DETERMINERS

• Think of a word that goes before a noun, that’s not an adjective, and
makes a noun phrase. Do you know what it’s called?

DETERMINERS
• I have lost my keys.
• Some folks get all the luck.
• Both windows were open.
What is a Determiner?
• A determiner is a word or a phrase that occurs together with a noun or noun phrase
and serves to express the reference of that noun or noun phrase in the context i.e.
a determiner may indicate whether a noun is referring to a definite or indefinite
element of a class, to a closer or more distant element, to an element belonging to a
specified person or thing, to a particular number or quantity, etc.
• Common kinds of determiners include definite and indefinite articles (the and a or
an), demonstratives (this and that), possessive determiners (my and their), cardinal
numerals, quantifiers (many, all and no), distributive determiners (each, any), and
interrogative determiners (which).
• The function of determiners is to ‘express reference’ i.e. they clarify what a noun is
referring to.
For example:
• when one says ‘that box’, the listener knows which box is being referred to.
• These are the different types of determiners:

• Articles: a, an, the

• Demonstratives: this, that, these, those
• Possessive Adjectives: my, your, her, his,
our, its, their
• Quantifiers: a little, a few, many, much, a lot
of, most, any, some, enough
• Numbers: one, five, forty
• Distributives: both, all, half, neither, either,
every, each
• Interrogatives: what, which, whose

• Here are some examples

of determiners used with
the noun 'house':
• Determiners are commonly used
as part of noun phrases, which
will also include a modifier

(an adjective, another noun, a

possessive form, or an adverb-
adjective combination).

• Here are some examples of 

noun phrases that consist of:

• determiner + modifier +
noun
1. Articles
• a, an, the are the three kinds of Articles.
• Articles can be of two types: Indefinite and Definite articles.

Articles

a an the

Indefinite Articles Definite Article

 i. Indefinite Articles - (a and an). 
• It refers to an object not specifically known to the person we are communicating with.
• It is used before a singular countable noun.
• Used before number collectives and numbers
Example:
• I read a book yesterday.
• The cook is wearing an apron
• The Camel drinks a gallon of water at a time

• NOTE: We do not use a/an with uncountable nouns such as: milk, water, sugar etc.
• a – is used before words beginning with a consonant
or
a vowel with a consonant sound.

• Example:
• Universal(/ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsl/) - Education should be a universal right and not a privilege.
• User(/ˈjuːzə(ɹ)/) – Is this a user friendly manual?
• Unique (/juːˈniːk/) – This is a unique jewelry

• an – is used before words beginning with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u)

or
words beginning with silent ‘h’
• Examples:
• Mary worked for an hour
• He is an honest man
• An apple a day keeps the doctor away
 ii. Definite Article (the)

• ‘The’ is called the definite article because it usually precedes a

specific or previously mentioned noun
• The definite article ‘the’ is used when both the speaker and the
listener know which noun is being referred to.
• Examples:
• I have to go to the bank
• Kushal has two pets; a cat and a dog. The cat is a
Persian breed and the dog, a Labrador.
• We use it to talk about geographical points on the globe.
• Example: The North Pole is not part of any nation, although Russia placed a titanium flag
on it in 2007.
• Used to refer to a time period.
• Example: I am quite fresh and active in the morning.

• It is also used to refer to the best or the most famous

• Example: Sunsets are the most beautiful of all.
This is the moment I was waiting for (implying the best moment of his life)

• Use to indicate all the members of a family.

• Example: I invited the Sharmas for dinner.
The Gowdas and the McDonalds are best of friends.
Exercise:
1. Humpty Dumpty sat on ___ wall.
2. My grandfather was ___ engineer.
3. Taking a warm bath is ___ good way to relax.
4. ___ moon was very bright last night.
5. Rahul has bought ___ house in ___ village. I think ___ village is
charming.
2. Demonstratives
• Demonstrative determiners are used to identify or point to a particular person,
event, or object. 
o This and that are singular. `````
o These and those are plural.

