The Determiners - English Grammar Class 7 PDF Download

Indefinite Determiners

A determiner is a word placed before a noun to show which or how many things we are talking about. Indefinite determiners do not point to any particular person, animal or thing. The most common indefinite determiners are a and an.

A and An

A and An are used before singular countable nouns when we are speaking of one non‑specific item or person. They are called indefinite articles because they do not refer to a particular, identified item.

Selection between a and an

• Use a before a word that begins with a consonant sound: a book, a pen, a boy.
• Some words begin with a vowel letter but are pronounced with a consonant sound; use a before them: a union, a European.
• Use an before a word that begins with a vowel sound: an apple, an elephant, an ass.
• Use an before words beginning with a silent h: an honest man, an hour.
• Use an before names of letters, abbreviations or initials when they are pronounced with an initial vowel sound: an M.A., an M.L.A.

Use of the indefinite determiner (a / an)

• To mean one (numerical sense): He has an elephant.
• To speak about a member of a class in general: A pupil should be attentive in the class.
• To make a proper noun into a common noun (talking of someone as similar to a famous person): He is a Shakespeare (meaning: he is like Shakespeare).
• With words such as a little, a few to mean a small amount or number: I have a few friends in this city.
• In certain phrases: a lot of, a number of.

Definite Determiner

The

The is the definite determiner. It refers to a particular person, animal, place or thing that is already known to the speaker and the listener, or which is unique.

When we use the definite determiner - the

• When we refer to a particular person, animal or thing: This is the girl whom we met yesterday.
• When a single noun represents a whole class: The cow is a useful animal.
• Before superlatives: Khushi is the most intelligent girl in the class.
• Before nouns which are unique or viewed as unique: the sun, the moon, the earth.
• With names of rivers and canals: the Ganga, the Yamuna, the Thames.
• With names of mountain ranges and groups of islands: the Himalayas, the Alps, the Indies.
• With certain other geographical names and collective names, and with names of seas and oceans: the Indian Ocean, the Atlantic.
• Before directions when we mean a region: the north, the south.

But: it is not usual to use the before the word God in most expressions; for example, we say just God.

More About Determiners

Determiners include not only articles but also words that show amount, number, possession or which one. The following are important determiners that students should know.

Some

• Some is usually used in affirmative sentences before plural countable nouns or before uncountable nouns when a certain quantity or number is meant: I bought some apples.
• It can also be used with time expressions: I met him some years ago.

Much, Many and Many a

• Much refers to large quantity with uncountable nouns and is treated as singular: There is not much truth in what she says.
• Many refers to number with countable nouns: How many women were present at the concert?
• Many a is used before a singular countable noun to give a sense similar to many, and it takes a singular verb: Many a man has tried and failed.

Few / A few and Little / A little

• A few (with countable nouns) means some, and suggests a small but positive number: I have a few friends in this city.
• Few (without 'a') emphasises smallness and often has a negative sense: Few students passed the exam (meaning not many).
• A little (with uncountable nouns) means some small amount: I have a little money.
• Little (without 'a') emphasises scarcity: There is little hope.

All, Both, Each, Every

• All refers to the whole group: All students must attend.
• Both is used with two items: Both doors are locked.
• Each refers to individual members of a group, viewed one by one: Each student received a book.
• Every is used with three or more and emphasises all members of a group viewed collectively: Every child in the class sang.

Either, Neither

• Either refers to one or the other of two: You may choose either option.
• Neither means not one nor the other: Neither answer is correct.

Demonstrative Determiners

• This and that are used with singular nouns to point out specific items: this book, that tree.
• These and those are their plural forms: these books, those trees.

Possessive Determiners

• Possessive determiners show ownership: my, your, his, her, its, our, their.
• Examples: My pen is on the table. Their house is near the park.

Numerals as Determiners

• Cardinal numbers (one, two, three, ...) and ordinal numbers (first, second, third, ...) are determiners when they come before a noun: two books, the first chapter.

Other Quantifiers

• Any is often used in negative sentences and questions: Do you have any news? There isn't any milk.
• No before a noun means none: No person was there.
• Several is used with countable nouns to indicate more than a few but not many: Several students volunteered.

Using Determiners: some practical notes

Choose the determiner that matches the noun type (countable vs uncountable), number (singular vs plural), and whether you mean a definite item or an indefinite one. Pay attention to pronunciation when choosing between a and an.