Determiners Flashcards
Misc. (15 cards)
Determiners
[Grammar Basics/Determiners]
A determiner (also called a limiting adjective) is a word placed before a noun to give information about quantity, definiteness, or ownership.
Common Types:
Articles: the, a, an
Numbers: three, ten
Demonstratives: this, that
Possessives: my, our
Examples:
The painting on the left is our favorite.
She bought three boxes of pasta.
I’ve seen that movie several times.
Determiners help clarify which or how many nouns you’re talking about.
Seven Types of Determiners:
- Articles (Determiners)
- Demonstrative Determiners
- Distributive Determiners
- Interrogative Determiners
- Possessive Determiners
- Quantifying Determiners and Numbers
- Relative Determiners
[Grammar Basics/Determiners]
Articles (Determiners)
[Grammar Basics/Determiners/Types of Determiners/Articles]
Articles are words that appear before nouns to specify whether the noun is specific or general.
Definite article (“the”) is used to identify a specific noun: I want the apple.
Indefinite articles (“a,” “an”) are used for general or unknown nouns: I want an apple.
Use “a” before consonant sounds: a dog.
Use “an” before vowel sounds: an apple.
Do not use indefinite articles with uncountable nouns or pronouns: I need water (not a water).
Examples:
After the long day, the cup of tea tasted good. (specific)
After a long day, a cup of tea tastes good. (general)
Would you like an orange?
Seven Types of Determiners:
- Articles (Determiners)
- Demonstrative Determiners
- Distributive Determiners
- Interrogative Determiners
- Possessive Determiners
- Quantifying Determiners and Numbers
- Relative Determiners
[Grammar Basics/Determiners/Types of Determiners/Articles]
Using an Article Before an Adjective
[Grammar Basics/Determiners/Types of Determiners/Articles/Article Rules]
When a noun is modified by an adjective, the rules for using articles remain the same. If using an indefinite article, choose the one that matches the beginning sound of the adjective.
Examples:
Eliza will bring a small gift to Sophie’s party.
I heard an interesting story yesterday.
For a definite article, the rule doesn’t change:
We watched the colorful birds flying overhead.
[Grammar Basics/Determiners/Types of Determiners/Articles/Article Rules]
Indefinite Articles with Uncountable Nouns
[Grammar Basics/Determiners/Types of Determiners/Articles/Article Rules]
Uncountable nouns (like information, water, and wealth) cannot be quantified easily and do not take indefinite articles.
Examples:
Incorrect: I want an information.
Correct: I want the information.
However, when talking about countable compound nouns, you can use an indefinite article:
an airplane, a jewelry store.
[Grammar Basics/Determiners/Types of Determiners/Articles/Article Rules]
Using Indefinites with Portions of Uncountable Nouns
[Grammar Basics/Determiners/Types of Determiners/Articles/Article Rules]
To specify a portion of an uncountable noun, use adjectives like “some” or “most.” You can also restructure the sentence.
Examples:
Some jewelry in this collection is vintage.
I like most juice varieties.
Would you like a cup of juice?
A piece of jewelry in this collection is vintage.
[Grammar Basics/Determiners/Types of Determiners/Articles/Article Rules]
Omission of Articles Before Possessive Pronouns and Intangible Nouns
[Grammar Basics/Determiners/Types of Determiners/Articles/Article Rules]
Possessive pronouns (his, my, our, etc.) replace articles. Intangible nouns (ideas, concepts) also often omit articles. This is known as the “zero article.”
Examples:
We went to their cabin.
Are you going to read his book?
We’re going out for dinner tomorrow.
I studied Chinese in school.
[Grammar Basics/Determiners/Types of Determiners/Articles/Article Rules]
Demonstrative Determiners
[Grammar Basics/Determiners/Types of Determiners]
These determiners indicate a noun’s position in space or time.
this, that, these, those
Examples:
This cat is the one I meant.
We can’t see the lake because of these trees.
Seven Types of Determiners:
- Articles (Determiners)
- Demonstrative Determiners
- Distributive Determiners
- Interrogative Determiners
- Possessive Determiners
- Quantifying Determiners and Numbers
- Relative Determiners
[Grammar Basics/Determiners/Types of Determiners]
Distributive Determiners
[Grammar Basics/Determiners/Types of Determiners]
Used to refer to individuals or parts of a group.
each, every, all, both
Examples:
Both kids need a bath.
Each table has a dispenser.
Seven Types of Determiners:
- Articles (Determiners)
- Demonstrative Determiners
- Distributive Determiners
- Interrogative Determiners
- Possessive Determiners
- Quantifying Determiners and Numbers
- Relative Determiners
[Grammar Basics/Determiners/Types of Determiners]
Interrogative Determiners
[Grammar Basics/Determiners/Types of Determiners]
Used to ask questions about a noun.
whose, what, which
Examples:
Whose shoes are those?
Which taxi will arrive first?
Seven Types of Determiners:
- Articles (Determiners)
- Demonstrative Determiners
- Distributive Determiners
- Interrogative Determiners
- Possessive Determiners
- Quantifying Determiners and Numbers
- Relative Determiners
[Grammar Basics/Determiners/Types of Determiners]
Possessive Determiners
[Grammar Basics/Determiners/Types of Determiners]
These show ownership or relationship.
my, your, his, her, its, our, their, whose
Possessive nouns (like Jordan’s) can also function as determiners.
Examples:
Her partner met the team.
Whose shoes are in the rain?
Seven Types of Determiners:
- Articles (Determiners)
- Demonstrative Determiners
- Distributive Determiners
- Interrogative Determiners
- Possessive Determiners
- Quantifying Determiners and Numbers
- Relative Determiners
[Grammar Basics/Determiners/Types of Determiners]
Quantifying Determiners and Numbers
[Grammar Basics/Determiners/Types of Determiners]
Used to show how much or how many.
many, some, few, any, several, all
Includes cardinal and ordinal numbers (three, fourth).
Examples:
I made it to the pool several days last week.
Sima was late three times.
Seven Types of Determiners:
- Articles (Determiners)
- Demonstrative Determiners
- Distributive Determiners
- Interrogative Determiners
- Possessive Determiners
- Quantifying Determiners and Numbers
- Relative Determiners
[Grammar Basics/Determiners/Types of Determiners]
Relative Determiners
[Grammar Basics/Determiners/Types of Determiners]
These introduce relative clauses and describe nouns.
what, whatever, which, whichever
Examples:
Sit in whichever seat you like.
Jean will let us know what day they’re arriving.
Seven Types of Determiners:
- Articles (Determiners)
- Demonstrative Determiners
- Distributive Determiners
- Interrogative Determiners
- Possessive Determiners
- Quantifying Determiners and Numbers
- Relative Determiners
[Grammar Basics/Determiners/Types of Determiners]
Placement of Determiners
[Grammar Basics/Determiners/Determiner Rules]
When both a determiner and a descriptive adjective appear before the same noun, the determiner always comes first:
“A red dress” is a festive choice — not “Red a dress”
“Few young people” listen to swing music — not “Young few people”
[Grammar Basics/Determiners/Determiner Rules]
Determiners in Subject Complements
[Grammar Basics/Determiners/Determiner Rules]
Unlike descriptive adjectives, determiners are rarely used in subject complements.
“The vase is beautiful.”
“The vase is every.” (Incorrect)
However, quantifying determiners can sometimes work:
“The flowers are many and beautiful.”
[Grammar Basics/Determiners/Determiner Rules]
Comparative and Superlative Forms of Determiners
[Grammar Basics/Determiners/Determiner Rules]
Determiners are not descriptive, so comparative or superlative forms don’t apply.
“Five-er” or “Whose-er” aren’t possible.
Exception: “Few” can be comparative:
“There were fewer guests than expected.”
[Grammar Basics/Determiners/Determiner Rules]
