Determiners in English Grammar

Definition

• A determiner is a word that expresses the reference of a noun or noun phrase in a sentence.
• It indicates whether the noun is specific or general, and whether it is singular or plural.

Types of Determiners

• Articles: the, a, an
  • Indicate whether the noun is specific (the) or general (a, an)
  • Used to modify singular nouns
• Demonstratives: this, that, these, those
  • Indicate proximity or distance from the speaker
  • Used to modify singular or plural nouns
• Possessive Adjectives: my, your, his, her, its, our, their
  • Indicate possession or relationship
  • Used to modify singular or plural nouns
• Quantifiers: some, any, all, both, each, few, many, much, little, etc.
  • Indicate quantity or amount
  • Used to modify singular or plural nouns
• Interrogative Determiners: which, what
  • Used in questions to ask for specific information
  • Modify singular or plural nouns
• ** Distributives**: each, every, either, neither
  • Indicate distribution or selection
  • Used to modify singular nouns

Functions of Determiners

• Specify: indicate which noun is being referred to
• Quantify: indicate the quantity or amount of the noun
• Describe: provide additional information about the noun
• Emphasize: draw attention to the noun

Key Points

• Determiners typically come before the noun or noun phrase in a sentence
• They can combine with other determiners to form more complex expressions
• The choice of determiner depends on the context, grammatical function, and intended meaning of the sentence

Learn about the different types of determiners, their functions and how they are used in sentences to express reference, quantity, and description. Understand the key points of determiners in English grammar.