DETERMINERS ENGLISH GRAMMAR DEFINITION EXAMPLES USES
DETERMINERS
Determiners are words which come before nouns. They contain several classes of words including pronouns and adjectives. They determine or limit he noun by giving some additional information about it. Determiners show whether a noun refers to a general or a specific object, person or place. They indicate which or how many things the noun refers to. Determiners define or limit a noun to the singular or plural. They indicate amount or quantity. Determiners and nouns together make noun phrases. They make noun phrases with adjectives too. Determiners may precede numerals too.
Determiners do not describe a noun; they determine or point it out.
look at these:
the child
every boy
some politicians
his picture
my house
those trees
no politician
some people
The words in bold letter are determiners.
SOME IMPORTANT DISTINCTIONS
Adjectives & Determiners
An adjective is used to limit the application of a noun by describing it-by giving information about the size, color, age and other qualities:
e.g., big cat, black dog, old man
A determiner is used to limit the application of a noun without describing it. We don’t know anything about the quality of the noun, as
this table, my room, many houses
KINDS OF DETERMINERS
These classes of words make up determiners:
1. Articles (a, an, the)
2. Demonstrative (this, that, these, those)
3. Possessives (my, our, your, his, her, its, their)
4. Distributives (either, neither, each, every)
5. Determiners of quantity and number (some, any, much, several, little, less, enough, no)
This class also includes – first, second, etc., many, either, neither, few, fewer.
6. Interrogatives (what, which, whose, etc.)
Examples: 1. Malabar is a beautiful region.
2. Some students missed their class.
3. Our children are well mannered.
4. All winners of awards were present.
5. This book is too old.
1. Use of Articles
A, AN
1. A an An are used before countable nouns in the singular number, e.g., a question, aan answer.
A and An are used before a noun to show that it is not specific.
2. A is used before consonant sounds, e.g., a boy, a house, a chair, a man, etc.
3. A is used if a word is spelt with a vowel but has a consonant sound, e.g., a unit, a university.
4. A is used in the following expressions:
a pity, a pleasure, a rage, a toothache, a noise, at a loss, a loud voice, a headache, a shame, in a hurry, a bad cold, a nuisance, etc.
5. An is used before a vowel sound, e.g., an eel, an elephant, etc.
6. An is also used if the word is spelt with a consonant but has a vowel sound, e.g., an hour, an honorable man.
THE
1. The can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns.
It is used to show that the noun is specific, e.g., The first railway line in India was laid in Maharashtra.
The phone is out of order.
The information I need is available on the net.
2. The is used with a noun that has already been mentioned.
e.g., I am looking for a student. (not specific)
This is the student I was looking for. (specific0
3. The is also used when a noun is preceded by a superlative adjective – the longest day.
4. The is used for nouns which are common to all people, e.g., the earth, the sun, the moon, the sky.
5. The is used with uncountable nouns if indicating specifics, e.g., the water is clean, the milk has gone sour.
If an unspecific meaning is indicated, the is not used, e.g., Water is an important component of our food.
6. The is used when we refer to whole group of people – the Indians, the good, the bad.
7. The is used before mountain ranges, rivers, canals, oceans, deserts, holy books, etc.
e.g., the Bible, the Himalayas, the Ganges, the Pacific Ocean.
8. The is used before the names of newspaper, government departments, museums, libraries, e.g., the Ministry of Health, The Times of India.
9. The is not used before the name of persons, continents, cities, holidays, days of the week, months, subjects of study, etc. We cannot say the Obama, the Asia, the New Delhi, the February, etc.
10. No articles are needed with the names of diseases, name of meals, languages, name of days, etc.
e.g., It is wrong to say the malaria, the dinner, the Wednesday, etc.
2. USE OF DEMONSTRATIVES
Demonstratives are pronouns which point out to something. However, when they are followed by nouns, they act as determiners.
this, that
these, those
Notice the difference in their use as pronouns and determiners.
e.g., I want this. (pronoun)
I want this book. (determiner because ‘this’ is followed by a noun.)
‘this’ and ‘that’ are singular.
e.g., this house, this card, that school, that child
‘these’ and ‘those’ are plural.
e.g., these children, these posters, those parents, those buildings.
3. USE OF POSSESSIVES
Possessives are pronouns which indicate that a thing belongs to someone:
mine, ours, yours, his, hers, its, theirs
e.g., This is mine and that is yours.
However, if the possessives are followed by nouns, they are possessive determiners.
e.g., his face, her smile, their happiness, my child our house, your blessings.
4. USE OF DISTRIBUTIVES
EACH, EVERY, ALL
Each and Every indicate single units in a group. Each refers to individual members of a small group, while every to members of a large group. Sometimes both each and every can be used, e.g., Each of his five brothers was learned.
Every Indian must vote.
Every/Each one was given aid.
Al is used to indicate the whole group rathe than its components, e.g., All the students of class 11 A have passed.
EITHER, NEITHER
Either has two meanings:
(a) any one of the two different things or persons, e.g., You can choose either course.
(b) the both – Prefects were lined up on either side of the entrance.
Neither is the opposite of either. It means not the one nor the other.
e.g., Neither politician knew what he was promising.
5. USE OF DETERMINERS OF QUANTITY
MANY, MUCH,SOME,ANY
Many is used only with plural nouns and to show a large number.
Much is used with uncountable nouns indicating a large quantity.
FEW, A FEW, THE FEW
Few means very small numbers, not enough and below expectation. A few indicates some numbers.
The few indicates very small specific numbers, e.g.,
Few students are interested in learning languages.
A few students are good at English.
The few students who are good usually come from educated families.
LITTLE, A LITTLE
Look at these two sentences.
We had little rain this year.
We had a little rain this year.
Little is used when the speaker wants to convey the meaning ‘not enough or below expectation’ Little expresses a negative meaning.
A little is used when the speaker wants to convey the meaning ‘a small amount but not much’
A little expresses a positive meaning.
SOME, ANY
Some and Any show not a very large quantity.
Some is used in affirmative sentences, e.g., There is some water in the pitcher.
Any is used in interrogative or negative sentences, e.g., Is there any water in the pitcher?
There isn’t any water in the pitcher.
Now, look at these sentences.
- He hasn’t get any roses in his garden.
- There isn’t any milk left in the jug.
Any is used in negative statements with countable plural nouns like roses and with uncountable nouns like milk.
Now, look at these sentences.
- There were scarcely any spectators in the stadium.
- There is hardly any sugar left in the pot.
Any is also used in positive statements which have words like scarcely and hardly because they express an underlying negative idea.
Look at these sentences. I have bought some stamps in case you need them.
- There is still some milk left in the jug.
- I have bought some stamps in case you need them.
Some is used in positive statements with countable plural nouns like stamps and with uncountable nouns like milk.
ANY
Now look at these sentences:
- Do you own any land in this area?
- Have you got any money?
Any is also used in general questions which are intended for getting information.
Now, look at these sentences:
- Could you do some typing for me?
- Would you like to have some more biscuits?
Some is also used in questions but only in those questions which suggest offers or requests.
6. USE OF INTERROGATIVES
Determiners that are used for framing questions are called interrogatives. ‘What’, Which’, ‘whose’, ‘how much’, ‘how many’ are interrogative determiners.