Revised as of
2 Feb 2023
Determiners are not a formal word class, but they are a functional element of structure that primarily identifies or quantifies nouns or noun phrases in one of two ways: as identifiers or as quantifiers.
Identifiers are split into articles, demonstratives, interrogatives, numbers, indefinite pronouns, and possessives all of which identify some noun or noun phrase.
Quantifiers is a very small group and refers to indefinite quantities; the post, “Quantifier“, explores this in greater detail.
Amazing what grammarians will come up with, although I can sympathize — you should see me sorting nuts, bolts, screws, and nails!
You may also want to explore Articles, Numerals, Possessives, or Quantifiers in more detail.
Be aware that many determiners can also be pronouns.
Grammar Explanations is . . .
. . . an evolving list of the structural rules and principles that determines where words are placed in phrases or sentences as well as how the language is spoken. Sometimes I run across an example that helps explain better or another “also known as”. Heck, there’s always a better way to explain it, so if it makes quicker and/or better sense, I would appreciate suggestions and comments from anyone on an area of grammar with which you struggle or on which you can contribute more understanding.
If you found this post on “Determiners” interesting, consider subscribing to KD Did It, if you’d like to track this post for future updates.
| Determiner | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Definition : A closed class word that introduces a noun and provides some information about it but does not describe the noun.
Determiners may also be divided into specific and general determiners, which are another way of saying essential or nonessential, a.k.a. restrictive or nonrestrictive.
A.k.a. determinative, limiting adjective |
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| Anatomy of Determiners in a Noun Phrase | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Definition: There are three types of determiners, based on their position in a sentence / noun phrase:
A noun phrase doesn’t always use all three determiners.
Predeterminers do not normally co-occur. |
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| Rule: Depending on the number of determiners in a sentence and their place, some words can be determiners or post-determiners. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| I need two rackets.
I need the two rackets in the garage. We know many uses for these products. We know their many uses. Legend:
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| Rule: While only one predeterminer is normally used, it is possible to use two. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| His next two projects are painting the garage and clearing out the attic.
The first three days are about mythological basics. Legend:
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| Predeterminer | Definition: A type of determiner that comes before other determiners in a noun phrase (indefinite article + adjective + noun) to express an opinion about the noun they modify.
Predeterminers can occur before a or the. |
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Content:
A.k.a. predeterminer modifier Credit to: Nordquist |
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| Rule: Expresses a proportion of the whole indicated in the noun phrase. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| List of Core Predeterminers | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Examples: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| They broke both my legs.
“Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save.” – attributed to Will Rogers For all their trouble, they’ve gotten nowhere. Both of our children are brilliant. “All the people like us are We, “Both the children had a gentleness (it was their only fault, and it never made Miles a muff) that kept them — how shall I express it? — almost impersonal and certainly quite unpunishable” (James). “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, All four of Helen’s tires were flat. There’s a lot of that going around. |
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| Commenting Predeterminer | Definition: Commenting words that refer to the degree of a particular quality as expressed by the adjective that modifies the noun.
They can express disappointment, pleasure, or other emotions depending on the adjective in question. A commenting predeterminer is used as a pre-determiner in British English and as an adverb in American English. |
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| List of Commenting Predeterminers | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| It was quite a tasty cake.
He’s had quite a bad day. It’s rather a tight fit. I’ve just fallen into a rather deep hole. |
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| A Good Degree Predeterminer | Definition: Possesses a degree of goodness that is equal to some reference point. | |||||||||||||||||||
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You’re too good to me.
This is too good to wear. He can never be too good to my baby. |
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| Relative Degree Predeterminer | Definition: Certain adjectives may be modified to describe a relative degree of some property. | |||||||||||||||||||
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Those are some expensive Russian dolls.
These are some cheap shoes! |
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| Fractional Predeterminer | Definition: Expresses a fraction of an amount.
A.k.a. marginal member |
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List of Fraction Predeterminers | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Examples | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Her car will be ready in half an hour.
I ate one-third of Sally’s lunch. The rule used to be that you shouldn’t use more than twenty-five percent of your monthly income for a mortgage payment. |
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| Intensifier Predeterminer | Definition: Expresses surprise or other emotions, referring to the degree of a particular quality as expressed by the adjective that modifies the noun.
They can express disappointment, pleasure, or other emotions depending on the adjective in question. Rule: Placed before an indefinite article + adjective + noun to express an opinion about the noun they modify. |
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List of Intensifier Predeterminers | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Examples | ||||||||||||||||||||
| It was quite a nice day.
