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There are many different types of determiners. Here is a list of the most common types of determiners. Click the links to find out more about each type.
Description: The definite article is used to refer to something specific. The indefinite articles are used to refer to something general.
Description: Demonstratives are use to point to something specific instead of something general. Demonstratives also tell us where the noun is in
relation to the speaker. It is either close or far away.
C) Difference words
Description: Difference words are used when you want to refer to something different, additional, or remaining.
D) Distributives
Description: Distributives are used to refer to how people or things are divided or shared within a group.
each
The teacher hands a paper to each child.
every
The teacher grades every paper after school.
either
Do you want the blue shirt or the red shirt?
I will be happy with either shirt.
neither
Nick eats neither pizza nor spaghetti.
Description: Numbers are used to tell an exact amount (one, two, three) or a certain order (first, second, third.)
one
twenty
thirteen
fifty-two
first
last
third
.
Examples:
F) Possessives
Description: Possessives are used to show who or what the noun belongs to.
my
your
his
her
its
our
their
Examples:
I am her friend.
Bill's
America's
Mr. Smith's
Lisa's
Examples:
H) Quantifiers
Description: Quantifiers tell us the number of each noun. They tell us "how much" or "how many."
These are just a few of the quantifiers that can be used as determiners.
a little
a few
a lot of
all
any
both
enough
many
most
much
some
Examples:
Description: Question words ask which thing or person is being referred to by the speaker. Defining words explain which thing or person is being
referred to.
which
Which house is yours? (question)
I will show you which house is mine. (defining)
what
What book did you read? (question)
whose
Whose dog is that? (question)
That is the man whose dog was in your yard. (defining)
Pre-determiners
Description: Pre-determiners are placed before determiners in a sentence. They come before articles or determiners and give even more information
about the noun that comes after the determiner.
Here are just a few common pre-determiners that you can use:
such
rather
twice
half
not really
indeed
all
both
quite
Examples:
pre-determiner determiner
Determiners are not usually used before singular proper nouns, such as names of countries and people.
Examples:
Examples:
You can use these types of determiners before plural countable nouns:
possessive pronouns
numbers
quantifiers
question words
Examples:
5. Use the indefinite articles "a" and "an" as determiners when referring to non-specific singular nouns
Examples:
I need a pencil.
Examples:
6. Use the definite article "the" as a determiner when referring to a specific noun
Examples:
7. Sometimes one or more adjectives are placed between the determiner and the noun to make the noun even more
specific
Examples: