#sticky_and_tricky The Usage of 'all', 'all of the' and 'all t | The High Speech

#sticky_and_tricky
The Usage of 'all', 'all of the' and 'all the' with Plural Nouns

To understand the difference in the usage of the determiner 'all' with the definite article and without it, you need to bear in mind the difference in reference that the definite article creates, i.e., particularity.

1. All + plural noun

When speaking about all objects in a group of homogeneous objects without making any exceptions.

Examples:
All living things normally want to keep on living.
All school teachers must not forget about setting an example for their students.
Our family have owned many cars, and we can all agree on one common feature all cars have – they break down.

2. All of the + plural noun

When speaking about a specified group of homogeneous objects. The definite article in this case performs the individualising or restrictive function with countable and uncountable nouns respectively.

Examples:
All of the water was used up by the irrigating system.
The administration of the charity event announced that all of the wearable merchandise prepared for the event had been sold out.
When we arrived to the stadium, all of the parking lots were occupied.

3. All the + plural noun

This construction is a shortened, more colloquial variant of 'all of the + plural noun'.

Examples:
The evacuation of the building engaged all the emergency exits.
He told his mother that he had done all the housework before going out with his friends.
When we entered the cinema hall, almost all the seats were occupied though the showing had not started yet.