He’s had quite a bad accident. It’s rather a small car. I’ve just met rather a nice man. She’s such a beautiful woman. I’ve had such a good time today! You can’t imagine what an incredible meal I just ate. What a lovely day! |
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| Multiplier Predeterminer | Definition: Expresses more than the specific amount.
A.k.a. marginal member |
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List of Multiplier Predeterminers | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Examples | ||||||||||||||||||||
| She makes twice my annual salary.
His hamburger is twice the size of mine. I check my messages three times every day. Mom calls me approximately five times a week. Our group raised ten times the amount needed for the trip. “Realizing the importance of the case, my men are rounding up twice the usual number of suspects.” – Claude Rains as “Captain Renault” in Casablanca, 1942 |
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| Quantifying Predeterminer | Definition: A word that precedes and modifies nouns, telling how many or how much.
There are also: |
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Partial List of Quantifying predeterminers | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Examples: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| There are lots and lots of trees around here.
Hmmm, there is a decided lack of beer. Yes, yes, yes, you tell me that all of the time! Most of the time it’s sunny here in Denver. So what if some of it is missing? |
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| Rule: Quantifying predeterminers are also divided into countable nouns and uncountable nouns. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Partial List of Countable Quantifying Predeterminers | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| It’s been many a long day since we’ve seen each other.
The library has several books on the subject. I’ve seen a few foxes in the area. Let’s get a couple of hot dogs. |
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| Partial List of Uncountable Quantifying Predeterminers | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Ya got a bit of the ready about ya, Hank?
I don’t know . . . it’s a good deal of money, Pete. I haven’t got much left. |
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| Rule: Uses cardinal numbers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Their library has 5,081 books in it.
We only have three cans of soup left. I only have three dollars left. |
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| Rule: Uses ordinal numbers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| It’s her eighteenth birthday.
This is the fifth time you’ve told me! The party is the third day after tomorrow. |
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| Central Determiner | Definition: A type of determiner that immediately follows a predeterminer and is in the middle of the noun phrase. | |||||||||||||||||||
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Partial List of Central Determiners | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Post-determiner | Definition: A type of determiner that comes after the predeterminer and central determiner.
A.k.a. predeterminer modifier Credit to: Nordquist |
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Partial List of Post-determiners | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Identifier | Definition: Labels the identity of a particular or a unique object or a unique class of objects. This could be an idea, a physical object or the physical substance. It could be a name, number, word, letter, symbol, or a combination of these. | |||||||||||||||||||
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There are restrictive and nonrestrictive identifiers, sometimes referred to as essential and nonessential.
Types of Identifiers: |
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| Definite Article | Definition: An essential, restrictive article that determines a specific or particular noun. It identifies a particular item.
Rule: No commas. A.k.a. restrictive identifier, essential identifier |
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List of Essential Definite Articles | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Examples: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Look at the ball.
Find the car keys. She ran down that alley. This is the letter mother sent to me. That man came into the room. The football team was led by the quarterback Joe Namath. The artist Pablo Picasso both destroyed and created the avant-garde. |
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| Indefinite Article | Definition: A nonessential, nonrestrictive article that modifies non-specific or non-particular nouns. It simply identifies one of any number of similar items.
Rule: When the identifier makes sense in the sentence by itself, then the name is nonessential, and it should be set off from the sentence with commas or a comma and a period if it is the end of the sentence. A.k.a. nonrestrictive identifier, nonessential identifier, general determiner |
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List of Nonessential Indefinite Articles | |||||||||||||||||||
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| A | Rule: Use a before words that begin with a consonant sound. | |||||||||||||||||||
| That was a great catch.
It was a detail that was overlooked. She saw it as a ladder to the stars. This is a letter mother sent to me. A man came into a room. |
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| An | Rule: Use an before words that begin with a vowel sound.
Most acronyms and words beginning with an “h”, and pronounced with an “aitch” sound, will use “an” in front of it. Explore the difference between a and an in the post, “Grammar Explanation & Word Confusion: A and An. |
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| He would need an angioplasty.
Do you hear an echo? I had to hand it to her, it was an Oscar-award moment. |
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| Some | Rule: Use for the plural nouns.
It can be followed by any adverb, adjective, plural noun, or uncountable noun whatsoever (as long as there’s a noun somewhere in the vicinity to complete the noun phrase). |
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| I would like some flowers, please.
Now those are some blue shoes! You should see some buildings up ahead. Can we buy some camels? Oh, man, those are some ugly clothes. Can you pick up some brushes while you’re out? We need some soda for tonight . . . . . . and pick up some water while you’re out. I have some dollar bills. |
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| Demonstratives | Definition: Used to show:
Four Demonstrative Identifiers: A.k.a. specific determiner |
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| Demonstrative Adjective | Definition: Show whether the noun they refer to is singular or plural and whether it is located near to or far from the speaker or writer.
