Determiners

English Grammar

Determiners are words placed before nouns to tell us more about them.

1. Types of Determiners

Articles: a, an, the
Demonstratives: this, that, these, those
Possessives: my, your, his, her, our, their
Quantifiers: some, any, much, many, few, little
Numbers: one, two, three, first, second
Distributives: each, every, either, neither
Interrogatives: Which, What, Whose

2. Articles

Articles are of two types:

Indefinite Articles - A, An
Definite Article - The

Use of A

Use A before words beginning with a consonant sound.

a boy
a car
a university
a European

Use of An

Use An before words beginning with a vowel sound.

an apple
an elephant
an hour
an honest man

Use of The

Use The when referring to something specific or unique.

The sun
The moon
The Ganga
The book on the table

3. Demonstrative Determiners

Demonstrative determiners point to specific persons or things. The four demonstratives are:

This: Singular, near (This book is mine)
That: Singular, far (That house is beautiful)
These: Plural, near (These apples are fresh)
Those: Plural, far (Those boys are playing)

4. Possessive Determiners

Possessive determiners show ownership or possession. They tell us who owns something.

My - My book is new.
Your - Your bag is heavy.
His - His father is a teacher.
Her - Her dress is beautiful.
Its - The dog wagged its tail.
Our - Our school is large.
Their - Their house is big.

5. Quantifiers

Quantifiers tell us how much or how many of something there is.

Some and Any

Some: Usually used in positive sentences. (I have some friends.)
Any: Usually used in negative and question sentences. (I don't have any friends.)

Much and Many

Much: Used with uncountable nouns. (Much water, Much money, Much time)
Many: Used with countable plural nouns. (Many books, Many students, Many people)

Few and A Few

Both are used with countable plural nouns.

Few: Almost none; negative meaning. (Few students passed the exam.)
A few: Some; positive meaning. (I have a few friends.)

Little and A Little

Both are used with uncountable nouns.

Little: Almost none. (There is little water in the bottle.)
A little: Some amount. (I have a little money.)

6. Distributive Determiners

Distributive determiners refer to people or things one at a time or individually.

Each

Use Each when thinking about members of a group individually.

Each student received a prize.
Each of the boys has a book.

Every

Use Every when referring to all members of a group individually.

Every student must attend the class.
I go for a walk every morning.

Each and Every are followed by a singular noun and usually take a singular verb.

Either

Use Either when referring to one of two choices.

You can take either road.
Either answer is correct.

Neither

Use Neither when referring to not one and not the other of two choices.

Neither answer is correct.
Neither of the boys is present.

7. Number Determiners

Number determiners tell us how many people or things there are, or their order.

Cardinal Numbers

Cardinal numbers tell us the exact quantity or number.

I have one brother.
She bought two pens.
Five students are absent.

Ordinal Numbers

Ordinal numbers tell us the position or order of something.

He stood first in class.
She lives on the second floor.
This is my third attempt.
Take the fourth turn.

8. Interrogative Determiners

Interrogative determiners are used to ask questions about nouns. They come before a noun.

Which

Use Which when asking someone to choose from a limited number of options.

Which book do you want?
Which colour do you like?
Which student is absent?

What

Use What when asking for information about something.

What subject do you like?
What time is it?
What movie are you watching?

Whose

Use Whose when asking about ownership.

Whose bag is this?
Whose car is parked outside?
Whose notebook is missing?