What is Determiner ? ~ Grammar

1. Determiners

In modern English grammatical terminology, determiners are considered to be words that limit or specify the nouns they modify. The most common examples are articles, demonstratives, possessives, quantifiers and other less easily classified terms such as all, some and other, which we will refer to as indefinites. Remember that we have classified the possessives and quantifiers as adjectives or adverbs, due to their similarity with the corresponding forms in C_ATALAN.

1.1. Articles

1.1.1. The definite article the

As is the case in C_ATALAN, the definite article the always precedes the noun it modifies and indicates that it is definite and specific. However, unlike C_ATALAN, English does not use the definite article when the reference is general and unspecific. Compare the following cases:

The students are distributed into six groups (a reference to some specific students).

Students need another kind of training (general, unspecific reference).

When referring to time periods, English usually omits the article after the prepositions at, by, after and before, but retains it after in, on and during. Examples:

at dawn, at sunrise, at noon, at sunset, at night, at midnight by day, by night

after midnight, before dawn

in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening on the third of June (but on Christmas Day) during the summer

Exception: The article isn’t used after the preposition in when followed by a month or year: for example, I was born in June or I was born in 1975.

When referring to the immediately preceding or following days, weeks, months or years, English uses the adjectives next and last, respectively. Unlike C_ATALAN, however, the definite article is not used. Examples:

I saw her last week.

La setmana passada la vaig veure.

We’ll buy more heating oil next month.

Comprarem més fuel el mes vinent.

You won’t meet them till next year.

No els coneixeràs fins a l’any que ve.

There are also some common English expressions for which the article is not normally used.

to be in bed

to be in jail or to go to jail to be in hospital (BrE)

to make breakfast, make lunch, make dinner

1.1.2. The indefinite articles a and an

As is the case in C_ATALAN, the indefinite articles in English are used to indicate a single but unspecified noun. Examples:

It has a section on publication. I need a new car.

It’s important to keep in mind that a and an are used only before singular nouns. In fact, English has no plural indefinite article and for this purpose uses the affirmative determiner some (see section Sy 3.3.2.), which translates all of the following six forms: uns, unes, algun, alguna, alguns, algunes. Examples:

There are some basic rules.

He shared some thoughts on digital culture.

The distribution of the articles a and an and the adjective one, all translated by un/-a in C_ATALAN, can also cause confusion. In general, English only uses one when the meaning is exactly one, not two or three; when emphasizing singularity, or when contrasting one with another. Examples:

They’ve been working for an hour. Give me a pound of apples.

Why don’t you take a pill? They only have one child.

There is only one book I really like.

It is a four-month course with just one lecturer.

In negative and conditional sentences, the indefinite article is often used to modify singular count nouns, where C_ATALAN uses cap:

I don’t need a prize.

No necessito cap premi.

If you make a mistake, we win.

Si feu cap falta, guanyem nosaltres.

Finally, unlike C_ATALAN, English requires the indefinite article before professions. Examples:

Amada is a biologist.

L’Amada és biòloga.

Joan is a pilot.

En Joan és pilot.

1.2. Demonstrative determiners

See section Mo 3. for some comments on the pronunciation of these determiners.

The demonstrative determiner this and its plural these indicate that the noun they modify is relatively close, whereas that and its plural those refer to something further away. Although, broadly speaking, their use is the same as their corresponding forms in C_ATALAN (aquest -a, aquests -es, aquell -a, aquells -es), English tends to use that and those more frequently; specifically, anything out of reach, that is, further away than the length of one’s arm, can be modified by that, where C_ATALAN would be more likely to use aquest -a. Examples:

This pen is mine. That watch is broken.

These books are out of print. Those people look lost.

Remember too that this and that are also pronouns and correspond to the C_ATALAN això and

allò.

1.3. Indefinite determiners

Determiners help define the nouns they precede. Indefinite determiners broaden the scope to new or different references.

1.3.1. Universal determiners All

The determiner all indicates the total number, amount, or quantity of the noun following it. It is almost always translated by the C_ATALAN tot/-a/-s/-es. Examples:

All the windows are open. I’ve spent all my money.

We send these emails to all our clients.

The same constructions using all of (eg all of the windows, all of my money, etc.), while not incorrect, are much less usual. However, of must normally be used with the object pronouns us, you and them (eg all of us, all of you, all of them).

When the reference is generic, English does not use the definite article, nor is the preposition of possible.

All dogs like meat.

All rules have their exceptions.

Unlike C_ATALAN, English doesn’t generally use the determiner all to modify singular count nouns, but rather prefers the combination the whole + noun (el nom sencer). Examples:

I read the whole book (better than I read all the book).

I met their whole family (better than I met all their family).

An exception is made for time periods:

I’ve worked all morning (= I’ve worked the whole morning).

They spend all day studying (= They spend the whole day studying).

Note too that the following time period expressions using all omit the definite article:

all day, all morning, all afternoon, all evening, all night

The determiner all can also come after a subject noun or pronoun, or after an object pronoun (but not after a noun). Remember that the preposition of is obligatory before us, you and them. Examples:

The deer all (or All the deer) started running. We all (or All of us) know you’re lying.

We have sold them all (or all of them).

We have sold all the books (not ...~~the books all~~).

