What are determiners in English grammar? Simply defined, a determiner is a word in English that presents a noun or gives information about its amount. Determiners are used to offer information about a noun or to present a noun in English. It always appears before, not after, a noun, as well as any other adjectives used to describe the noun.
When presenting plural nouns, determiners are obligatory before a singular noun but are unnecessary when introducing plural nouns. Dig in the article to learn more about determiners including their types and rules.
Types of Determiners in English Grammar
After knowing the determiners definition, learn about the types below:
Articles
The articles in determiners are: a, an and the
There are two types of articles. They are as follows:
Definite Articles
There is only one definite article: the
Here are some examples of indefinite articles:
I expect you to give back the money you took from me.
The pants I told you about are out of stock.
Please be sure that the parcel reaches you in time.
The flight we were about to board got delayed.
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Indefinite Articles
There are two indefinite articles: a and an
Here are some examples of indefinite articles:
A ball on the table.
A small bowl of sugar.
An interesting poem.
An orange in the bag.
A university.
A European was there in the pub.
A cab will be waiting for you.
A whale is larger than an elephant.
An umbrella is needed in the rain.
The flight is delayed by an hour.
Possessives
The possessives in determiners are: my, your, his, her, its, our, their
Here are a few examples on possessives determiners:
This is my car.
The beanbag you are sitting on is mine.
I wonder what happened to his car.
Where is their house?
It’s her basket.
Our farmhouse is just across the street.
Where is your car?
She is my mother.
Our uncle is a rich man.
Your child is adorable.
What is her age?
Do you know its price?
Their car is very big.
This is my book.
That is my car.
His name is Rahul.
Her name is Rina.
We have sold our car.
I like your bike.
This is my room.
This is her bag.
Here is your money.
It is their vehicle.
You are my sister.
Who broke your glass?
You are my nice brother.
You are my beautiful wife.
This car is not suitable for me.
Demonstratives
The demonstratives in determiners are: this, that, these and those
Here are some examples of demonstratives determiners:
This is my mother’s sweet home.
That looks like a fox.
These are nice flowers but smell bad.
Those are wild animals and very dangerous.
These are my favourite dishes.
Those are my clothes.
That is my car
These are your papers
This is not your pen
This is the place where I love to ear
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Quantifiers
The quantifiers in determiners are: all, any, some and every
Here are some examples of quantifiers determiners:
I saw a few people in the gym.
Riyah has many friends here.
I have written articles on several topics
Joe went to many people regarding this project.
Alina had some cake only.
Hiram has much knowledge about this subject.
We have enough food in the fridge.
I am a bit busy.
She drank a little water.
Try to have some patience.
Sia has a lot of experience.
Parker has few friends.
I asked Rob several times about it.
We bought many things from the store.
You can take any of the shoes.
Give me some water.
Eric has enough patience.
He had some work there.
List of Determiners Examples
| a
a few a little all an another any anybody anyone anything anywhere both certain (also adjective) each either enough every everybody everyone everything everywhere few fewer fewest |
last (also adjective)
least less (also adverb and preposition) little (also adjective) many many a more (also adverb) most (also adverb) much neither next (also adjective) no (also interjection) no one nobody none nothing nowhere once one (also noun and pronoun) said (also verb) several (also adjective) some |
somebody
something somewhere sufficient (also adjective) that the these this those three (also noun) thrice twice two (also noun) us (also pronoun) various we (also pronoun) what (also pronoun and adjective) whatever which (also pronoun) whichever you (also pronoun) zero (also noun) |
Determiners Rules
To learn the determiners usage technique, you just know the rules first. There are the four basic Determiners rules.
# Always come before a noun.
# Come before any modifiers for nouns
# Required before a singular noun.
# Optional before plural nouns.
Practise Questions on Determiners
Fill in the blanks using the right determiners.
Q1
(a) …………………………….. (a/an/the) man went for (b) …………………………….. (a/an/the) holiday to (c) …………………………….. (a/an/the) place near (d) …………………………….. (a/an/the) sea., (e) …………………………….. (every/all/some) morning he went for a swim in the sea. On (f) …………………………….. (all/most/every) days the sea was rough, but on (g) …………………………….. (every/most/some) days it was calm.
