10 Types of Determiners in English with Examples & Definitions

Determiners Definition

Determiners are words used before a noun to explain a noun. These are always placed before the noun, not after. These are also used before objectives, which express the noun.

Examples

1. This car is out of order.
2. There are few biscuits in a plate.
3. The dog is barking.

Types of Determiners with Examples

We have briefly discussed here 10 types of determiners.

1. Articles (Definite & Indefinite)
2. Demonstratives (belongs to the situation)
3. Quantifiers (belongs to quantity)
4. Distributives (belongs to share)
5. Possessives (belongs to ownership)
6. Numbers/Ordinals (refers to numbers/quantity)
7. Difference words Determiners (belongs to something is different)
8. Interrogative Determiners (belongs to question phrase)
9. Pre-determiners (belongs to express emotions & surprises)
10. Defining words (belongs to a thing or person is being referred)

1 – Articles

Articles are common in determiners. There are three articles ‘a’, ‘an’, ‘the’. ‘A’ & ‘an’ are indefinite articles and ‘the’ is definite article.

Indefinite Articles (a, an)

When we are talking about general version of the noun, we need indefinite articles. It is about general meaning. ‘A’ is used before words that starts with consonants, while ‘an’ is used before words starting with vowels (a, e, i, o, u).

Examples

1. An orange would be eaten.
2. It is an interesting story.
3. A pen on the table.
4. A dog is loyal pet.
5. An aero plane is landing.

Definite Article (the)

When we talking about specific version of the noun we need definite articles. It is about specific meaning. When meaning is specific, use a definite article.

Examples

1. The capital of United States is Washington.
2. The sun is very hot.
3. The moon is bright tonight.
4. He is the tallest boy in the class.
5. It is the biggest building in this town.

Read also: Definite and Indefinite Articles Rules & Examples

2 – Demonstratives (this, that, these, those)

A demonstrative tells us about the position of something. These four words ‘this’, ‘that’, ‘these’, ‘those’ used as pronouns, tell us where something is in relation with us (pronoun is a replacement of noun).

Examples

1. I want this piece of chicken.
2. This movie is boring.
3. These biscuits are salted.
4. I met her on 6 June that was the best day of my life.
5. These grapes are sweet.
6. He wanted those teachers to go away.

Note: ‘This’ and ‘that’ are singular while ‘these’ and ‘those’ are plural.

3 – Quantifiers

A quantifier is used before noun to tell us the quantity and degree of the object. Quantifiers can be used with a noun (as a determiner) or without noun (as a pronoun).

Quantifiers are determiners that express how much and how little of the noun.

Examples

1. She liked all books equally.
2. He played a lot of sport.

List of Quantifiers

• A bit
• All
• Any
• Both
• Either
• Enough
• Least, at least, the least
• Less
• Little, a little
• Few, a few
• Lots, a lot
• Plenty
• Many
• More
• Most, the most, mostly
• Some
• Some and any
• Much

4 – Distributives

Distributive determiners are used to express how something is shared. They are used with singular nouns and countable nouns.

(half, all, both, each, every, either, neither)

Examples

1. Each child received a present.
2. All the people in the room were laughing.
3. I have a half cup of tea.
4. Every morning she goes walking.
5. Either day is fine for me.
6. Neither of the children wanted to go.
7. Both children were born in this hospital.

5 – Possessives

Pronouns / Possessives

Our, my, your, his, her, its, their

Subject Pronoun	Possessive Determiners
I	My
You	You
He	His
She	Her
It	Its
We	Our
They	Their

Possessive determiners are used to show ownership. They also represent the possession of someone, something, or place.

Most of the words are also used as pronoun.

Examples

1. Ainy looks like her mother.
2. Alice is my best friend.
3. Our party was delayed.
4. Where is your pen?
5. It is our cat.
6. She broke your cup.
7. Their friends refuse to visit him in school.

The determiner comes before the noun and modifying adjectives.

6 – Numbers/Ordinals 

(one, ten, thirty, 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd)

Numbers are used to represent the quantity. Numbers are a kind of determiners. They are placed before noun. Numbers can be cardinals and ordinals.

Cardinals	Ordinals
One	1st
Two	2nd
Three	3rd
Four	4th
Ten	10th

Examples

1. She ordered one cake.
2. She took 1^st position in her examination.
3. I have ten dollars.
4. She has four brothers.
5. It is May 23^rd.

7 – Difference words Determiners

Other, another

Difference words determiners shows something different. ‘Other’ is used with singular and plural nouns, while ‘another’ is used with only singular nouns.

Examples

1. Some students learn but other students need more time.
2. I cannot find my other shirt.
3. This area is not good. Is there another area to visit?
4. There are seven people for dinner but there are only six spoons, we need another spoon.

8 – Interrogative Determiners

What, which, whose

Interrogative determiners are used to ask questions about a noun.

Examples

1. Which class do you study?
2. Whose dress are you wearing?
3. What time did you reach here?

9 – Pre-determiners

Such, what, rather, quite

Pre-determinsers are used to show surprises and other emotions. These are placed before nouns.

Examples

1. What a lovely weather!
2. He is such acute baby.
3. It is rather a small pen.
4. It is quite nice day.
5. They had such a good time together.

10 – Defining words

Which, whose

Defining words are used to show which thing or person is being suffered to.

Examples

1. This is a room which is used to live.
2. This is a girl whose glasses you broke.

Further Reading:

• Different Types of Clauses with Examples
• 11 Rules of Subject Verb Agreement