Determiners
by: Aaron S. Casipe Jr.
September 25, 2023
What is a Determiner?
A determiner is a word that modifies, describes,
or introduces a noun.
Determiners can be used to clarify what a noun refers to
(e.g., your car) and to indicate quantity or number
(e.g., four wheels).
Examples:
Determiners in a sentence
That cup is chipped.
Miles is taking her first steps.
The festival has been postponed due to bad weather.
How are determiners used in sentences?
A determiner modifies or describes a noun by clarifying what it
refers to.
Determiners do this by indicating qualities such as possession,
relative position, and quantity.
In a noun phrase, determiners come before nouns.
Examples: Determiners and nouns
One person is missing from the group.
I’ve been stung by a wasp.
Determiners vs. Adjectives
Many kinds of determiners are traditionally
classified as adjectives, and they may still be classified
that way now, depending on the source you consult.
But there are significant differences in how
determiners and adjectives actually function.
While both can be used to modify a noun, only an
adjective can modify a pronoun (e.g., he’s sad).
And unlike adjectives, determiners are often considered
essential to the sentences they’re a part of and can’t be
removed.
Examples: Determiners vs. adjectives
Calvin cycled his blue bike home from work.
Calvin cycled his bike home from work.
Definite and Indefinite Articles
Articles are sometimes classed as their own part of
speech, but they are also considered a type of determiner.
The definite article the is used to refer to a specific noun
(i.e., one that is unique or known)
Examples: Definite article in a sentence
The moon looks beautiful tonight.
Can I borrow the book on the table?
The indefinite articles a and an are used to refer to a
general or unspecific version of a noun. Which indefinite
article you use depends on the pronunciation of the word
that follows.
A is used before words that begin with a consonant
sound (e.g., a clown).
An is used before words that begin with a vowel sound
(e.g., an arrow).
Examples: Indefinite articles in a sentence
Jesse ate an apple and an orange.
Would you like a free sample?
Indefinite articles can also be used to refer to
something for the first time. Once a noun has
been introduced, the definite article should
then be used, as it refers to a previously
mentioned noun.
Example: Indefinite and definite articles
An elephant approached. The elephant was large
and gray.
Note:
While the definite article the can be used with
all countable and uncountable nouns, the indefinite
articles a and an can only be used with singular
countable nouns.
The rain
A rain
The raindrop
A raindrop
Demonstrative Determiners
Demonstrative determiners (also called demonstrative
adjectives or simply demonstratives) are used to indicate
relative positions of a noun.
The demonstrative determiners are:
“This” (the singular “near” demonstrative)
“These” (the plural “near” demonstrative)
“That” (the singular “far” demonstrative)
“Those” (the plural “far” demonstrative)
Examples: Demonstrative determiners indicating
position
I don’t want to sit at this table. I want that table near the
window.
These people are not to blame. Those people over there
started the fight.
They can also be used to distinguish between more recent
time (this and these) and more distant time
(that and those).
Examples: Demonstrative determiners indicating
time
This winter is a lot milder than that winter.
We were very close in those days, but we rarely see each
other these days.
Note:
Demonstrative determiners are identical in form to
their equivalent demonstrative pronouns. The
difference is that demonstrative pronouns stand on
their own rather than modifying a noun.
For example, in the sentence “I don’t want this,”
“this” functions as a demonstrative pronoun.
Possessive Determiners
A possessive determiner (also called a possessive
adjective) is used to describe ownership or possession.
The possessive determiners
are my, your, his, her, its, our and their.
They are closely related to personal pronouns (in that they
also have first-, second-, and third-person forms) but not
classed as pronouns themselves.
They differ grammatically from possessive
pronouns (mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, and theirs),
which stand alone rather than modifying nouns (e.g.,
“Yours is better”).
Example: Possessive determiner in a sentence
Penelope brought her cat to the vet.
The tree is shedding its leaves
Note:
While the possessive forms of nouns typically end
with an ’s (e.g., Dave’s bedroom), possessive
determiners do not use an apostrophe. As a result
of this, confusion sometimes occurs between its
and it’s, whose and who’s, and there, their, and
they’re.
Numbers as Determiners
Both cardinal numbers (one, two, three, etc.) and ordinal
numbers (first, second, third, etc.) can be used as
determiners.
Cardinal numbers
Cardinal numbers are used to indicate the quantity of
people or things. They typically follow other determiners
in a sentence (e.g., my one chance).
Examples: Cardinal numbers as determiners
I’m close with my four siblings.
They ordered 18 sandwiches.
He wore the number 23.
Ordinal numbers
Ordinal numbers are used to specify the order of
nouns in a series. They follow other determiners in
a sentence (e.g., your sixth birthday).
Examples: Ordinal numbers as determiners
I think the third man in the lineup is the thief.
This was the fifth science exam that he had failed.
I am in sixth place in a fast-track race.
Distributive Determiners
Distributive determiners (also called distributive
adjectives) are used to refer to a group or to
individual people or objects within a group.
The distributive determiners
are all, each, every, both, half, either, and neither
.
Examples: Distributive determiners in a sentence
Each employee was given a raise.
Half the team didn’t show up to practice.
Neither Lina nor John has met the new neighbors.
An Interrogative determiners
Interrogative determiner (also called
an interrogative adjective) modifies a
noun or pronoun in a direct or indirect
question. The interrogative determiners
are what, which, and whose.
These words can also function as pronouns
instead of determiners when used in place
of a noun (e.g., “Which do you like?”).
And when they are used as determiners
outside the context of a question, they are
called “relative determiners.”
Example: Interrogative determiners
and relative determiners
What height is the Empire State Building?
Whose turn is it to wash the dishes?
I wonder which hand he broke.
Note:
Although what and which are often used
interchangeably in questions, they don’t have the
same meaning.
What is usually used to ask a question when there is
a wide range of options or the options are unknown.
Which is used when the number of options is more
limited or the options are known.
Quantifiers
Quantifiers (also called indefinite adjectives)
indicate the quantity of a noun.
They include all, any, few, less, little, many,
much, no, several, and some.
They also include the cardinal numbers
(one, two, three, etc.).
Examples: Quantifiers in a sentence
There are already several people waiting for a table at this
restaurant.
Some students in the class are refusing to do their homework
Determiners of difference
Other and another are the determiners of difference.
Other is used to mean “additional” or “different types of.”
It’s used with plural countable nouns (e.g., doors) and all
uncountable nouns (e.g., knowledge).
Examples: Other in a sentence
Other shoes might match your outfit better.
Do we have any other fruit?
Determiners of difference
Another is used to mean “one more” or “a different one.”
It’s only used with singular countable nouns (e.g., fork).
Example: Another in a sentence
Can I have another cup of tea?
Do you have another shirt to put on when you get wet?
Determiners were introduced and examined regarding
their role in relation to the head noun in the phrase.
Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of
determiners and their discourse functions, especially
their role in narrative discourse with respect to
establishing for the reader a particular point of
view.
Thank you!!