Determiners: Indefinite Adjectives | English Grammar Advanced - Class 10 PDF Download

Indefinite Adjectives:

Below mentioned is the use of Indefinite Adjectives along with formulas and examples-

• Some
  The indefinite adjective ‘Some’ is generally used in affirmative sentences with uncountable and plural countable nouns.
  Examples: There is some proof that he is guilty.

It can also be used in questions where ‘Yes’ is expected as an answer.
Examples: Would you like some tea?

• Any
  It is used in questions when you want to ask whether something exists or not. It is also used in negative sentences where we want to say that something does not exist.
  Examples: I don’t need any help.

It is also used in affirmative sentences before plural nouns and uncountable nouns when it refers to a quantity of something which may or may not exist.
Examples: You can stop at any point you like.

• Little and Much
  These are used to refer to amount or quantity. Little is used to emphasize that there is a small amount of something, whereas ‘Much’ is used to emphasize large quantities. Both of them are used with uncountable nouns. Little is also used in reference to a small amount of something without any emphasis.
  Examples: I want to spend a little time in Dubai.
• Few and Many
  These are mostly used to refer to a number. They are used before plural countable nouns. Few emphasize a smaller number, and many refer to more numbers.
  Example: A few students came to the class today.
• More, Less and Fewer
  They are mostly used as comparative determiners. ‘More’ is used before plural and uncountable nouns (with than) to refer to a quantity or amount which is greater than another quantity or amount. It is also used to refer to an additional quantity of something. Less is used to refer to an amount that is less than another amount. Fewer is used where we refer to a group of things that are smaller than another group before plural nouns.
  Example: He does much more cardio than I do.

Others

There are many other determiners that are used in the English language and can not be put under any fixed category. So we have put them all one by one and then given their rules for using them in sentences along with examples.

• All
  All is mostly used with a plural verb when followed by a countable plural noun. It includes all the persons or things of a particular kind. Another rule for it is that it requires a singular verb when it is followed by an uncountable noun.
  Example: All children cannot be treated in the same manner.
• Both
  This determiner is mostly used to talk about two things of the same kind. It is used to show that two persons or things are involved rather than one and is often followed by ‘and’.
  Example: Both Raman and Raghav went out for a movie.
• Either and Neither
  These determiners usually refer to two persons or things but show that one out of the two is or is not involved in a situation. Neither is used mostly with singular nouns, and by either, it can mean both of two things, especially when it is used with ‘end’ or ’side’.
  Example: Take either side of the bed, both are the same.
• Each and Every
  These determiners are used to refer to all members of a group, persons or things. When we talk about members as individuals, we use ‘each’, and when we make a statement about all of them, we use ‘every’. They are to be prefixed before a singular countable noun, and the verb attached to them should be singular.
  Example: Each and every board member was present in the meeting.
• One
  This determiner is used when we are talking or writing about a group, and we want to say something about a particular member of the group. It is used in place of ‘a’ or ‘an’, and it explains things more clearly.
  Example:  I know one restaurant where you can get amazing Chinese food.
• Another
  It can be used with a singular countable noun to talk about an additional person or thing of the same type.
  Example: Can I have another cup of coffee?
• Other
  This determiner is used with plural nouns or sometimes with uncountable nouns.
  Example: Other people might not have thought like this.
• Enough
  The determiner ‘enough’ is used before uncountable nouns or plural nouns to say that there is something that is sufficient and enough as much as needed.
  Example: The hotel had enough rooms for all the guests.
• Most
  ‘Most’ is used to indicate nearly all of an amount or of a group.
  Example: Most of the people do not recover from this fatal disease.
• Several
  It is usually used to indicate an imprecise number that is not very large but more than two.
  Example: There were several deaths during the floods in the U.P. 

Exercise

Fill in the blanks with suitable determiners:

1) ________ house is not mine.

2) I have ________ more files to complete.

3) She doesn’t like him ________.

4) Nidhi answered ________ the questions wrong.

5) ________ the girls had to carry their own luggage.

6) I shall not buy ________ oranges. These are rotten.

7) I have bought ________ cycle.

8) I drive 10 Kms ________ day to reach my school.

9) We are expecting ________ guests tonight.

10) ________ of my answers were correct. So I passed.

11) Hello! ________is Nipun. Can I speak to Aman?

12) He spends ________ time on video games.

13) What is your sister doing ________ days?

14) I can speak ________ Hindi.

15) He had built ________ unique house.

Answers:

1)       That

2)       Some

3)       Much

4)       All

5)       All

6)       These

7)       A

8)       Every

9)       Several

10)   Most

11)   This

12)   More

13)   These

14)   Little

15)   A