What are determiners?
A determiner is used to modify a noun. It indicates reference to something specific or something of a particular type. This function is usually performed by articles, demonstratives, possessive determiners, or quantifiers.
Determiners vs pronouns
Determiners are followed by a noun.
Subject pronouns ( I , you , he , etc.) and possessive pronouns (mine, yours, his, etc.) cannot be determiners because they can never be followed by a noun.
- The man
- This book
- Some people
Types of determiners
Articles
The definite and indefinite articles are all determiners.
Examples:
- Definite article - the
- Indefinite article - a or an (a is used before a consonant sound; an is used before a vowel sound.)
Close the door, please.
I've got a friend in Canada.Demonstratives
There are four demonstrative determiners in English and they are: this, that, these and those
