DETERMINERS

Determiners

Determiners are words that come before nouns and give us more information about them.

They can tell us:

• whether the noun is specific or general

• who owns it

• which one we mean

• how many there are

Examples:

• the book (a specific book)

• a book (any book)

• my book (a book that belongs to me)

• this book (a book near me)

• two books (quantity)

Common types of determiners include:

• articles: a, an, the

• possessives: my, your, his, her, our, their

• demonstratives: this, that, these, those

• quantifiers: many, much, some, all, few

---

Articles

Articles help show whether a noun is specific or general.

English has:

• the definite article: the

• the indefinite articles: a and an

Examples:

• the book

• the teacher

• a car

• an apple

Use an before a vowel sound:

• an apple

• an umbrella

• an hour

Use a before a consonant sound:

• a book

• a teacher

• a university

---

When Do We Need an Article?

Singular Count Nouns

Singular count nouns usually need an article or another determiner.

Examples:

• I bought a computer.

• I know the instructor.

• He has an umbrella.

Common ESL error:

• I bought computer. ❌

• I bought a computer. ✅

---

Plural Nouns in General

Do not use an article when talking about things in general.

Examples:

• I like books.

• Dogs are friendly animals.

Compare:

• I like books. (books in general)

• I like the books you bought. (specific books)

---

Mass Nouns

Mass nouns (uncountable nouns) do not usually use a or an.

Examples:

• There is sand in my shoe.

• There is some water on the floor.

Common ESL error:

• There is a sand in my shoe. ❌

• There is sand in my shoe. ✅

---

Professions

Use a or an before professions.

Examples:

• She is a doctor.

• He is an engineer.

Common ESL error:

• She is doctor. ❌

• She is a doctor. ✅

---

Both

Do not use the before both.

Examples:

• I will take both of them. ✅

• I will take the both of them. ❌

---

Possessive Determiners

Possessive determiners show ownership.

English uses:

• my

• your

• his

• her

• its

• our

• their

Examples:

• my book

• their house

• our teacher

---

Possessive 's

Use 's to show possession.

Examples:

• the girl's book

• John's car

• the teacher's office

---

Body Parts

English usually uses a possessive determiner before body parts.

Examples:

• I brushed my teeth.

• She hurt her arm.

Common ESL error:

• I brushed the teeth. ❌

• I brushed my teeth. ✅

---

Common Confusions

their / there / they're

• their = possession

  • their house

• there = location

  • The book is there.

• they're = they are

  • They're happy.

---

its / it's

• its = possession

  • The dog wagged its tail.

• it's = it is

  • It's raining.

---

Possessive 's vs. Plural s

• the student's book (one student)

• the students' books (more than one student)

---

Inanimate Objects

Use its, not his or her, for things.

Examples:

• The book lost its cover.

• The company changed its name.

---

Demonstrative Determiners

Demonstratives identify which noun we mean.

English uses:

• this

• that

• these

• those

Examples:

• this book

• that car

• these people

• those houses

---

Agreement

Use singular demonstratives with singular nouns:

• this book

• that house

Use plural demonstratives with plural nouns:

• these books

• those houses

Common ESL error:

• this people ❌

• these people ✅

• that books ❌

• those books ✅

---

Quantifiers

Quantifiers tell us how much or how many.

Examples:

• all the people

• many friends

• few animals

• every child

• some water

• a lot of ideas

---

Much vs. Many

Use many with count nouns.

Examples:

• many books

• many friends

• many houses

Use much with mass nouns.

Examples:

• much water

• much money

• much information

Compare:

• I have many books. ✅

• I have much books. ❌

• There is much water in the pool. ✅

---

A Lot Of

Write a lot as two words.

Examples:

• a lot of people

• a lot of water

Common ESL error:

• alot of people ❌

• a lot of people ✅

---

Quick Rule

Before a noun, ask yourself:

1. Do I need an article?

   • a book

   • the book

2. Am I showing ownership?

   • my book

   • their house

3. Am I identifying which one?

   • this book

   • those books

4. Am I talking about quantity?

   • many books

   • much water

   • a lot of friends

Remember:

• Singular count nouns usually need an article or determiner.

• Use a/an for professions.

• Use many with count nouns and much with mass nouns.

• Use these/those with plural nouns.