Determiners

They are used before Nouns and Noun Phrases. They consist of words like:

-articles: a/an

-possessives: my, your, its, whose, etc.

-demonstratives: this, that, these, those, such, etc.

-quantifiers: all, same, both, few, neither, etc.

Ex. Have you got some money?

Both candidates were unqualified for the job.

Most houses in this area have no electricity.

Have you found your other shoe?

They find no imposition in this.

!!! Sometimes we can use more than one determiner before a Noun.
Ex. No other activity thrills me that much.

She visited the patient for a check-up every few hours.

We need another ten minutes to make a decision.

!!! Many combinations of determiners are not possible because they contradict or repeat each
other.

Ex. I’d like another one coffee, if you don’t mind.

I’d like another coffee, if you don’t mind.

They like some most brands of beer.

They like most brands of beer.

Pronouns
We use pronouns:

-on their own instead of a Noun

Ex. Which one do you want?

Either is fine by me.

-with “of” before another pronoun

Ex. They devoured nearly all of it.

-with “of” before the, these, those, etc. + Noun

Ex. They haven’t looked at any of the alternatives.

All, Both
They can be used as determiners or pronouns.

“all”, “all of” = the complete amount, the whole number or amount of, every one of

Ex. All the spectators cheered wildly. (Determiners)

She talks all the time.

He had spent all (of) his life trying to decipher this mystery.

All children love chocolate.

Where are the chocolates? Have you finished them all? (Pronouns)

All of them came.

I have him money and he spent it all on drinks.

It all tastes the same to me.

!!! We always use “all of” not “all” before pronouns.

Ex. It was a very difficult task but all of us managed to finish it on time.

All of them came at the right time.

“both”, “both of” = two people or things together

Ex. Both (of) her parents are doctors. (Determiners)

Both types are disgusting.

 Both sisters enjoy swimming.

They both look a bit strange. (Pronouns)

Both taste the same to me.

I bought two books and read them both.

!!! the expression “both ...and” emphasizes that something is true of one thing and another
Ex. He has lived in both Germany and the United States.

Both you and I have agreed on that.

!!! We use “both of” not “both” before pronouns.

Ex. I don’t know which book to buy? Why don’t you buy both of them.

!!! “both” is always plural

Ex. Both these books are mine.

!!! We do not commonly use the phrases “all the day” and “all the people”.
Ex. We worked all the day.

I talked to all the people.

We worked all day.

I talked to everyone.

Common phrases include:

Ex. Tell me all about it.

I was left there all alone.

That’s all I have to say.

All too often a sunny day ends in rain.

For all I know, they could be waiting outside.

 She can do that all by herself.

The Whole
It is used with singular countable Nouns, especially with places. We often use “the whole”
instead of “all of...”.

Ex. All the town was shocked by his death.

The whole town was shocked by his death.

!!! We must use “of” with proper names and words like “the, this, these, those, etc”
Ex. He has travelled around the whole of France.

She was sick for the whole of the week.

Common phrase:

Ex. On the whole, you are probably right.

Either, Neither
They are used to talk about two things. They can be Determiners or Pronouns.

Ex. Neither type is particularly nice. (Determiner)

Either type is fine by me.

Neither painting appeals to me.

Either colour can be used for the walls.

Neither of us knew the answer. (Pronouns)

Don’t ask for my opinion. I don’t like either.

I like neither type. (Determiner) - formal

I don’t like either type. (Determiner) – less formal

!!! We use “either of” not “either” before pronouns.
Ex. Do you want the big phone or the small one?

Either of them would be fine by me.

!!! We use “neither of” not “neither” before pronouns.

Ex. Both players have been warned but neither of them seems to take it seriously.

!!! We always use “either” and “neither” with a singular Noun.

Ex. Either dress is fine by me.

Neither child wants to join us.

Neither parent cares about what happens to the child.

!!! “either...or”
“neither ...nor”

We use these correlatives to talk about one or the other of two things or people.

Ex. You can have either the red shirt or the white one.

Neither you nor I like them.

Neither we nor they can provide an answer to this question.

Either you or I will have to go.

Either my friend or I will come to help you.

!!! Agreement – “either” and “neither” are normally used with a singular verb but plural
verbs are sometimes used in spoken English.

Ex. Neither of them is/are particularly nice.

Neither option is suitable for me.

Either is/are fine by me.

Either bag is a good choice.

Common Phrases include: “on either side” (on both sides) and “at either end” (at both ends),
“neither here, nor there” (something does not matter because it is not relevant)

Ex. There are shops at either end of the street.

I’m afraid your excuses are neither here nor there.

Whether or not I agree with you is neither here nor there.

No, None
“none” is a Pronoun.

“no” is a Determiner used before Countable and Uncountable Nouns.

Ex. None of us could agree to that.

Actually, none of this stuff is as bad as you say.

Half a bar of chocolate is better than none.

Bad chocolate is better than no chocolate.

No student I talked to was particularly nice.

No two children are alike.

No progress has been made.

No politician dares to speak out on this issue.

!!! Agreement – a singular verb is used after “none” in formal English but in colloquial
language a plural verb is also common.
Ex. None of the songs was any good. (formal -singular)

None of my friends have come to see me. (informal - plural)

None of the people I work with likes our boss. (formal - singular)

None of these wines taste the same. (informal - plural)

!!! Distinguish the difference between the following examples.

Ex. None of them agreed.

Neither of them agreed.

None of the applicants who applied for the job was successful. (of the many
applicants who applied for the, none was successful)

Neither applicant who applied for the job was successful. (of the two applicants who
applied for the job, neither was successful)

Common phrases include:

Ex. You are no friend of mine.

There is no reason why you shouldn’t come.

What I do here is none of your business.

It was none other than Jim on the phone.

His expertise in this matter is second to none.

Have you got any tips for me? None whatsoever / at all.

Each, Every
“each” can be a determiner or a pronoun

“every” can only be a determiner

Ex. John had a blister on each foot. (Determiner)

 The students were discussing the same subject but each had a different point of view.
(Pronoun)

Every student has to fill in a questionnaire. (Determiner)

“each” and “every” are very similar in meaning and in most contexts both are possible.

Ex. Each/Every child was given a present.

Each/Every person in the group was fit and healthy.

Each / Every manager we get seems to want to make us work harder.

!!! There is a tendency in language to use “each” when we think of all the separate
individuals in the group, when we look at people or things separately or one at a time.

Ex. Each person chose a different route to the beach.

Each child selected a different toy.

“every” refers more to the group as a whole. It is closer in meaning to “all”. It puts
people or things into groups, like “all”.

Ex. Every route was of about the same length.

Every toy was made of wood.

!!! “each” is used to talk about two or more things

“every” can only be used to talk about more than two things

Ex. She had a child on each side of her. (only two sides)

There were enemy soldiers on every side. (more than two sides, many sides)

Two routes, each one avoiding steep hills looked mesmerising.

!!! We use “every”:

-to emphasize that we are talking about the whole of something

Ex. I enjoyed every minute of the film. (I enjoyed the whole film)

-with abstract Nouns to emphasize that something is correct or necessary

Ex. You had every right to speak your mind.

 I had every reason to believe he was lying.

-with plural Nouns to indicate frequency

Ex. John visits his mother every week.

You should change the oil every 5,000 miles.

We go to the skating rink every few weeks.

-after a possessive for emphasis

Ex. The police were watching the murderer’s every move.

They listened carefully to his every word.

-with adverbs such as “almost, nearly, just about, practically and the negative “not”

Ex. Practically every route was too long.

Not every member would consent to that.

!!! We use “each”:

-with “of” with a plural Noun or Pronoun

Ex. Each of the children was given a present. vs.

Each child was given a present. (“each” is always followed by a singular Noun)

Each of them did more than anticipated.

Each of the runners was over forty.

Each of the drawings is unique.

-after Nouns and Pronouns for emphasis

Ex. John and Tim each carried their money separately for fear of being robbed.

My friend and his partner each had their own supply of candies.

If there are auxiliary verbs, “each” comes after the first.

Ex. They have each taken a souvenir with them.

They have each been asked to make a contribution.

!!! Agreement – When “each” and “every” are determiners we commonly use a Singular
Verb or a Singular Noun with them.
Ex. Each /Every child was given a present.

Each / Every participant knows the rules very well.

We commonly use a Plural Pronoun to refer back to them.

Ex. Every person that I ask says that they want to change something.

In formal English, after “each”, “he /she” are considered more correct than “they”.
However, “they” is common too.

Ex. Each runner claimed he / she/ they would get to the finish line first.

Common phrases include:

Ex. They were all against our decision, each and every one of them.

Every single time I talk to him he says he is busy.

Fortunately, we managed to visit them very now and then / every so often / every once
in a while.

We go to London every other week.

Geology is every bit as interesting as Physics.

That evening he managed to drink every last bottle.

One, Ones, Another

“one” and “ones” are used as Determiners and Pronouns to replace a countable Noun
Ex. They are all pretty but I really like the green one. (Pronouns)

That’s an interesting one.

One of us is going to have to go.

One day you’ll understand this. (Determiner)

Just one book was interesting.

!!! “one of” is always used with a singular Verb.

Ex. One of the first people that talked to me there was John.

One of you is going to have to leave.

 One of the other players has to leave the team.

“another” can mean a ‘different one’ or ‘the same again’. It is used as Determiner or
Pronoun

Ex. I don’t like this shirt – will you give me another? (Pronoun)

Give me another of those pens.

That piece of cake was great. I’ll get you another.

This shop is no good. Let’s try another.

Shall we have another drink? (Determiner)

I’ll have to leave this for another day.

We need another chair.

!!! We often use “another” with “few” or numbers + plural Noun.

Ex. I need another few minutes.

You owe me another twenty dollars.

Apart from the above mentioned situation, we only use “another” before a singular Noun.

Ex. Are there another trains coming soon?

Are there other trains coming soon?

Is there another train coming soon?

Other, Others
“other” is usually a Determiner

Ex. Where is my other sock? (Determiner)

Other people may join us tomorrow.

I got most of the other information already.

I have only got one shoe. Have you got the other? (Pronoun)

“others” can only be used as a Pronoun

Ex. I have only seen the first episode. I can’t wait to see the others.
 This computer has broken down. Use one of the others.

!!! Sometimes “others” means ‘people’.

Ex. Did you come all by yourself? Where are the others?

Tell the others to wait in there.

One Another, Each Other

They are used as Objects of verbs and they have the same meaning.

Ex. They all tried to help each other / one another.

Common phrase include:

Ex. I talked to James the other day. (a few days ago)

One of these days you’ll realize that was wrong. (one day in the future)

I managed to get an interview with none other than the group leader.

They came one after another / one after the other.(in quick succession)

They arrived one by one. (not all together)

We were talking about something or other when there was a big crash. (I can’t
remember exactly what)