Determiners

The author of -

Communication Skills in English For Engineers and Technologists

 

 What is a Determiner?

A determiner is a word placed before a noun to give information about it — such as quantity, possession, definiteness, or specificity.

 In simple words, determiners “determine” which noun you are talking about.

Examples:

This book is interesting.

My car is new.

Some people are waiting outside.

A dog barked loudly.

Here, this, my, some, and a are determiners.

 Position in a Sentence

Determiners always come before a noun and before any adjectives that describe the noun.

Example: 

✅The beautiful girl danced.

❌ Beautiful the girl danced.

Structure: Determiner + Adjective(s) + Noun 

Types of Determiners

There are six main types of determiners:

1. Articles

Used to show whether a noun is specific or general.

Definite Article: the (specific noun)

The sun rises in the east.

Indefinite Articles: a, an (non-specific noun)

 A cat is sleeping on the sofa.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

2. Demonstratives

Used to point out specific nouns.

this, that, these, those

This pen is mine.

Those shoes are expensive.

Number

Singular this(Near) that(far)

Plural these(near) those(far)

3. Possessives

Show ownership or possession.

my, your, his, her, its, our, their, whose

My brother is an engineer.

Their project was successful.

4. Quantifiers

Show quantity — how much or how many.

some, any, few, a few, little, a little, many, much, several, enough, all, no, both, each, every, either, neither, half, whole, plenty of

Examples:

Some students are absent.

Many engineers prefer coding jobs.

Each student received a certificate.

Much water is wasted daily.

5. Numbers / Numerals

Used to show exact or approximate numbers.

Cardinal Numbers: one, two, three, etc.

Two girls are talking.

Ordinal Numbers: first, second, third, etc.

 He won the first prize.

6. Distributives

Refer to members of a group individually.

each, every, either, neither

 Each student must bring an ID card.

 Neither answer is correct.

Example:

This beautiful flower → “This” = determiner, “beautiful” = adjective

Special Notes

1. A noun cannot have two central determiners together.

❌ The my book → ✅ My book

2. But pre-determiners (like all, both, half) can come before central determiners.

✅ All the students, Both my hands

3. Determiners are essential — a noun without a determiner often sounds incomplete:

❌ Boy went to school.

✅ The boy went to school.

Summary

Articles - a, an, the Specificity

Demonstratives - this, that, these, those Pointing out

Possessives - my, your, his, her, our, their, whose Ownership

Quantifiers - some, any, few, many, much, several Quantity

Numbers - one, two, first, second Counting/order

Distributives - each, every, either, neither Distribution

 Examples in Sentences

1. A student asked the teacher a question.

2. These machines are expensive.

3. My friend is working on some projects.

4. Each candidate should fill the form carefully.

5. All the engineers attended their meeting.