English – Level 1 2017-2018 © Constantine 2 university

Abdelhamid Mehri University– Constantine 2

E-Learning unit

English – Level 1

– Lesson 4 –
Detreminers

Pedagogical staff
Name Grade Faculty/Institute E-mail address
Boukerrou Lamia MAB Bibliothéconomie Lamia.boukerrou@univ-constantine2.dz

Concerned students
Term 1 (Semestre 1)
Faculty/Institute Department Year Speciality
Sciences économiques All departments Licence 2 All specialities
Sciences humaines et sociales TC Sciences sociales Licence 1 TC Sciences sociales
Nouvelles technologies MI Licence 1 MI
ISTAPS Tronc Commun Licence 1 Tronc Commun
Term 2 (Semestre 2)
Faculty/Institute Department Year Speciality
Bibliothéconomie Tronc Commun Licence 1 Tronc Commun

Objectives of lesson 4
To recognize the different words-determiners-used with nouns,
To use determiners appropriately with nouns.

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English – Level 1 2017-2018 © Constantine 2 university

1. Definition
Determiners are words that give more information and precision to the nouns after them. Determiners can
be possessive pronouns, articles, demonstratives, or quantifiers. Since they are placed in a sentence before
nouns, they function as adjectives.

2. Possessive Pronouns
My-your-his/her/its-our-their
Example:
You forgot your books on the table.
Noun

3. Articles
3.1. Definite article ‘the’
We use when we speak about a specific object or person or something that has already been mentioned.
Examples:
The man whose car is red is so rich.
(In this example, we are talking about a specific man that both the speaker and the listener know).
A man stole my neighbors’ car.
The man was tall and slim.
Library science is a multidisciplinary field.
3.2. Indefinite article ‘a’, ‘an’
We use it when we speak in general about a singular countable noun or when we mention a noun for the first time.
Examples: I bought a book, a copybook, a pen, a pencil, and a ruler.
(all the previous nouns are countable singular ones. we are talking about objects in general not specific ones).
We use the indefinite article ‘an’ when the first letter of the noun is a vowel sound.
Example: I have an oven in my kitchen.
3.3. Zero article
We use it with uncountable nouns or plural nouns.
Examples:
I need salt, sugar, coffee, and milk.
Will you lend me your books and copybooks?

4. Demonstratives
Demonstratives show where an object or a person is in relation to the speaker. There are two kinds of
demonstratives: singular: this, that/plural: these, those.
We use ‘this’ and ‘these’ for close and near objects and people.
Example: This pupil is serious /these pupils are serious.
We use ‘that’ and ‘those’ for far objects or which are not present.
Example: That book is really useful/ those books are really useful. (The books are maybe in the
library and the persons are in class)

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English – Level 1 2017-2018 © Constantine 2 university

5. Quantifiers
Quantifiers show the quantity and the amount of the nouns after them; All-many-a lot of/lots of-much-some-
(a) few-(a) little- -none. Any-enough-sufficient.

All many/much/a lot of/lots of some a few/a little few/little none

Read and compare
I spent all my money in the vacation.
I have much money/ I have many brothers and sisters.
I need some salt and vegetables.
I have a little money, I think they are enough.
I have few vegetables. I think they are insufficient I should buy some.
I have no money.

Remark
All/a lot of/ lots of/some/no/none are used with both countable and uncountable nouns.
‘many’ and ‘much’ are synonyms-‘few’ and ‘little’ are synonyms too. But, ‘many’ and ‘few’ are
used with countable nouns whereas ‘much’ and ‘little’ are used with uncountable nouns.
The quantifiers a few/a little include a positive quantity. They show that the amount is not too
much but still it is enough and sufficient. While ‘few’ and ‘little’ show the opposite i.e negative
quantity not enough.

6. Practice Activity
Choose from the list below the appropriate determiner.
1) Could you bring me ……………… (this-these-that-those) books I left in your house?
2) ………….. (the-a-an-Ø) sun rises from the East.
3) The doctor advised me to eat ……………. (a-an-the) orange every day.
4) There aren’t …………….. (much-many-few-little) students in …………. (the-a-an) library.
5) I haven’t got ……………… (many-some-any-none) information about the theme.
6) She gave cookies to ………………. (any-all-each) child.
7) I have got to solve ………………(some-any-much-each) math problems before I go to sleep.
8) (with a bowl of grapes on your lap) you say: ………… (that-these-this-those) grapes are delicious!
9) My mother does not drink……………… (much-many-some) coffee.
10) My mother does not drink……………… (a-an-the-Ø) coffee.
11) I always keep …………… (many-any-little) money in my wallet for emergencies.
12) Is there any milk in …………….. (a-Ø-the) fridge?
13) (This-These-Those) book is very interesting.

References
Students can consult the following links for further reading:
http://www.ef.com/english-resources/english-grammar/determiners/
http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/grammar-exercise-determiners.php

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