Credit to: Demonstrative |
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| that those (pl.) |
Rule: Use if an action has finished or is in the past. It must agree with the noun. | |||||||||||||||||||
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That car is so cool.
Those boys with their pants hanging off their butts are so silly looking. Those girls we met last night were silly. |
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| this these (pl.) |
Rule: Used in front of a noun and indicates present time and action. It must agree with the noun. | |||||||||||||||||||
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This book is so dull.
These chocolates are delicious! |
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| Demonstrative Pronoun | Definition: Used to identify how close something is, i.e., how near or far:
Rule: Used before a verb or by themselves. A.k.a. adjectival demonstrative pronouns |
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| that those (pl.) |
Rule: Use that (those is the plural) to identify an item(s) that is not close by the speaker. | |||||||||||||||||||
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Get that ball over there.
Get those balls over there. Has that man gotten home yet? Have those men gotten home yet? That’s the one over there. Those are the ones over there. Did you do that? |
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| this these (pl.) |
Rule: Use this (these is the plural) to identify an item(s) that is close by the speaker or the action is near in time. | |||||||||||||||||||
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Do you want me to throw this ball?
Do you want me to throw these balls? This is the man who kissed me. These are the men who kissed me. This is the book I bought last week. These are the books I bought last week. Oh, man, I want to eat this. I’d like to buy these. I’d like to buy these shoes makes it a demonstrative adjective. This is a good meal. |
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| Rule: Use this expression when you talk on the phone or introduce people. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| “Hello, this is Jamie.”
John, this is my friend Peter. Peter, this is John. |
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| Interrogative Determiner | Definition: Expresses direct or indirect questions and exclamations. | |||||||||||||||||||
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List of Some Interrogative Determiners | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Examples: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| For what reason?
What time is it? Do you know what excuse he gave me? Which way is the wind blowing? Whose car are you borrowing for tomorrow? What luck! |
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| Numbers | Definition: Labels an object or class of objects as unique whether it’s an idea, a countable or noncountable noun.
Rule: A number identifier may be combined with letters, words, or symbols. A.k.a. numerical determiner |
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five, eight, 103 . . . part number 5839-4 SN: BR-578-4JE78S32491 SSN: 555-55-5555 Telephone No.: 555-555-1212 Chapter 12 “100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall” We have three children. They are on the second floor. |
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| Indefinite Pronouns | Rule: Indefinite pronouns function as nouns.
There is a more extensive list of indefinite pronouns in the post, “Pronoun“. A.k.a. distributive determiner, universal determiner |
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List of Some Indefinite Pronouns | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Examples: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| All of her work made its impact on her grades.
Some of the water left its mark on the wooden table. Both of the books were useful in their own ways. Most of my friends drove their cars to the beach. Each person threw in their hat. All dogs love bones. Each student will write two essays. Every child will get an ice cream cone. |
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| Possessives | Definition: Identifiers that indicate ownership.
A.k.a. possessive adjectives (Biber, 1999:270-272), specific determiner |
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List of Some Possessive Determiners | |||||||||||||||||||
| whose | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Examples: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Whose coat is that?
Whose ball is that? The hat is whose? |
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| Possessive Nouns | Definition: Shows that the owns something. It may also be a noun phrase. |
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The studio’s lighting is excellent.
What happened to the pail’s handle? The water bucket’s hole is making it very difficult to haul water. |
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| Possessive Pronouns | Definition: Modifies a noun by attributing possession (or other sense of belonging) to someone or something.
A.k.a. possessive adjective, adjectival possessive pronoun |
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List of Possessive Pronouns | |||||||||||||||||||
| Mary’s, my, your, her, his, its, ours, their, theirs, whose | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Where is James’ car?
Have you found your keys yet? That’s my chocolate! Whose coat is this? |
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| Relative Determiner | Definition: Used in non-restrictive clauses. | |||||||||||||||||||
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List of Relative Determiners | |||||||||||||||||||
| which | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Examples: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| He left at ten, at which point everyone sighed in relief.
Henry painted a picture of the house, which painting I later destroyed. Yesterday, I met three men with long beards, which men I remember vividly Every day, he visits me at the arcade, from which fact I derive much pleasure. He went to the park and the shopping center, both of which places John hates. |
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| Quantifiers | Definition: Makes references to indefinite quantities.
A.k.a. positive paucal determiner |
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List of Quantifiers |
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| Examples: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| I have several jars of chili sauce.
My file has too many complaints in it. A little chocolate always helps. Can I have some more, please? Several people arrived at the door. My sister has written a few books on child psychology (Kinds). I have read few books on Indian mythology. |
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| Sufficiency Determiner | Definition: Makes specific reference to indicate an adequate amount.
