DETERMINERS
A determiner is a word used before a noun to specify and point at it.
Examples:
This class is well-disciplined. How many pens do you have?
The rotten apples were thrown away. What an excellent speech!
Some lemon juice is needed now.
All the highlighted words(This, The, Some, many, an) are determiners. Determiners are classified as
follows:
1. Article (A, An, The)
Article are used before noun. ‘A’ is used before nouns beginning with a consonant sound and ‘An’ is
used before countable nouns beginning with a vowel sound. ‘The’ is definite article and is used before
singular and plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns.
Examples:
An ostrich stood near Raghu. She made a sandwich and an omelette for me.
A lion is a ferocious animal. The sky looks clear today.
2. Demonstrative (This, That. These, Those)
These words show possession. We can use them before both singular and plural nouns. They can also be
used before uncountable nouns.
Examples:
This building is new. These packets are for you. Please take them.
That helicopter was up in the air. Those kites look beautiful.
3. Possessive (My, Our, Your, His, Her, Its, Their)
Examples:
Rohan has my bag. The bag is big but its handle is very small.
Mona wants your notebook Shail likes her painting.
4. Distributives (Each, Every, Either, Neither)
The use of distributive is discussed below.
(i) Each: We use each when we think of things separately. One by one. Each is used for a small
number. Preferably two, or the group should at least be limited.
Examples: Talk to each child separately.
Each side of the square has the same length.
(ii) Every: We use every when we think of things as a group. It is also used when the number is
large or indefinite.
Examples: Every child needs love and protection.
Every Indian must be proud of his country.
(iii) Either: Either has two meanings. It can mean any of the two different persons or things. It can
also mean both.
Examples: You can take either bus. (any of the two buses)
There are lifts at either side of the building. (on both the sides)
(iv) Neither: Neither means not one or the other. It is opposite of either.
Examples: Neither document has any signature on it.
Neither of the two girls passed the competitive exam.
5. Interrogative (What, Which, Whose, How many, How much)
These are used to ask questions, and can be placed before any kind of a noun.
Examples: Whose bag is this?
Which book on gardening do you recommend?
How many cartons will we require to pack these books?
6. Quantifiers (Any, Some, Much, Many, Few, A Few, The Few, Little, A Little, The Little):
These indicate about the quantity. These are used with both countable as well as uncountable nouns.
The usage of some of the quantifiers is discussed ahead.
(i) Some, Any: We generally use Some in affirmative sentences and any in negative and
interrogative sentences. We rarely use any in affirmative sentences.
Examples: Some boys are still in the library.
There is some sugar in the jar.
Are there any girls in the English play?
Is there any tea in the kettle..?
There isn’t any tea in the kettle.
(ii) Much: Much is used with uncountable nouns.
Examples: Sunita does not have much knowledge about politics.
There is not much milk left.
(iii) Many: Many is used with countable nouns.
Examples:
Did you buy many dresses?
She does not have many friends in the class.
Many boys have shown interest in playing cricket.
Many have been affected by recent floods.
Many of them are involved in the project.
(iv) Few, A Few ,The Few
These are with countable nouns.
Few is used to emphasise lack of something, a few is used to emphasise that something still
remains and the few is used to emphasise not many but all of those.
Examples:
There are few books on the shelf.
I have a few books on astronomy.
He wants to spend the few days that are left, in solitude and meditation.
(v) Little, A Little, The Little:
These are used in the same manner as few, a few and the few. The only difference is that these
are generally used with uncountable nouns.
Examples: We had little time to prepare for the competition.,
It is nice to get a little water in the ground.
The little time we spent on reading the text was not enough to answer all the
questions.
