DETERMINERS class 6 to 9 English NCERT solutions Grammar 

 

What are Determiners?

Determiners are small words used before nouns. They help us know WHICH person or thing, HOW MANY, HOW MUCH, or WHOSE person or thing we mean.

Example: The big man lifted the wheel. → “big” describes the man, so it is an adjective. “the” identifies a particular man/wheel, so it is a determiner.

Example: This book is very interesting. → “interesting” describes the book. “this” simply points out which book we mean.

Types of Determiners – Quick Chart

Type Common Determiners Easy Meaning

General / Indefinite a, an, many, some, none, any, few Not a particular one

Distributive each, every, either One at a time / one or the other

Quantity much, more, little, enough, whole Amount or quantity

Definite / Specific the A particular person or thing

Definite Numeral one, five, first, twice Exact number, order or times

Possessive my, our, your, his, her, their Shows belonging/connection

Demonstrative this, that, these, those Points out something

Interrogative which, whose, what Used to ask questions

A. GENERAL OR INDEFINITE DETERMINERS

A.1 A and AN

A and an are used before singular countable nouns when we are talking about someone or something in a general or indefinite way.

• Use A before a consonant sound.

Example: a book, a teacher, a language class, a university, a European

Notice: university and European begin with vowel letters, but their first sounds are /y/, a consonant sound.

• Use AN before a vowel sound.

Example: an apple, an example, an art exhibition, an early train, an honest man, an hour Notice: honest and hour begin with vowel sounds even though they begin with the letter h.

• We usually use a/an when we mention someone or something for the first time.

Example: She picked up a book. Later, the book was found on the table.

Example: We eventually bought a house.

 

A.2 INDEFINITE NUMERAL

These determiners do not tell us an exact number.

Common examples: none, any, few, some, many, all, certain.

Example: Many children are absent. → We do not know the exact number.

Example: I had some ideas. → An unspecified number of ideas.

Example: Are there any mangoes in the basket?

Example: Few people can shun the love of wealth.

A.3 DISTRIBUTIVE NUMERAL

These determiners refer to members of a group one by one.

Common examples: each, every, either.

Example: Each boy should get a prize. → Every boy separately.

Example: Every man must do his duty. → All members individually.

Example: You can play on either side. → One side or the other of two sides.

Remember: EACH = separately; EVERY = all members one by one; EITHER = one or the other of two.

A.4 QUANTITY

These determiners tell us about an amount or quantity.

Common examples: much, more, part, half, whole, most, less, least, little, enough, such.

Example: There is little water in the swimming pool.

Example: We have enough food for a month.

Example: The river does not have much water.

Example: We need more information.

Example: I can eat a whole pizza.

B. SPECIFIC OR DEFINITE DETERMINERS

B.1 THE

The is a definite determiner. It points to a particular person, place or thing.

Example: The sun gives us heat and light.

Example: The man you met yesterday is my brother.

Example: The car is in the front of the house.

When do we use THE?

1. When a noun is mentioned for the second time.

Example: An accident took place on the crossing. The accident was horrible.

2. When a phrase or clause makes the noun definite.

Example: I must catch the idiot who bolted my door from outside. / We came to the edge of the forest.

3. Before superlatives.

Example: Buland Darwaza is the highest gate in India. / This is the best way to get out of this danger.

4. Before only, next, last, same, right and wrong.

Example: You are the only true friend of mine. / You are in the wrong.

5. Before a noun/adjective representing a whole class.

Example: Nobody knows who invented the wheel. / We must help the poor.

6. Before names of seas, rivers, mountain chains and groups of islands.

Example: The Ganga / The Pacific Ocean / The Himalayas

7. Before natural phenomena or things of which there is only one.

Example: The earth revolves round the sun. / The sun rises in the east.

8. Before names of magazines, newspapers and certain famous books.

Example: The Bible is a holy book of the Christians. / The Sports Star deals mainly with sports news.

9. Before names of races and peoples.

Example: The Sikhs / The Hindus / The Christians

When do we NOT use THE?

1. Before proper nouns.

Example: Mr. J.P. Datta came to Delhi and lived in a hotel.

2. Before abstract nouns when used generally.

Example: Everybody fears death.

3. Before places of assembly when visited for their usual purpose.

Example: We go to school daily. / Daddy goes to office by bus.

4. Before uncountable nouns when used generally.

Example: Rice is grown in India. / He is fond of milk.

Important: If a school, hospital, office etc. is visited for another purpose, use THE.

Example: I went to the school to pay the fees of my son.

Example: Mr. Basu went to the hospital to visit his friend.