Finally, the determiner all can precede any numeral except two, where the determiner

both must be used (see the following section):

I’ve taken up all four suitcases.

Both

The combination ~~all two~~ is not possible in English (see above).

The determiner both, relating to two in conjunction, can be used in three ways: alone, followed by the, or followed by the group of the. The first alternative is the most usual. Examples:

Both boys are working hard (more usual than Both the boys... or Both of the boys...).

As with the determiner all, both can come after a subject noun or pronoun, or after an object pronoun (but not after a noun). Here too, the preposition of must be used before the pronouns us, you and them.

The boys both decided to stay home (or Both boys...). They both want the same thing (or Both of them...). I’ve hidden them both (or I’ve hidden both of them).

Both of my brothers have been to Paris (or My brothers have both been to Paris). I saw you both (or both of you) last night.

She made a pot of tea for both of us (or for us both).

Every, each

Both every and each are translated by the C_ATALAN adjective cada, and in many cases there is little difference between the two. Examples:

Every/Each student passed the test. We gave a present to every/each boy. I learn a little more every/each day.

An important difference, however, is that the determiner every can be used generically (eg Every gorilla is strong = All gorillas are strong), whereas each can have only specific reference, calling attention to the members of a group as individuals. Examples:

Every creature (= All creatures) must eat to live. Every philosopher (= All philosophers) respect Plato.

Each nurse (better than Every nurse) has their own locker. We’ve examined each case carefully (better than every case).

Another difference between each and every is that only every can be pre-modified:

We danced almost every night.

Finally, unlike all, both and each, the determiner every cannot be used as a pronoun.

1.3.2. Affirmative determiners

The determiner some is used most often in affirmative contexts; it corresponds to the plural indefinite articles uns, unes, the adjective algun/-a/-s/-es, and expressions such as una mica de, or no determiner at all. It indicates an unspecific quantity.

Can you fetch some chairs? There are some letters for you. We have some milk in the fridge.

The determiner some can be used in questions, especially when the speaker anticipates or desires a positive response. Hence, some is commonly used when making offers. The determiner any (see below) is more usual in neutral questions.

Do you have some pictures of your baby? (The speaker believes this is probably the case.)

Can we give you some help? (In contrast, using any – Can we give you any help?

– gives the offer a rather tentative air.)

The determiner some is also used when indicating a part of a whole.

Some doctors believe it is true. Some folks left early.

Finally, in colloquial speech it can be used to express admiration or anger.

That’s some black-eye!

Some idiot has scratched my car!

1.3.3. Non-affirmative determiners

Have you made any changes? No, I haven’t made any changes.

Have you drunk any water?

No, we haven’t drunk any water.

Do you like either city?

No, we don’t like either city.

Unless we wish to imply that the speaker anticipates or desires a positive response (see

some), any is generally the form used in questions. Examples:

Did you have any problems? Has she had any experience?

Although any is generally not used before a singular count noun, where the use of the article a/an is more common (see Sy 3.1.2.), there can be exceptions: I haven’t got any idea what they did.

1.3.4. Elective determiners

When used as elective determiners, any (translated in C_ATALAN by qualsevol) offers an unlimited choice, whereas either (translated by qualsevol dels dos) offers a choice between two. Examples:

Any girl can learn maths. Any wine is fine with me. Either road will get you there.

The only case in which the elective any is used in a negative sentence is when accompanied by the adverb just. Note the differences between the following two pairs of sentences.

Non-affirmative any: He doesn’t eat any cheese.

No menja formatge.

Elective any: He won’t eat just any cheese.

No menjarà un formatge qualsevol.

Non-affirmative any: We don’t read any books.

No llegim llibres.

Elective any: We don’t read just any books.

No llegim uns llibres qualssevol.

1.3.5. Negative determiners

Only 21% have no previous experience. No women agreed.

No player can win a match alone. Neither car runs very well.

I wanted neither book in my home.

1.3.6. Alternative determiners

The alternative determiner other is translated in C_ATALAN by altre/-a, another is always singular and translated by un/una altre/-a and some other is plural and translated by uns/unes altres. Examples:

His other works include several novels. Other people have the same problem. We still haven’t seen his other photos. They called us the other day.

Another key factor is investment. Would you like another glass of cider? Let’s put it off for another day.

1.3.7. The predeterminer half

When the predeterminer half is used to modify a definite noun, it is never preceded by the definite article the. We mention this because its C_ATALAN equivalent, meitat, is a noun that requires the article. Examples:

Half the people left early.

I spend half my time on the phone.

Note that the expression half of my time is also possible and that, as is the case with all and both, the preposition of must precede the pronouns us, you and them. What’s more, of is also necessary when half is itself pre-modified. Examples:

I’ve only got half of them.

I’ll be on vacation the first half of August.

When half modifies an indefinite noun it is usually followed by the indefinite article. We mention this because the C_ATALAN equivalent in this case, mig/mitja, is never followed by an article. Examples:

It took us half an hour.

Unemployment in Catalonia is over half a million.

Finally, the syntax in English for a combination of numbers and fractions is usually number

+ and a half + noun. Examples:

Two and a half hours Three and a half kilos

There is an exception with the use of the determiner a/an: an hour and a half, a day and a half, etc.

Grammar