8th Class English Determiners Use of Determiners

    Use of Determiners

Let us see how the various Determiners are used in the English language.  

      Article Determiners

We have already discussed about the use of articles in this book.  

      Demonstrative Determiners

This, that, these, and those are Demonstrative Adjective and are used before the Nouns by pointing towards the objects.  

       Possessive Determiners

My, our, your, his, her, their / its, ones are all pronouns or Adjectives of Possessive case.  

       Numeral Determiners  

Numeral Adjectives are of three types;

(i) Definite Numerals

(ii) Indefinite Numerals

(iii) Distributive Numerals  

(A) Definite Numerals

First, second, third, -- one, two, three, etc. are some examples of Definite Numerals.  

• Four birds are sitting on the tree.
• She has two bungalows in the city.
• James stood first in the class.
• Two of us can help mother in the kitchen.  

(B)  Indefinite Numerals

They express the Indefinite Numbers. Some, many, a few, all, several are some of its examples.

Some: A singular or plural noun can be used after 'some'. If 'some' is used with a countable noun then it means 'a few' or 'a small number'.

•   There are some papers lying on the table.  

Many: Common Noun with plural number is used with many. When it is used with a countable noun, 'many' means 'a great number'.

•   Many employees are absent today.  

'Many a' is used with a countable Noun which is Singular in number.

•   Many a child was hurt.    

Few, a few, the few: Few means a small number. The antonym of few is many.

•  I have very few expensive dresses.

A few means some. The antonym of a few is none.

•  I have read a few books. (I have read some books.)

The few means some (not many) but all that is.

•  I have read the few books that I have, (that is, I have read all the books, which I had even though they were few in number.)  

All: All is used with plural number.

•  All the people of Kolkata look forward to holidays for Durga Puja festival.  

Several: Several means many.

•  It will take him several months before he is able to walk on his feet.  

(C)   Distributive Numerals

These are Distributive Adjectives. They give us the knowledge of every person or thing of any category.  

Each: Each is used for everything or a person from a definite quantity.

•   Each girl in the class scored more than 80 percent marks.  

Every: Every means all.

•  Every living thing dies.  

Either: Either means anyone out of the two.

•  Either of you can take part in the contest.  

Neither: Neither means none of the two.

•  Neither of them is efficient.  

(D) Quantitative Determiners

'Some, no, any, more, much, little' are all adjective of quantity, which give us the knowledge of the quantity of a thing.  

Some: In the form of adjective of quantity, it is used with uncountable nouns, where it means a little or a small quantity.  

•   There is some tea in the kettle.
•   Some kind of work is to be sought after.
•   Some of time he spent with his friend.
•   He gave some money to the poor girl.  

Any: Any means 'some'. It is used in negative or interrogative sentences.  

•  There isn't any cash in my wallet.
•  Do you face any problem with the television?
•  He doesn't have any book to spare.
•  Do you have any money with you?  

No: It means - not any.

•  There is no sense in going to the market now.
•  There is no truth in the statement.  

Much: Much means - plenty and it expresses quantity.

•  There is much sugar in the jar.
•  Has he much knowledge about the subject?
•  The teacher gave him much advice.
•  I have much to finish yet.  

More: More means greater quantity.

•  Will you give me more tea?
•  Put more effort to excel in the exams this year.  

Less: Less means in a smaller degree.

•  If you work hard there are less chances of failure.
•  The mother spends less time with her child now.  

Little: It means not much and is used in the negative sense.

•  There is little hope of his recovery.
•  She can do little to help him.  

A little: A little means - a small quantity.

•  Try to help him a little in his work.
•  A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.  

The little: The little means not much but all that is.

•  The little knowledge of first aid he had helped him in saving someone's life.  

Many: Many means several.

•  She has many friends.
•  William has many books on environment.
•  He has been hurt many times.
•  There are many types of insects.    

       Look at following sentences (The words in bold are determiners)

(i) The cow is an animal.

(ii) My brother is a teacher.

(iii) Either boy is safe.

(iv) She has one son and three daughters.

(v) Both books were out of the library.  

NOTE: If noun is not added with this / that / these / those, we cannot call it determiners it is called a demonstrative pronoun.

•  This /That is my pen.
•  These/Those are flowers.

Here this, that, these and those are Demonstrative Pronouns  

Some determiners are used in the form of pronouns. For example,

Some, all, most, many, more, several, both, half, enough, one, either.

There are three kinds of Determiners:

Some more examples of determiners

•  All the boys were present.
•  I want half the butter.
•  All these cars are mine.
•  All this rice is to be sold.
•  A have read ail his six novels.
•  I go there twice a week.
•  What a nuisance!
•  This is my first book.
•  The two blue cars belong to me.
•  I want some more milk.
•  His many friends never deserted him.
•  Have you got any more coffee?