Notes: Determiners | Class 11 English Grammar PDF Download

Introduction

• Determiners are a part of speech that precedes and modifies a noun or noun phrase.
• They provide information about the number, quantity, ownership, specificity, and definiteness of the noun.
• In this chapter, we will study the different types of determiners and their usage.

Types of Determiners

1. Definite and Indefinite Articles

• The definite article 'the' refers to a specific noun or noun phrase.
  Example: "The dog barked loudly."
• The indefinite articles 'a' and 'an' refer to a non-specific noun or noun phrase.
  'A' is used before words that begin with a consonant sound, while 'an' is used before words that begin with a vowel sound.
  Examples: "A cat is on the roof." / "An apple a day keeps the doctor away."

2. Demonstrative Determiners

• Demonstrative determiners point to specific nouns and indicate their relative distance.
• The four demonstrative determiners are 'this,' 'that,' 'these,' and 'those.'
• 'This' and 'these' refer to nouns that are nearby, while 'that' and 'those' refer to nouns that are farther away.
• Examples: "This book is interesting." / "Those cars are expensive."

3. Possessive Determiners

• Possessive determiners indicate ownership or possession of a noun.
• The possessive determiners are 'my,' 'your,' 'his,' 'her,' 'its,' 'our,' and 'their.'
• Examples: "My house is beautiful." / "Their dog is friendly."

4. Quantitative Determiners

• Quantitative determiners express the quantity or amount of a noun.
• The main quantitative determiners are 'some,' 'any,' 'several,' 'many,' 'few,' 'each,' 'every,' 'all,' 'most,' 'no,' 'both,' 'neither,' and 'either.'
• Examples: "Some students are absent." / "Many people attended the concert."

5. Numerical Determiners

• Numerical determiners express the exact number or order of a noun.
• The main numerical determiners are 'one,' 'two,' 'first,' 'second,' 'third,' 'last,' 'next,' 'another,' 'each,' 'every,' 'several,' and 'many.'
• Examples: "I have two sisters." / "He is the first person in line."

6. Interrogative Determiners

• Interrogative determiners are used to ask questions about a noun.
• The interrogative determiners are 'which,' 'what,' 'whose,' and 'whichever.'
• Examples: "Which book do you prefer?" / "Whose bag is this?"

7. Exclamatory Determiners

• Exclamatory determiners express strong emotions or surprise about a noun.
• The exclamatory determiners are 'what' and 'such.'
• Examples: "What a beautiful sunset!" / "Such a lovely day!"

8. Distributive Determiners

• Distributive determiners refer to individual members of a group or distribute the noun among the members.
• The distributive determiners are 'each,' 'every,' 'either,' and 'neither.'
• Examples: "Each student should complete the assignment." / "Every child loves ice cream."

Conclusion

• Determiners are important in providing information and adding clarity to a noun or noun phrase.
• Understanding the different types of determiners and their usage is crucial for constructing grammatically correct sentences.
• Regular practice and application of determiners will improve your English language skills.