Determiners and Noun Phrases

Content [Show/Hide]

Determiners are words that go in front of a noun and identify what the noun refers to. The determiner category includes the articles, demonstratives, possessive pronouns, possessive nouns, some quantifiers, some interrogatives, and some numerals.

Articles

Articles the and a/an are the most frequently used determiners. They indicate definite and indefinite meaning; that is they signal whether or not the noun is being introduced for the first time or has already been introduced in the text or conversation. When no article comes before the noun then we have zero article.

The indefinite article, (a / an) is used when the noun is mentioned for the first time in the text or conversation

I saw a man in the room.

The definite article, the, is used to refer to a particular thing that is known. This means, the is used when something introduced earlier is being referred to again:

I have three items on my table: a book, a pen, and an The book belongs to my brother; the pen belongs to my teacher whilst the eraser is mine.

Only three articles are used in English: the, a, and an. Articles always precede any other adjective modifying the noun.

Indefinite article is used to introduce a single item for the first time. The form a is used before a word beginning with a consonant sound:

They have a book on a table.
I saw a university student yesterday.
We have a European as a member of our team.

The form an is used before words beginning with a vowel sound:

We finished everything within an hour.
This is an orange.

The indefinite article should be repeated when you are referring different things:

I need to buy a book, a phone and an
They gave me a black and white cloth.

Stating what type of thing something is: a/an

The indefinite article can be used to say what class a particular person or thing belongs to:

This is a wonderful surprise.
That bird looks like a white eagle.

How articles are used with countable and uncountable nouns:

Indefinite articles can only be used with nouns that are singular; usually these are countable nouns: a cat, a chair, an orange.

A few uncountable nouns can also take the indefinite article especially when used after an adjective. The noun often refers to a particular actual example of a quality, idea or feeling:

There was an indefinable sadness in his voice.
I noticed a slight stiffness in her movement; she was hurt.
Okae has a good knowledge of English.

The indefinite article is sometimes used with the meaning a type of before uncountable nouns for substances:

We want to use an acrylic paint.
Voltic is a sparkling mineral water.

The indefinite article can also mean a unit or container of the substance mentioned:

They usually have a yogurt each for breakfast.
I always love a coffee.

One is used for emphasis, or in order to contrast with other numbers:

Give me one good reason why I should!
Last year we had three thousand visitors but only one thousand this year.

A/an is used with units and some other words to mean each:

It costs GHS 3 a metre (= each metre).
I read three books a week.
Only 50 kilograms a bag.

Meaning ‘one’ or ‘each’: a/an

The indefinite article is preferred to one when talking about a single person or thing:

The student spoilt a pot and ten TV sets.
He only stayed for a day or two.

Also: a dozen, a hundred, a thousand, a million, a billion, a week, a month, a year, a decade, a century, etc

We can use the with countable nouns, both singular and plural, and uncountable nouns as well. It is used when the particular reference of the noun phrase is known. Compare the sentences below:

Do you know any Nigerian?

Do you know the Nigerian next door?

Snails are less popular these days.

I really must go for the snails this week.

A man telephoned.

The man who you visited yesterday telephoned.

Is there a message for me?

She phoned four times but no-one gave me the message.

Countable Nouns Used With No Articles

Some countable nouns are used without an article with common expressions with ‘at’, ‘on’, ‘by’, ‘in’, ‘out of’:

He spent ten years in jail (= he was a prisoner).
The injured were taken to hospital.
He refused to get out of bed.
This was painted by hand.
Shall we fly or go by train?
Does she go to (= attend) school yet?

All these nouns are also used in the actual way with article:

She is gone to the hospital.

General Statements

In general statements using uncountable nouns, no article is used:

Mathematics was my favourite subject at school.
Light travels at 200 000 km per hour.
Swimming benefits every muscle you have got.

It is also possible to a general statement using a definite or indefinite article before a countable noun:

An injured lion (= any injured lion) is an extremely dangerous animal.
Does the computer (= Do computers in general) save time and money?
The Ghanaians and the Nigerians are very different.