An uncountable noun can take THE when it means a particular quantity/type.

Example: The rice grown in Uttar Pradesh is of good quality.

Example: The milk supplied by Delhi Milk Scheme is cheap.

B.2 DEFINITE NUMERAL

These determiners show a definite number, order or number of times.

• Cardinal numbers → tell HOW MANY: one, two, three, five…

Example: There are five girls in the class.

• Ordinal numbers → show ORDER: first, second, third…

Example: Mini did not get the first prize.

• Multiplicative numbers → show HOW MANY TIMES: once, twice, thrice…

Example: I take tea twice a day.

B.3 POSSESSIVE

Possessive determiners show that something belongs to someone or is connected with someone.

Examples: my, our, your, his, her, its, their.

Example: When does your birthday fall?

Example: I shall go to attend her marriage.

Remember: A possessive determiner is followed by a noun. It cannot stand alone as a pronoun.

Determiner Corresponding Pronoun

my mine

our ours

your yours

his his

her hers

their theirs

Example: This is my book. (determiner + noun) / This book is mine. (pronoun)

 

B.4 DEMONSTRATIVE

Demonstrative determiners point out which person or thing we mean.

They are: this, that, these, those.

Word Number Distance

this singular near

these plural near

that singular far

those plural far

Example: This book is mine. → one book, near me.

Example: These books are mine. → more than one, near me.

Example: That dress looks lovely. → one dress, farther away.

Example: Those apples are sweet. → more than one, farther away.

 

B.5 INTERROGATIVE

When what, whose and which are used before nouns to ask questions, they are called interrogative determiners.

Example: Which dog bit you on the leg?

Example: Whose bag are you carrying?

Example: What colour will she use?

SUPER-QUICK REVISION CHART

Determiner Ask yourself… Example

a / an Is it one, general thing? a pen / an apple

the Which particular one? the pen on the table

many / some / few How many, but not exactly? many children

much / little / enough How much? much water

each / every One by one? each child

my / your / their Whose? my book

this / that / these / those Which one by pointing? this book

which / whose / what Question? which book?

 

WORKSHEET

A. Insert ‘a’, ‘an’ or ‘the’ as may be suitable:

I bought ______ horse, ______ ox and ______ buffalo.

______ musician was ______ old man who lived near ______ Red Fort.

______ umbrella is of no avail against ______ thunderstorm.

He is ______ orator, ______ artist and ______ original thinker.

We found ______ big fish in ______ middle of ______ lake.

If he is not ______ European or ______ American, he must be ______ Australian.

Set ______ clock back; it is ______ hour too fast.

It is ______ pity that ______ world knows so little about ______ place.

When faced with ______ problem, he retires to ______ hut he has built on ______ ocean shore.

______ tiger is ______ animal equal in size to ______ lion.

B. Correct these sentences by adding suitable determiners:

You have to catch train from Delhi station to get to Agra.

Nile is longest river in Africa.

There are many languages spoken in Far East.

I saw a movie last night. Movie was about soldier.

The worker went to a church to repair roof.

Police have arrested Tom.

Bicycle is an excellent means of transportation.

C. Use much, many, any, some, either, neither, none, all to fill in the blanks:

Both pens are good, give me ______.

If you do not have ______ money, you can borrow ______.

How ______ books did she buy?

______ of you are going to the party tonight.

______ of the two horses is good. I do not want ______.

After a ______ heated discussion, they became calm.

After all we are ______ human beings created by one God.

After ______ difficulties he succeeded at last.

D. Insert suitable determiners to complete the passage:

A number of people visit the Taj Mahal at Agra. ______ visitors come as tourists. In the recent years, ______ people are visiting Agra for business purposes. But almost ______ visitor goes to enjoy the beauty of the Taj. This is ______ of the greatest attractions in ______ city which is also famous for its leather work. ______ person who visits Agra must go around these shops. ______ real shopper can return without buying ______ thing. Another attraction of Agra is the petha sweet. ______ people buy ______ of these as gifts for others.

E. Omission

One word has been omitted in each line. The place where the word has been omitted is shown by ‘/’. Write the missing word.

Passage Answer

I met / doctor yesterday who ________

has written / number of good books ________

on / subject. I do not know his name ________

but / people tell me that he is well known ________

and extremely popular in / town. Very little ________

is known about him except / fact that he ________

worked for / years abroad before coming here. ________

I conclude that / he is a very shy man or ________

he is frightened. / cases he has dealt with ________

were incurable and beyond / hope. ________

One-Line Revision

Determiners are words placed before nouns to tell us WHICH, HOW MANY, HOW MUCH, or WHOSE noun we mean.