A noun usually has to have a determiner in front of it. For example, my father, the book, a window, etc.
The most common determiners in English are the definite article [the] and the indefinite article [a or an].
Determiners also precede other words which precede a noun, for example, adjectives and numbers: the big box, our two dogs, etc.
Let's see some examples in the table below.
| determiner | modifiers (optional) | headword |
|---|---|---|
| another | (very interesting) | story |
| my | (elder) | brother |
| some | (important) (new) | information |
| such | (tiny) (mobile) | phones |
| the | (whole) | world |
| these | (city) | buses |
1. Determiners which go with different types of noun
1.1. Definite
| kinds of determiner | with countable nouns | with uncountable nouns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| singular | plural | singular | |
| definite article | the book | the books | the coffee |
| Possessives | my book | my books | my coffee |
| Possessive nouns | Sam's book | Sam's books | Sam's coffee |
| Demonstratives | this book that book |
these books those books |
this coffee that coffee |
1.2. Indefinite
| kinds of determiner | with countable nouns | with uncountable nouns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| singular | plural | singular | |
| indefinite article | a book | ~ books* | ~ coffee* |
| Quantiy words (general) (without comparison) |
all the book** | all books | all coffee |
| any book** | any books | any coffee | |
| no book | no books | no coffee | |
| some book** | some books | some coffee | |
| every book | - | - | |
| each book | - | - | |
| either book | - | - | |
| neither book | - | - | |
| one book | - | - | |
| another book | - | - | |
| - | both books | - | |
| - | several books | - | |
| - | enough books | enough coffee | |
| Quantiy words (with comparison) |
- | many books | much coffee |
| - | more books | more coffee | |
| - | most books | most coffee | |
| - | (a) few books | (a) little coffee | |
| - | fewer*** books | less coffee | |
| - | fewest*** books | least coffee | |
The words within the heavy boxes in the table do not change their forms. They stay the same whatever kind of noun follows.
* The signal ~ is used to identify that the indefinite article is absent before plural or uncountable nouns. It's called Zero Article.
** All, any and some are less common with singular countable nouns. Thye have special uses in this position.
*** Sometimes we use less and least instead of fewer and fewest.
1.3. Wh- words
| kinds of determiner | with countable nouns | with uncountable nouns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| singular | plural | singular | |
| For expressing attitudes |
such a book! what a book! |
such books! what books! |
such coffee! what coffee! |
| For asking questions (possissive) |
what book? which book? whose book? |
what books? which books? whose books? |
what coffee? which coffee? whose coffee? |
| Wh-ever words | whatever book whichever book |
whatever books whichever books |
whatever coffee whichever coffee |
2. Useful rules
If there is more than one determiner, please follow these rules:
1. Place all and both in front of other determiners.
Ex:
They ate all the food.
Both our children are at school.
2. Place what and such in front of a or an in exclamations.
Ex:
What an awful car!
I've never seen such a crowd!
3. Place many, much, more, most, few, little after other determiners.
Ex:
Her many successes made her famous.
We have no more food.
What little money they have is mine.
I hope this article helps. If you have any question, please leave a comment below.
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