How the Articles are used with Other Parts of Speech

Used before adjectives:

The is used before adjectives when used alone to refer to a group. Notice that a plural verb is required:

The young are so optimistic.
The French are normally law abiding.
The unemployed are usually desperate for jobs.

Some adjectives refer to only one person or thing and always require ‘the’:

I was the first to finish...
They had exactly the same hairstyle.
We sang the only song we knew.
They were the last to appear.

Superlatives of adjectives and adverbs require ‘the’:

It is the slowest growing economy in West Africa.
She is the most beautiful woman they saw.
Which mistake do you make the most often?

Used after predeterminers

The articles are determiners like, ‘my’, ‘your’, ‘this’, ‘that’, ‘those’ etc and so they cannot be used before another determiner. Phrases like ‘the my brother’, ‘a this book’ are impossible.

The articles (a/an) can be used after predeterminers (half, quite, rather, such and what):

He left about half an hour ago.
That is rather a long time.
This is quite a long time.
Such an interesting couple!
What a difference!

The can be used after the predeterminers all, both, double, half and twice:

All the information has been given to me.
He is twice the weight of both boys.

Demonstrative Determiners

They are two sets of words – this/these and that/those. Their function is similar to that of the definite article. However, they distinguish between singular and plural (this for singular and these for plural); and also closeness of the referent noun to the speaker is indicated (that for close nouns and those for distant nouns).

The choice between this/these and that/those depends on speaker’s perception of whether the referent noun is near or distant. The choice may also reflect emotional distance rather than physical distance. Demonstrative determiners therefore point out the noun we are talking about.

I live in this
They also live in those

Quantifying Determiners (quantifiers)

Quantifying determiners give inexact quantity or amount of the noun. They are therefore called quantifiers. Quantifiers include:

all: used with plural nouns to refer to the entire group.

All dogs are animals.
Not all animals are dogs.

With uncountable nouns, all refers to the whole amount.

He lost all his money at the party.

When used with a singular noun, it indicates that something has been happening for a whole period of time.

It rained all

It comes before abstract nouns to mean the highest degree possible.

In all truthfulness I cannot accept the books.

any: it is used with uncountable and plural nouns in negative sentences and questions to indicate an unspecified amount. With affirmative/positive sentences, some is used.

He has not got any food at home.
Does he have any oranges in the box?

It goes before singular count nouns to refer to one of a number of things or people when it does not matter which one.

Kofi takes any pen he likes.

both: used with plural nouns to mean the two.

Both boys are students.

each: is used to refer to one of two or more things or people, when they are considered separately.

I take one book from each cupboard in the room.

either: one of the two, any of the two.

Which of the two pens do you need?

~ either of them

~any of the two

enough: used before non-count and plural nouns to mean presence of the needed quantity.

I have enough money on me.
There enough seats in the hall.

every: used with a singular noun to refer to all the members of a group of people or things.

I listen to every song they sing.

It is also used to mean all possible.

He said he has very reason to be at the meeting.

It also expresses how often an event or action takes place.

The students come here every five minutes.

few: means small number of people, things or places. Few has negative meaning (not many) A few has a more positive meaning like some. It used with countable nouns.

The COVID-19 is still present, so he invited few people to the party. (=not many)
The COVID-19 is gone but a few people went to the party. (=below expectation)

less: used with non-count noun to mean a smaller amount of.

He was advised to drink less alcohol.

little: It is like few; used with uncountable nouns to mean not much. A little also takes the place of a few.

Ama had little sugar for a cup of tea.
The woman gave Ama a little sugar for tea; it could prepare two cups of tea.

a lot of / lots of = a large number or amount of. It is used with both count and non-count nouns. Lots of is informal.

A lot of people attended the party.
He wants lots of sugar in his coffee.

many: used with plural nouns in negative sentences to mean a large number of. It is used in questions too to ask about the size of a number. For positive sentences, enough is used.

We do not have many books for the children.
How many books are there for the children?
We have enough books for the children.

much: We use much with uncountable nouns especially in negative sentences.

We do not have much sugar for the tea.
We have enough sugar for the tea.

neither: of two things or people, not one and not the other.

4 + 3 = 8, 4 + 3 = 6 Neither answer is correct.

no: = not one, not any

There are no books in the box.

several: = more than two but not very many.

