Determiners are words that come before nouns and give us more information about them.
They can tell us:
whether the noun is specific or general
who owns it
which one we mean
how many there are
Examples:
the book (a specific book)
a book (any book)
my book (a book that belongs to me)
this book (a book near me)
two books (quantity)
Common types of determiners include:
articles: a, an, the
possessives: my, your, his, her, our, their
demonstratives: this, that, these, those
quantifiers: many, much, some, all, few
Articles help show whether a noun is specific or general.
English has:
the definite article: the
the indefinite articles: a and an
the book
the teacher
a car
an apple
Use an before a vowel sound:
an umbrella
an hour
Use a before a consonant sound:
a book
a teacher
a university
Singular count nouns usually need an article or another determiner.
I bought a computer.
I know the instructor.
He has an umbrella.
Common ESL error:
I bought computer. ❌
I bought a computer. ✅
Do not use an article when talking about things in general.
I like books.
Dogs are friendly animals.
Compare:
I like books. (books in general)
I like the books you bought. (specific books)
Mass nouns (uncountable nouns) do not usually use a or an.
There is sand in my shoe.
There is some water on the floor.
There is a sand in my shoe. ❌
There is sand in my shoe. ✅
Use a or an before professions.
She is a doctor.
He is an engineer.
She is doctor. ❌
She is a doctor. ✅
Do not use the before both.
I will take both of them. ✅
I will take the both of them. ❌
Possessive determiners show ownership.
English uses:
my
your
his
her
its
our
their
my book
their house
our teacher
Use 's to show possession.
the girl's book
John's car
the teacher's office
English usually uses a possessive determiner before body parts.
I brushed my teeth.
She hurt her arm.
I brushed the teeth. ❌
I brushed my teeth. ✅
their = possession
there = location
The book is there.
they're = they are
They're happy.
its = possession
The dog wagged its tail.
it's = it is
It's raining.
the student's book (one student)
the students' books (more than one student)
Use its, not his or her, for things.
The book lost its cover.
The company changed its name.
Demonstratives identify which noun we mean.
this
that
these
those
this book
that car
these people
those houses
Use singular demonstratives with singular nouns:
that house
Use plural demonstratives with plural nouns:
these books
this people ❌
these people ✅
that books ❌
those books ✅
Quantifiers tell us how much or how many.
all the people
many friends
few animals
every child
some water
a lot of ideas
Use many with count nouns.
many books
many houses
Use much with mass nouns.
much water
much money
much information
I have many books. ✅
I have much books. ❌
There is much water in the pool. ✅
Write a lot as two words.
a lot of people
a lot of water
alot of people ❌
a lot of people ✅
Before a noun, ask yourself:
Do I need an article?
Am I showing ownership?
Am I identifying which one?
those books
Am I talking about quantity?
a lot of friends
Remember:
Singular count nouns usually need an article or determiner.
Use a/an for professions.
Use many with count nouns and much with mass nouns.
Use these/those with plural nouns.
Q: Why is it I am a teacher and NOT I am teacher?
The word teacher is a countable noun and must therefore be preceded by a determiner.
Q: Why is it I don't have much money and NOT I don't have many money?
The word money is a mass noun and must therefore be preceded by the quantifier much.
Choose the correct determiner:
Which sentences is not acceptable:
1. There is the sand in my shoe.
2. There is sand in my shoe.
3. There is some sand in my shoe.
Chose between a and an:
Show Answers
SpellCheckPlus