Determiners

In English grammar, the determiners are to be used before a noun in order to show the particular example that is being referred to. There are several types of determiners, every rule has the rule’s importance. The words like ‘a, an, the, a few’ all are considered as examples of determiners. 

Example: This book is relatable.

Kinds of determiners: 

There are 9 main kinds of determiners, each of them is to be discussed in detail as under: 

1. Pre-determiners

This can be defined as the words that occur in the folder terminal in order to give a limit to the noun.

For example: 

You will receive all the information

She has such a beautiful corset.

2. Articles

There are three articles in English ‘a, an, the’. The is considered to be The definite article whereas a or an is considered infinite. When the singular nouns are referred to for the first time then either a or an is used. When the words are already understood then they are used.

Article ‘The’

• The is considered as a definite article

Some of the uses of the definite articles are given as under: 

1. Definite articles can be used for common nouns.
2. Definite articles can be used to refer specified person things
3. definite articles can be used to refer to the things that are rare in the world
4. The definite articles can be used when the particular building is being referred to.
5. Definite article can be used with countable nouns
6. Indefinite articles can be used to refer to the parts of the body
7. The definite articles can be used with the expressions of time
8. Definite articles are used to refer to the family of things we regularly use.
9. Definite articles can also be used before nationals of some country or continent.

The infinite articles ‘a or an’

Article a, an, and the are indefinite articles. 

• Use of an: 

The article ‘an’ can only be used before the vowels like: a, e, i, o, u

Example: This is an apple. 

Essential case: When some of the words are silent then we can use an for them

Ram is an honest man. 

• Article ‘a’

The article is used before the words with a consonant sound.

 For example: He is a boy.

3.Demonstrative determiners: 

• Demonstrative determiners are those that are used to talk about the persons of things that are already mentioned. Example:  these, those, this, that. 

• We can use this or there for the things that are not seen before. We need to use that for those things that are at a distance but you have seen them. for example: 

We lived in this house for several years.

She brought the dresses.

• The words this or that are to be used for singular nouns. Nearest big bazaar 2000 to be used for plural nouns.

Example: Those boys broke my glasses. 

This girl is the cutest. 

4. Possessive Determiners: 

These determiners are used to show possession. The words like ‘my, hers, his, its, theirs’ are to be used. 

Examples of possessive determiners: 

She is my sister?

This is my home?

What is your name?

What is your age?

5.Ordinal Determiners: 

They are used to refer to something that has the series. 

Example: 

I shall meet you next week.

She is the first girl who has joined my group. 

6. Cardinal Determiners: 

Cardinal and ordinal numbers show how many of the particular things are there. The cardinals are: one, three, hundreds etc.

Examples: 

There are only five girls in this room. 

She has three children. 

7. Quantifiers determiners: 

Quantifiers are the type of determiners used to refer to the quantity of other particular things. Like: much, several, some etc. 

Example of quantifiers: 

There are some people in the street.

Both of you should go to the party.

7.Distributive Determiners: 

These are determiners used to refer to a single member of the group. Like: Each, every etc. 

Example: 

Each student is important. 

8. Interrogative Determiners: 

Interrogative determiners are used to ask questions like:  what, which, whose etc. 

Examples: 

Which subject are you studying?

What is your name?

Which color is your favorite?

Conclusion: 

Determine are the words used before a noun. They are important in order to clarify nouns and to make the sentence more precise and focused. Determiners are a bit complicated because several parts of speech connect as a determiner. They express the reference of a noun or phrase in a particular context. There are nine main kinds of determiners. These kinds are: pre-determiners, articles, demonstratives, possessives, ordinals, cardinals, distributives, and interrogatives.