Determiners

Determiners

– Determiners are words placed in front of a noun

to make clear what the noun refers to.
– Placed at the beginning of a noun or a noun
phrase
– A noun phrase usually carries only one
determiner.
Classes of Determiners

There are 7 classes of determiners

 Articles (definite and Indefinite)
 Demonstratives
 Quantifiers
 Possessives
 Numbers (cardinal and Ordinal)
 Distributives or Indefinite Pronouns
 Question Words or relative Pronouns
Articles

– Articles in English are a, an, the

• The indefinite articles a or an convey that the noun refers to a non specific or
general item.

• The definite article the means that the noun refers to a specific item.

Eg: The children are coming.

A box of sweets was eaten by Lakshmi.

I want the box of sweets back.

Demonstratives

– Points out who or what is being referred to.

– This, That, These, Those

Eg: This book is mine.

– I think that man is their leader.

– These chairs need to be replaced.

– Those mangoes are ripe.

Quantifiers

– Used with a noun to show the amount of something.

– Few, Little, Much, Many, Most, A lot of, Some, Other, Any, Enough, More, Such
Eg: Some students are not attending the class.
– Most of the books in the syllabus are available in the library.
– A few students failed in the exam
– Much attention was given to this matter.
– I think he got enough money to buy the book.
Possessives

– Words that show that something or someone belongs to someone

– My, Your, Its, His, Her, Our, Their
– This is my brother.
– Please give me your book.
– His shirt is torn.
– Her pen is really expensive.
– Our house is being renovated.
Numbers (Cardinal and Ordinal)

– Cardinal
– Used in simple counting and shows quantity
– One, ten, fifteen, thirty, hundred
EG: There are two apples in the basket.
– We have forty students in our class
– Ordinal
– Used to show the position of someone or something in a series
– First, fifth, tenth, hundredth
EG: The first bench is occupied
The hundredth child getting admission to this school will be given special gifts.
Distributives

– A word used to refer singly without exception to the members in a group.

– Both, Half, Either, Neither, Each, Every, All

– Both students excelled in their studies

– Every man is unique in his own way.

– Either one is telling a lie.

– All students in this class are really good.

Question words or Relative Pronouns

– Whose, which, what, whatever

– A question words they are used to frame a question
Eg: Which book are you referring to?
– Whose book is this?
– As relative pronouns, they refers to a relationship.
Eg: This is Meena whose mother is the District Collector now.
This is the book Which I was speaking about.
Thank You