephoto lens and zoom lens.  What is the difference between the two?  Why would I want one over the other?  I  but remain confused about this distinction.  Please talk to me like I'm stupid. :) I am hoping for a completely lay explanation.  In particular, I'd like to understand in what situations I'd use a telephoto lens, and in what (other) situations I'd use a zoom lens.