Answer:
(a) a (b) a (c) a (d) the (e) every (f) most (g) some
Q2
Savita has lost the (a) …………………………. pens she had. Now she has spent the (b) …………………………. money she had on buying more. So she is giving (c) …………………………. worried look.
Answer: (a) few (b) little (c) a
Q3
There are so (a) …………………………. ways of entertainment in life. (b) …………………………. circus is one of the most entertaining media. Last Sunday (c) …………………………. of (d) …………………………. friends went to see the Diamond Circus. My uncle took us there. (e) …………………………. one paid for (f) …………………………. ticket.
Answer: (a) many (b) The (c) some (d) our (e) Every (f) his
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Q4
(a) …………………………. is one of (b) …………………………. most memorable trips. At Rameshwaram we saw (c) …………………………. ancient temples, which gave (d) …………………………. idea of our glorious past. It added (e) …………………………. to (f) …………………………. knowledge.
Answer: (a) This (b) the (c) a few (d) some (e) a lot (f) our
Q5
Sahil: Meet him, (a) …………………………. is (b) …………………………. brother.
Rohan: You resemble (c) …………………………. (d) ………………………….
Sahil: No, you are wrong, (e) …………………………. of us resembles.
In fact, there is hardly (f) …………………………. resemblance.
Answer: (a) he (b) my (c) each (d) Other (e) neither m any
Q6
Mukna Kangjei is (a) …………………………. very popular game in Manipur. It enjoyed (b) …………………………. royal patronage in (c) …………………………. olden days. Manipur is known for several games that developed over (d) …………………………. period of time. It is (e) …………………………. indigenous game. In the beginning, it was very popular but now slowly (f) …………………………. game is fading away.
Answer: (a) a (b) the (c) the (d) a (e) an (f) the
Q7
The interact club of ABC Public School recently organised (a) …………………………. voluntary blood donation …………………………. event was (c) …………………………. initiative of (d) …………………………. Rotary Club of Delhi. As (e) …………………………. part of the drive (f) …………………………. students took out a rally in the vicinity of the school.
Answer: (a) a (b) The (c) an (d) the (e) a (f) the
Q8
Unfortunately, (a) …………………… (a lot/few) of the companies which we sent offers to showed interest in our products.
Last month was a good month for the company. We found (b) ……….. (many/effect) new customers and also increased our profit.
We have to speed up, there is very (c) ………… (few/little) time to finish the project.
There were (d) …………………. (fewer/all) people than usual in the supermarket to buy our product.
It will take me (e) …………….. (a little/neither) time, but I’m sure everyone will learn how to use the new software eventually.
I have (f) ………………….. (many/little) money but more time than I did ten years ago.
Answer :
- a) few b) many c) little d) fewer e) a little f) little
Q9
There was (a) ………….. book launch and (b) ………………. interactive session with India’s Mission Mars Dream Team at (c) …………….. Indian National Science Academy in (d) ……………… Capital in November. Through (e) ……………. book ‘Reaching for The Stars: India’s Journey to Mars and Beyond,’ the authors relate (f) …………. untold story of marathon to Mars. The writers chronicled (g) …………… Martian adventure of (h) ……………… Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) as an insider’s narrative of India’s journey from (i) ……………. Red Fort in Delhi when (j) ………….. mission was announced in 2012. The Chairman claimed that Mars Orbiter Mission is only (k) ……………… beginning they are looking at (l) ………… bigger scientific mission to Mars.
Answer :
- a) a b) an c) the d) the e) the f) the g) the h) the i) the j) the k) a l) a
Q10
Medicine remains a dream career for (a) ……….. and (b) …………….. of the aspirants go abroad to train as doctors. Whil (c) …………….. majority look to countries like (d) ……………… US for postgraduate training, (e) ………… go to places such as China. Here are two experiences, one in (f) ………… East and (g) ……… in the West. One relates that the education system in (h) …………… People’s Republic of China gives you (i) …… time to study by yourself. Practical training is (j) ……………….. better than classroom teaching.
Answer :
-
a) many b) some c) a d) the e) others f) the g) the other h) the i) more j) much
Conclusion
We hope that his article helped you learn a lot about determiners. These words are very important in sentence formation in the English language. To construct a sentence you must know how to use these words. The positioning of these words plays a crucial role in it.
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