• I like this kind of music
• Why don't you buy that book instead of this one?
• Those children outside are being too noisy
• I take these pills for my back ache
 Exercise:

Near the speaker Far from the speaker

Is this John's house? Is ____ John's house over
there?
____ books are mine. Those books are yours.
3. Possessive Adjectives
• Possessive adjective are determiners which functions as adjectives rather
than pronouns. As they are adjectives, they appear before the noun that
they are modifying.

• Do you like my new dress?
• Take your phone out of your pocket
• I really respect her views on this subject
• His old motorbike is a classic edition
Subject Pronouns Possessive Adjectives Examples

I my I like my sandwich

You your Are you enjoying your stay here?

He His He took care of his grandparents

She Her She is very passionate of her profession

It Its The cat likes its food

We Our We like to have our desserts after a meal

They Their They like their usual routine of Yoga

Exercise:
Insert the correct possessive adjectives:
a. I don't like ____ (their/theirs) apartment.
b. Your car is green, while ____ (my/mine) is
black.
c. Isn't ____ (their/theirs) son older than you?
d. Have you met ____ (my/mine) brother yet?
4. Quantifiers
• Quantifiers provide approximate or specific answers to the questions "How many?" and
"How much?“
• Some and any are used to indicate numbers. Usually some is affirmative and any is negative
• ‘Some or any’ both are used in interrogatives.
• Example:
• There is a lot of noise, are there some boys in the room?
• I do not have any money with me.

• I prefer a little bit of sugar in my tea • I haven't brought much money with me

• Quite a few people should be coming to the
party
• I didn't take many holidays last year
• Complete the sentences with the appropriate quantifiers given in the option:

1. This bag is very heavy because it has got __________ books in it.
A) a little B) a lot of C) a few
2. Kunal and Mrunal have got _________ friends from America.
A) any B) much C) a few
3. Have we got _________ milk in the fridge, mother?
A) many B) a few C) any
4. How ______ money have you got in your purse?
A) many B) any C) much
5. Numbers
• Numbers are either
o cardinal (one, two, three, etc.), which are adjectives referring to quantity, or
o ordinal (first, second, third, etc.) referring to distribution.

• Two cars are enough for most families

• There are about twenty-five people in my office
• It's my fortieth birthday next week
• That is the second time you've done that!
6. Distributives
• Distributive determiners are used to refer to a group or individual members of the
group. They reveal more about how people or things are distributed, shared, or
divided.
• Either and Neither are concerned with distribution between two things – 
either is positive, neither is negative.

• Both countries need to discuss the issues and find a solution

• All pet dogs need plenty of attention
• Half the people decided not to vote
• Neither house is suitable for our needs 
• We can fix the meeting at either 7pm or 8pm tonight.
Complete the sentences with the appropriate distributive:

• Every • Each
• Either • Neither

1. This magazine is published ____ other week.

2. I can stay at ____ hotel, they are both good. (Hint: Positive statement)
3. ____ third day John goes swimming (Recall: Identify cardinal/ordinal?)
4. Which chair do you want?
____ of them – they are both too small
7. Interrogatives
• Interrogatives are used to ask questions. 
• ‘Which’ as a determiner is used to ask about a specific group of people or things.
• ‘What’ as a determiner is used when we are asking a general question. 
• ‘Whose’ is used to ask a question about possession.

• Which restaurant did you like best?

• What time will you come?
• Whose pencil is this?
(Note: The determiner is highlighted in blue and the noun is in black.)
• Fill in the gaps with the correct Wh or how
question word.

o Who o When o Whose

o What o Why o Which

o Where o Whom o How

1. ____ wrote on the wall?

2. ____ can you tell us about it?
3. ____ shoes are these?
4. ____ bus did you take to school?
Summary
• Determiner is a word that occurs with a noun to express the reference of the noun used in its
context.
• These are the different types of determiners:

• Articles:  a, an, the

• Demonstratives:  this, that, these, those
• Possessive Adjectives: my, your, her, his, our, its, their
• Quantifiers:  a little, a few, many, much, a lot of, most, any, some, enough
• Numbers:  one, five, forty
• Distributives:  both, all, half, neither, either, every, each
• Interrogatives:  what, which, whose