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Determiners are words that refer to or quantify a specific noun or noun phrase.
In other words, the determiner is a word that helps to introduce the noun by giving more information about it. For example, determiners include words like: the, a, an, some, any, this, and that.
Learn about determiners, when to use them, and the types of determiners in this article. Then, conveniently review your writing for grammar, spelling, and punctuation with the Originality.ai Grammar Checker.
Determiners are used in English to introduce a noun. Each determiner provides the reader with additional information about the noun it introduces such as which one, how many, where it’s positioned, etc.
Determiners are placed before the noun they describe. So, if you pair a noun with an adjective, then it’s important to write the determiner before you write the noun.
Let’s take a look at an example: “A red truck drove along the winding road.”
Singular nouns require a determiner to introduce them such as the, this, a, an, or that.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common and frequently used kinds of determiners:
There are several types of determiners in English grammar, each of which plays an important role in sentence structure. The most common types are articles, demonstrators, quantifiers, and possessive determiners.
Articles are one of the most common kinds of determiner, they include the, a, and an. Articles are divided into definite articles (the) and indefinite articles (a and an).
Examples:
Demonstrators are another type of determiner. Like the root of the word, they demonstrate, in particular, a noun’s position within a sentence. You may also find demonstrators called demonstrative determiners or demonstrative adjectives. They include the words: this, that, those, and these.
Demonstrators this and that refer to singular nouns, the former which is present and the latter which is further from the speaker. These and those refer to plural nouns and follow the same pattern as this and that.
Examples:
Quantifiers, or quantifying determiners, describe how much or what portion of a noun is being discussed or referenced. Quantifiers include all, some, few, more, much, many, and any. Numbers can also be used as quantifiers.
Examples:
Possessive determiners are similar to possessive pronouns and indicate a relationship or belonging between a noun and another word in the sentence. They include my, your, his, her, our, their, and its. Possessive determiners are always placed before the noun they describe.
Examples:
Interrogative determiners are used in questions to find out more information. They provide context about a noun such as who it belongs to.
Interrogative determiners can be used in both direct and indirect questions and include the words whose, which, and what.
Examples:
Distributive determiners are a type of determiner that describes a group. They may also refer to a section or part of a group. For instance, some examples of distributive determiners include each, both, every, and all.
Examples:
Determiners are an essential part of proper sentence structure. The type you use depends on whether you’re quantifying a noun, creating an interrogative sentence, or indicating that something belongs to someone.
Using determiners properly in your writing helps you to communicate with your audience clearly and professionally.
Not sure if you’re incorporating determiners correctly into your content? Review your grammar, spelling, and punctuation with the Originality.ai Grammar Checker.
Then, learn more grammar best practices in our top resources:
