DETERMINERS

Determiners and adjectives look similar because they both are placed before a noun.
Additionally, both adjectives and determiners provide greater detail to nouns.

However, a determiner shows the relationship of the noun to

the speaker whereas an adjective describes a quality of the noun.

Let’s use “dog” again as an example.

• My brown dog barked.

Here, “my” is the determiner and “brown” is the adjective. The word, “my” shows the dog’s
relationship to the speaker, whereas “brown” is simply a quality of the dog.

Here’s another example,

• I spent the afternoon reading them next to my dog, who couldn’t quite
understand why this was more important than the walk he was expecting to
take. –New York Post
Types of Determiners

Here is a list of determiners along with examples of each.

Determiner Examples and Types:

Articles are determiners. They modify a noun in that they identify specific or general.
• a picture (general)
• an elephant (general)
• the show (specific)
Demonstrative pronouns are determiners. They modify a noun in that they specify the
noun.
• this hat (singular)
• that hat (singular)
• these hats (plural)
• those hats (plural)
Possessive nouns and pronouns are determiners. They modify a noun in that they specify
to whom something belongs.
• Jared’s car
• his toy
• their house
Indefinite pronouns are determiners. They modify a noun in that they refer to a general
quantity.
• every bottle
• any magazine
• some pens
Numbers are determiners. They modify a noun in that they specify a quantity.
 • one rug
• four towns
• fifty flowers
Function of the Determiner

What is the function of determiners

in grammar? A determiner clarifies specific or general. It also identifies the relationship of
an item to the speaker.
A determiner can specify/identify the following:

• quantity
• much homework
• three cups
• possession
• our vacation
• Sera’s shoes
• specificity
• that clock
• those players
• definiteness
• the door
• the aircraft
Summary: What are Determiners?
Define determiner: the definition of determiner is a word that modifies a noun by
determining the kind of reference it has.
Determiners are placed before nouns and make them general or specific.

Determiners are different than adjectives in that they show the relationship to the speaker
whereas an adjective describes a quality of the noun.