Determiner Master Class for TET 1& 2
Determiner (নির্ধারক)
A determiner is a word used before a noun to provide context or specify the noun in terms of definiteness, quantity, possession, or other attributes. Determiners help clarify what the noun is referring to.
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Types of Determiners
1 Articles
An article is a determiner that precedes a noun or noun phrase and identifies it as either specific or nonspecific. The definite article is the, and the indefinite articles are a and an. An article can appear alone before the noun it modifies or in combination with one or more descriptive adjectives.
Definite article: the (e.g., the cat)
Indefinite articles: a, an (e.g., a dog, an apple
The car was parked in front of the dilapidated brick building.
Indefinite articles: a, an (e.g., a dog, an apple)
Working from a café is a great option—if you order food or coffee and can find a table near an electrical outlet.
2 Demonstrative determiners
Demonstrative determiners, also known as demonstrative adjectives, communicate the placement of a noun in space or time. The demonstrative determiners are this, that, these, and those.
This cat is the one I was telling you about.
Let’s go to that restaurant again.
In those days, Enid wore a lot of bright colors.
If the group of demonstrative determiners looks familiar, that’s because they are the same words as the demonstrative pronouns, which are used to replace an already mentioned or implied word or phrase. In fact, demonstrative determiners are the adjectival forms of the demonstrative pronouns, and they, too, refer to something that the listener or reader already knows about or that is clear from the context. They just come before a noun, modifying it instead of replacing it. Here are examples of the word these, used as a demonstrative determiner.
We can’t see the lake because of these trees.
3 Distributive determiners
Distributive determiners refer to a group or individual parts within a group. Words like each, every, all, and both are distributive determiners.
Be sure both kids get a bath tonight.
Each table in the cafeteria has a napkin dispenser on it.
4 Interrogative determiners
Interrogative determiners narrow down a noun’s attributes by asking a direct or an indirect question. The interrogative determiners are whose, what, and which. As with the demonstrative determiners and pronouns, the interrogative determiners are the adjective forms of the interrogative pronouns. Here are three sentences using the three interrogative determiners:
Whose shoes were left outside on the lawn?
What kind of person does something like that?
Max wondered aloud which taxi would arrive first.
5 Possessive determiners
Possessive determiners, also known as possessive adjectives, are the possessive forms of the personal pronouns and can appear before a noun: my, your, his, her, its, our, their, and whose. They tell us something about the ownership of the noun or a relationship it has with another word in the sentence.
The person whose shoes are in the rain should bring them inside.
Gerald met his partner at a work event.
Where do your ideas for your writing come from?
The possessive forms of nouns are also sometimes considered to be possessive determiners:
The team met Gerald’s partner at a work event.
There are different schools of thought about whether possessive adjectives should be considered determiners at all; some argue that they are descriptive and thus should be classified as true adjectives.
Quantifiers: Indicate quantity or amount
some, any, many, much, few, little, several, all (e.g., some water, many students)
Mirin hasn’t seen many movies lately.
I made it to the pool to swim laps several days last week.
There are few things Xan enjoys more than mint chocolate-chip ice cream.
Determiner Master Class for TET 1& 2
Numbers: specify the exact number
one, two, three, etc. (e.g., two apples, ten days)
When used as determiners, numbers, both cardinal and ordinal, also narrow down nouns and pronouns to specific amounts:
Sima was late to class three times this semester.
If there is a fourth time, Sima’s grade may be affected.
Interrogatives: used in questions to ask about specific noun
which, what, whose (e.g., Which dress? Whose bag?)
Whose shoes were left outside on the lawn?
What kind of person does something like that?
Max wondered aloud which taxi would arrive first.
Distributives:
each, every, either, neither (e.g., every student, neither option)
Other types:
no, both, enough (e.g., no time, both options)
Here is a determiner practice exercise suitable for a test (TET-1) along with answers.
Determiner Practice Exercise
Fill in the blanks with appropriate determiners.
- ___ sun rises in ___ east.
- He doesn’t have ___ money left to spend.
- There are ___ apples in the basket. (many/few)
- Please give me ___ information regarding the project.
- ___ book on the table belongs to Sarah. (This/That)
- Do you have ___ pen I could borrow?
- She has ___ friends in this city. (a few/little)
- There is ___ milk in the fridge, but not enough for tea.
- ___ children in the playground are enjoying the game.
- They will arrive in ___ hour.
- ___ of the students have completed their assignments. (Each/Every)
- He is ___ honest man.
- I don’t see ___ sugar on the table.
- We bought ___ oranges and bananas from the market.
- I like ___ dress you are wearing today.
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Answers
- The sun rises in the east.
- He doesn’t have any money left to spend.
- There are many apples in the basket.
- Please give me some information regarding the project.
- That book on the table belongs to Sarah.
- Do you have a pen I could borrow?
- She has a few friends in this city.
- There is some milk in the fridge, but not enough for tea.
- The children in the playground are enjoying the game.
- They will arrive in an hour.
- Each of the students has completed their assignments.
- He is an honest man.
- I don’t see any sugar on the table.
- We bought some oranges and bananas from the market.
- I like the dress you are wearing today.
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