Determiners
Determiners are words placed before nouns or pronouns to decide or fix their meaning. They tell
us ‘how many’ or ‘how much’. Determiners are words which come before nouns. They contain
several classes of words, including pronouns and adjectives. They determine or limit the noun by
giving some additional information about it. Determiners show whether a noun refers to is a
general or a specific object, person or place. They indicate which or how many things the noun
refers to. Determiners define or limit a noun to the singular or plural. They indicate amount or
quantity. Determiners and nouns together make noun phrases. They make noun phrases with
adjectives too. Determiners may precede numerals too.
Determiners are words that precede and modify nouns. They tell us how many or how
much. Selecting the correct determiner depends on your understanding of the
distinction between countable and uncountable nouns.
Countable Nouns
Countable nouns refer to things that we can count. Such nouns can take either singular
or plural form. Concrete nouns may be countable.
Examples:
• There are a dozen apples in the basket.
• He ate an egg for breakfast.
Collective nouns are countable.
Examples:
• We saw a herd of elephants in the forest yesterday.
• Paris is home to several orchestras.
Uncountable Nouns
Uncountable nouns refer to things that we cannot count. Such nouns take only singular
form. Abstract nouns are uncountable.
Examples:
• The price of freedom is constant vigilance.
• Her writing shows maturity and intelligence.
Some concrete nouns are uncountable (when understood in their undivided sense).
Examples:
• The price of oil is rising constantly.
• Would you like some rice?
Determiners are words placed before nouns or pronouns to decide or fix their meaning. They tell
us ‘how many’ or ‘how much’. Determiners are words which come before nouns. They contain
several classes of words, including pronouns and adjectives. They determine or limit the noun by
giving some additional information about it. Determiners show whether a noun refers to is a
general or a specific object, person or place. They indicate which or how many things the noun
refers to. Determiners define or limit a noun to the singular or plural. They indicate amount or
quantity. Determiners and nouns together make noun phrases. They make noun phrases with
adjectives too. Determiners may precede numerals too.
Determiners are words that precede and modify nouns. They tell us how many or how
much. Selecting the correct determiner depends on your understanding of the
distinction between countable and uncountable nouns.
Countable Nouns
Countable nouns refer to things that we can count. Such nouns can take either singular
or plural form. Concrete nouns may be countable.
Examples:
• There are a dozen apples in the basket.
• He ate an egg for breakfast.
Collective nouns are countable.
Examples:
• We saw a herd of elephants in the forest yesterday.
• Paris is home to several orchestras.
Uncountable Nouns
Uncountable nouns refer to things that we cannot count. Such nouns take only singular
form. Abstract nouns are uncountable.
Examples:
• The price of freedom is constant vigilance.
• Her writing shows maturity and intelligence.
Some concrete nouns are uncountable (when understood in their undivided sense).
Examples:
• The price of oil is rising constantly.
• Would you like some rice?
