The employees

Question

Hello,Imagine that I am the CEO of a company. I want to know if my employees are happy working for me. I ask my deputy:"Are the employees happy?"I understand that because I am referring to a certain group of employees (those who work for me), "the" is definitely correct and perhaps desirable. But, if the context makes it clear to my deputy, can I also say:"Are employees happy?" dropping the definite article. After all, my deputy is sane and understands that I am not referring to all employees in the world. I may also not have any specific employees in mind. In fact, I often see the definite article dropped in such cases in written English. E.g. one article says: "Research the company. Are employees happy? Are customers satisfied?" (No definite article either before "employees" or "customers"). But I would like to confirm and get some clarity.So to reiterate my question: Is it grammatical to say "Are employees happy?"Thank you for reading and helping.Regards,Andy

Ivanhr · Accepted Answer

I would not use an article in that situation at all. Simply ask

Are our employees happy (working here)?

AndyOrban · Answer

Thank you. But you're talking about preferences now. I understand that "our" can be used and may be a good alternative. But the question is regarding the correctness of the lack of the definite article.

Fivejedjon · Answer

AndyOrbanSo to reiterate my question: Is it grammatical to say "Are employees happy?"

Yes, it's grammatical.

CalifJim · Answer

AndyOrbanthe question is regarding the correctness of the lack of the definite article.

Yes. In the scenario you described above the article can be dropped.

CJ

Edit: Cross-posted.

Fivejedjon · Answer

Please don't ask the same question in two different forums, Andy. It wastes the time of people who answer in one forum a question that has already been answered in the other.

If you are not satisfied with the answer in one forum, ask follow-up questions there. If you are still not satisfied, then ask it it another thread, but provide a link to the original question. Then people don't waste time saying what has already been said..

AndyOrban · Answer

Okay, thank you very much, fivejedjon and CalifJim.

Regards,
Andy

AndyOrban · Answer

fivejedjonPlease don't ask the same question in two different forums, Andy. It wastes the time of people who answer in one forum a question that has already been answered in the other. If you are not satisfied with the answer in one forum, ask follow-up questions there. If you are still not satisfied, then ask it it another thread, but provide a link to the original question. Then people don't waste time saying what has already been said..

Fivejedjon,
I am sorry if you received the impression that I was somehow disrespectful of your time or the time of anybody else helping out here. I am very humbly grateful to you for your help.
But there were no malicious intentions. I was unaware that there were rules that did not allow posting the same question on two different forums. I notice that there was a lot of variability when it comes to responses on forums, so I posted on two forums to spread the net wider and get as much constructive advice as I could find. It was not because I wanted to waste anybody's time. Also, I thought that it would be good if other non-English-speakers who follow only this or that forum had this choice too.
But if this is a problem, and it appears to be, I will do as you say in the future.

CalifJim · Answer

AndyOrbanI was unaware that there were rules that did not allow posting the same question on two different forums.

So was I. It's kind of like a rule that says you can't get advice for repairing your car from more than one car mechanic. I doubt it's actually written down anywhere that you can't do that.

CJ

Fivejedjon · Answer

AndyOrbanBut there were no malicious intentions.

I never thought there were. I did not for one moment think that you were motivated by malice.

AndyOrbanI was unaware that there were rules that did not allow posting the same question on two different forums. I

There are no rules as such on this. It's a matter of generally accepted forum etiquette. Many of us ask questions and post responses in more than one forum - but we let everybody know what we are doing.. It's perhaps because we do that we are not too happy when we spend time on a response in one forum only to find that it has been dealt with in another.

So, enjoy your membership of more than one forum - I do! And do raise questions on forum A that have not been dealt with to your satisfaction on forum B. Just keep us all informed.

AndyOrban · Answer

Fivejedjon, it looks like there was a misunderstanding between us. I understand what you mean now.

Yes, sure, I will be sure to do as you say in the future!

Regards,
Andy

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