definite article: [taking (the) time to make...]

[ansonman]

I have made up the sentences below.

(1) Thank you for taking time to make photocopies for me every day.

(2) Thank you for taking the time to make photocopies for me every day.

All of my friends are non-native English speakers. Some think (1) is correct and the others think the sentence (2) sounds better without the definite article. (1) sounds better to my non-native English ears because "every day" talks about a regular and repetitive action (making photocopies every day).

Please help me. Thank you very much for your time and help.

[Alan]

Both are possible, but (2) is slightly more idiomatic.