I know several students come here.

some: used with uncountable or plural count nouns to mean an amount of or a number of, when the number or amount is not given. With negative sentences and questions, any is used.

Some people come here.

Semi-determiners

A number of words work as determiners, yet they have some characteristics of adjectives and pronouns: another, last, other, same, such

Numerals as Determiners

Numerals as determiners are of two types: cardinal and ordinal numerals. Cardinal numerals are like quantifiers whereas ordinal numerals are similar to semi-determiners. Numerals can therefore occupy the position of determiners. The numerals as follows:

Interrogative Determiners

These determiners are also called wh-determiners. They are used for asking questions (interrogations); that is why they are called interrogative determiners. They are: which, whose, what

Possessive Determiners

They are determiners that show ownership. Hence, they are named possessive determiners. They are also pronouns as well. They are: my, your, his, her, its, our, their.

Using Determiners Together

Determiners can be classified in relation to the positions with other determiners. They are also differentiated based on their relative position with types of nouns. A noun phrase may be introduced by several determiners. Three sets of determiners are classified in order of: predeterminers, central determiners, and postdeterminers. Here are examples of all the three kinds of determiners:

Determiner                                                      example
Predeterminers:                                              half, all, double, etc
Central determiners: the articles (a, an, the)
Postdeterminers:                                            cardinal and ordinal numerals, many, few

Since the classification depends on arrangement of the determiners within the noun phrase, we do not find:

central determiner + predeterminer (their all trouble)
postdeterminer + central determiner + predeterminer (five the all boys)

But only the order: predeterminer + central determiner + postdeterminer is correct. Thus, those phrases become

all their trouble
all the five boys.

Just one or two of these kinds of determiners may be present:

all casualties
all those friends
all my many friends
my friends
every day

twice every other day

Most determiners can also be premodified by intensifiers:

hardly any money
no fewer than twenty claims
virtually no trees
just about every viewpoint
almost all instances
far too much time
more than half my effort
so very little milk

Predeterminers

Predeterminers fall into four subsets:

The subset: all, both, half

All the students passed the exam with distinction.
Both the students and their teachers were present at the ceremony.
Half the students are Ghanaians.

Multipliers
once, twice, thrice

They have supper together once a week.
She gave the twice the number of oranges they asked for.
She gave the thrice the number of oranges they asked for

double, treble, quadruple

They now earn double their previous salary.
They now earn treble their previous salary.
They now earn quadruple their previous salary.
The multiplying expression headed by times:

She gave the two times the number of oranges they asked for.
She gave the three times the number of oranges they asked for.
fractions other than half

One-third the population was given cars.

exclamative what which can precede the indefinite article:

What a shock!
What a happy day!

Central Determiners

The central determiners too do not occur together. Only one central determiner can go before the noun head. They are all closed sets:

Articles: a, an, the
Demonstratives: this, these, that, those
Possessive determiners: my, our, your, his, her, its, their
Interrogative determiners: which, what, whose
Nominal relative determiners: which, whichever, what, whatever, whatsoever
Indefinite determiners: some, any, either, no, neither

Postdeterminers

The postdeterminers fall into four subsets:

Cardinals: all my ten dogs
Primary ordinals: her twenty-first birthday
General ordinals: another, last, next, other
Primary quantifiers: Many, several, few, little, much

Determiners can be distinguished according to which noun they co-occur with.

Determiners used with singular nouns only:

Central determiners: a /an, each, every, either, neither

Postdeterminers: cardinal one

a book
every book
neither book

one book

Determiners used with plural nouns only

Predeterminer: both
Central determiners: these, those
Postdeterminers: cardinals except one

Primary quantifiers: many, a few, few, several

both books
five books
these books
those books
several books

Determiners used with non-count only

Postdeterminers: much, a little, little

much water
a little water

Determiners used with singular count, plural count, and non-count
Predeterminers: all, multipliers, fractions, exclamative what
Central determiners: the, no, possessives, interrogatives and relative pronouns

Postdeterminers: ordinals (first, second, third, etc)

all their houses
half the houses
my furniture

With singular count and non-count nouns
Central determiners: this, that

this car
that information