DETERMINERSDETERMINERS, OR NOUN SIGNALS ARE SPECIAL ADJECTIVES USED...

7. Determiners

Determiners, or noun signals are special adjectives used before nouns. There are

different kinds of determiners.

The Articles

The words a, an and the are called the articles. A and an are indefinite articles.

They are used with singular nouns. Use a before nouns that begin with &

consonant. Use an before nouns that begin with a vowel.

John is reading a book.

Would you like a peach?

- Some vowels begin with a consonant sound. Use a with these vowels.

Is there a university in your town?

Does every child in the school wear a uniform?

- Some words begin with a silent H. Use an with norms that begin with a silent h:

We've been waiting here for an hour.

The word the is called the definite article. Use the before a noun when you are

talking to someone who already know which person or thing you mean.

Dad is sitting in the garden.

Turn the television off now.

Demonstrative determiners

Use this and these to talk about things and people that are near you.

Use that and those to talk about things and people that are farther away from

you. Quantifying Determiners

Words such as many, much and several tell about quantity without giving an exact

number. They are called quantifying determiners.

Some quantifying determiners are used only with plural nouns. They are

few, a

few, fewer; many, several and both.

Few people have been to the moon.

Both brothers have dark hair.

Some quantifying determiners can be used with plural nouns and uncountable

nouns. They are all, half, some, enough, a lot of, lots of, plenty of, more,

most and other.

We've eaten all the food in the fridge.

Do you have enough books to read?

Most lemonade contains sugar.

He likes playing with other children.

Some determiners can be used only with uncountable nouns. They are little

(meaning not much, a little (meaning some) and much.

There's a little rice left.

I haven't got much information for you.

Some quantifying determiners can only be used with singular nouns. They are

another, every and each.

I need another pencil.

He likes every child in the class.

Each house is painted a different color.

Some quantifying determiners are used with singular, plural and uncountable

nouns. They are any, no, no other and the other.

Any dog will bite if it's afraid.

Are there any good books in the library?

There wasn't any space in the cupboard.

There is no other way of solving the problem.

She has no other friends.

We have no other food in the fridge.

Interrogative determiners

The words what, which and whose are used before nouns to ask questions.

Interrogative determiners appear just before nouns.

What time is it?

Which boy is your brother?

Whose pen is this?

Possessive determiners

The words my, your, his, her, its, our and their are used before nouns to show

ownership.

Numbers

Numbers are determiners, too. Numbers are often used before nouns.

Our family has two dogs.

Using determiners together

You can use quantifying determiners with each other and with numbers.

Some people like winter but many more people prefer summer.

There are five fewer children in my class than in your class.

Use of between a quantifying determiner and another kind of determiner.

I don't like any of these drinks.

Each of the boys answered the questions correctly.

The quantifying determiner all may be used with or without of.

We ate all of the food in the fridge

or We ate all the food in the fridge.

PART 1 VOCABULARY

Practice 1

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct

answer to each of the following questions.