Credit to: Aarts |
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List of Sufficiency Determiners |
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| Examples: | I have enough bread to eat.
There is sufficient fuel in the tank. |
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| Getting More Specific About Determiners | ||||||||||||||||||||
| The above determiners are the most basic types. Naturally, grammarians can’t resist the urge to pick things apart, so I’m including the following for their definitions and word lists — all of which fit more generally above as well. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Additive Determiner | Definition: Signals that the noun is an alternative to whatever was suggested before or indicates an additional one of the same kind.
A.k.a. alternative-additive determiner, English determiner Credit to: Calvin College and Aarts |
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List of Additive Determiners | another | ||||||||||||||||||
| Examples: | Do you have another suggestion?
Would you like another piece of pie? We took another road to the city. Give me another piece of gum. |
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| Degree Determiner | Definition: Refers to an amount, level, or extent.
Credit to: Aarts |
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List of Degree Determiners |
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| Examples: | Few people know about his plans.
Many are called, but few are chosen. |
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| Disjunctive Determiner | Definition: Expresses a choice between two mutually exclusive possibilities.
Credit to: Aarts |
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List of Disjunctive Determiners |
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| Examples: | Either solution will do.
Neither of you are taking part in the expedition. Neither day will do. I’ve got tea and coffee, so you can have either. The room has a door at either end. |
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| Existential Determiner | Definition: A type of indefinite determiner that relates to indefinite being(s) or thing(s).
Credit to: Aarts |
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List of Existential Determiners |
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| Examples: | Some people have all the fun.
Is there any beer left? |
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| Negative Determiner | Definition: Used to limit the meaning of a noun.
Credit to: Aarts |
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List of Negative Determiners | no | ||||||||||||||||||
| Examples: | No amount of tea will satisfy her.
What do you mean there’s no more beer! |
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| Personal Determiner | Definition: Specific personal pronouns used as part of a phrase.
Credit to: Aarts |
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| List of Personal Determiners |
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| Examples: | You people are always against our ideas.
We anarchists have to stick together. Everybody loves us kids. |
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C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them . . . and we’ll all benefit!
Satisfy your curiosity about other Grammar Explanations by exploring its homepage or more generally explore the index of self-editing posts. You may also want to explore Book Layout & Formatting Ideas, Formatting Tips, Grammar Explanations, Linguistics, Publishing Tips, the Properly Punctuated, Word Confusions, Writing Ideas and Resources, and Working Your Website.
Resources for Determiners
Aarts, Bas. “Determiners.” Grammarianism. 2015. Web. 3 June 2015. <https://grammarianism.wordpress.com/2015/05/10/determiners/>.
“Articles, Determiners, and Quantifiers.” Connecticut Community Colleges. Connecticut State Colleges & Universities. n.d. Web. 21 Nov 2020. <http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/determiners/determiners.htm>
Biber, D, S. Johansson, G. Leech, S. Conrad, and E. Finegan. Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written English. Harlow: Longman, 1999. Print.
“Demonstrative Adjectives Definition.” Using English. <https://www.usingenglish.com/glossary/demonstrative-adjective.html#e3tsDvP5KJuuT2cv.99>.
“Determiners.” Woospeak. n.d. Web. 3 June 2015. <https://lms.woospeak.com/category/determiners/>.
James, Henry. The Turn of the Screw. Originally published 1898. 2020. <https://amzn.to/3DEH2Zr>. Ebook.
“Kinds of Determiners.” English Grammar. 8 Jan 2014. Web. n.d. <https://www.englishgrammar.org/kinds-determiners/>.
Nordquist, Richard. “Predeterminer Definition and Examples in English Grammar.” ThoughtCo. 2019. Web. 11 June 2019. <https://www.thoughtco.com/predeterminer-grammar-1691524>.
“Pre-determiners.” Education First. n.d. Web. 3 June 2015. <https://www.ef.edu/english-resources/english-grammar/pre-determiners/>.
“Pre-determiners.” Really Learn English.com. n.d. Web. n.d. <http://www.really-learn-english.com/pre-determiners.html>.
“Style Sheet for the 1632 Series.” 1632.org. n.d. Web. 3 June 2015. <https://1632.org/authors-manual/style-sheet/>.
“This – That – These – Those.” English Grammar Notes – Demonstratives. Woodward English. Grammar. n.d. Web. n.d. <http://www.grammar.cl/Notes/This_That_These_Those.htm>.
Pinterest Photo Credits:
ISBN Details is by Sakurambo at English Wikipedia is under the CC BY-SA 2.0 license, via Wikimedia Commons.
