Determiners

Determiners

Determiners are the words that typically come at the beginning of noun phrase.

Look at the table you will see the kinds of determiner.

	Kinds of determiner	With countable noun		With uncountable noun
		singular	Plural	Singular
definite	DEFINITE ARTICLE	the book	the books	the coffee
	POSSESSIVE POSSESSIVE NOUNS	my book Mary’s book	my books Mary’s books	my coffee Mary’s coffee
	DEMONSTRATIVES	this book that book	these books those books	this coffee that coffee
indefinite	INDIFINITE ARTICLE	a book	`~ books**	~ coffee**
	QUANTITY WORD  (general without comparison)	(all the book***) (some book***) any book*** no book	all books some books any books no books	all coffee some coffee any coffee no coffee
		every books each book either book neither book one book another book
			both books several books
			enough books	enough coffee
	QUANTITY WORDS (with comparison)		many books     more books     most books (a) few books*    fewer* books    fewest* books	much coffee   more coffee   most coffee (a) little coffee     less coffee     least coffee
	For expressing attitudes, etc.	such a book! what a book!	such books what books	such coffee what coffee
Wh-words
	For asking QUESTIONS (POSSESSIVE)	what book? which book? whose book?	what books? which books? whose books?	what coffee? which coffee? whose coffee?
	WH-EVER WORDS	whatever book whichever book	whatever books whichever books	whatever coffee whichever coffee

è Note: the words within the heavy boxes in the table do not change their form; they stay the same whatever kind of noun follows.

* We sometimes use less and least instead of fewer and fewest.

* * ~ signals that the indefinite article is absent before plural and uncountable nouns.

*** All, some and any are less common with singular countable nouns. They have special uses in this position.