The teacher told you not to call vs Teacher told you not to call

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. The first phrase includes the definite article 'the' before 'teacher,' which implies that a specific teacher is being referred to. The second phrase omits the article, making it more general and applicable to any teacher. The choice between the two depends on whether the speaker is referring to a specific teacher or teachers in general.

Last updated: March 31, 2024 • 610 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English. It refers to a specific teacher who gave the instruction.

"The teacher told you not to call"

This phrase is used when referring to a particular teacher who has given a specific instruction. The definite article 'the' indicates that a specific teacher is being talked about.

Examples:

The teacher told you not to call during class.
The teacher told you not to call your classmates names.
The teacher told you not to call him after hours.
The teacher told you not to call out in the hallway.
The teacher told you not to call your parents during school hours.

Show examples from the web [+]

The teacher told me study harder.
The teacher told him to study English hard.
The teacher told us that Columbus discovered America in 1492.
The teacher told us to come get you.
Maybe the teacher told us the wrong place.
The teacher told me that Hitler killed himself.
The teacher told me that Hitler killed himself.
There's the big hallway the teacher told us about.
And one day, the teacher told us Chris ate his lunch, so we knew he'd settled in.
Yes. The teacher told me, but I forgot.
The teacher told him to come.
The teacher told me to clean the aquarium.
Which means if your high school bio teacher told you that humans sit at the top of the food chain, he or she was dead wrong.
She's the teacher I told you about.
Look, I should've just told you I was the teacher.
I also told you not to call him.
I told you not to call my husband.
I told you not to call anyone and you deliberately disobeyed me.
I told you to call the others and we leave.
Demetrius, I told you not to call.

Alternatives:

My teacher told me not to call.
That teacher told you not to call.
This teacher told you not to call.
Our teacher told us not to call.
Your teacher told you not to call.

This phrase is also correct and commonly used in English. It refers to teachers in general giving the instruction.

"Teacher told you not to call"

This phrase is more general and can refer to teachers in general giving a particular instruction. The absence of the definite article 'the' makes it applicable to any teacher.

Examples:

Teacher told you not to call out in class.
Teacher told you not to call your friends names.
Teacher told you not to call during the exam.
Teacher told you not to call out in the library.
Teacher told you not to call your parents during school hours.

Show examples from the web [+]

Which means if your high school bio teacher told you that humans sit at the top of the food chain, he or she was dead wrong.
I also told you not to call him.
I told you not to call my husband.
I told you not to call anyone and you deliberately disobeyed me.
I told you to call the others and we leave.
Demetrius, I told you not to call.
I told you to call him personally.
I told you to call me Oppa.
I told you to call my cell phone.
I've told you not to call me Tom.
I told you to call your sister.
I told you to call me Macy.
Told you not to call it Parker.
I told you to call Salvation Army.
The teacher told me study harder.
The teacher told him to study English hard.
Your teacher told me what happened today.
I told you not to call her.
I've wanted to call you every day since I first told you how I felt.
Jake, I told you not to call unless it was important.

Alternatives:

Teachers told you not to call.
A teacher told you not to call.
Your teacher told you not to call.
My teacher told me not to call.
That teacher told you not to call.

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The teacher told you not to call vs Teacher told you not to call