What are Determiners? Determiners are words used in front of nouns or noun phrases to specify something particular or something of a general kind. They modify nouns and can be used to indicate the nature or number of the noun. Determiners function similarly to adjectives.
1. Articles - 'A, 'An', 'The' 2. Numerals: (i) Definite - first, second, both, one, two hundred etc. (ii) Indefinite - some, few, many, all etc. (iii) Distributive - every, each, either, neither etc. 3. Quantitatives - little, much, more, any etc. 4. Demonstrative Adjectives - this, that, these, those, such 5. Possessives - my, your his, her its, ours, their 6. Interrogatives - where, what which, whose A determiner can perform two functions- (i) identify a singular or plural noun in number (ii) determine the nature of nouns - definite or indefinite. Determiners also precede numbers or objects and indicate a quantity or amount.
Articles are words used before nouns to clarify whether the noun refers to something specific or unspecific. Articles are a type of determiner and are divided into two categories: 1. Indefinite Article 2. Definite Articles:
The indefinite articles are 'a' and 'an'. They are used before singular countable nouns. The choice of a or an depends on the pronunciation of the noun: 'A' is used before nouns that begin with a consonant sound. Example: a dog, a chair 'An' is used before nouns that begin with a vowel sound. Example: an apple, an hour
Exceptions: When a word begins with a vowel letter but is pronounced with a consonant sound, use 'a'. Example: a uniform, a one-eyed man When a word begins with a consonant letter but is pronounced with a vowel sound, use 'an'. Example: an MP, an honor For adjectives before a singular noun, the article is determined by the initial sound of the adjective, not the noun. Example: a big event, an intelligent person
When to use 'A' or 'An': To express quantity: a little milk, a lot of effort, a few books Before a singular countable noun when it is mentioned for the first time. To refer to a singular object or person: a teacher, a cat Before proper nouns when the person is unknown: A Mr. Sharma called for you To express frequency: once a week, thrice a year To denote "make" of a product: This is a Samsung phone
When not to use 'A' or 'An': Before plural nouns Before uncountable nouns Before abstract nouns or names of substances
The definite article is 'the'. It is used to refer to something specific or particular, and can be used before both countable and uncountable nouns.
When to use 'The': Before names of physical features and geographical areas: the Himalayas, the Indian Ocean. Before names of historical monuments and important buildings: the Eiffel Tower. Before something mentioned previously or known to both the speaker and listener: I saw a bird. The bird was blue. Before unique objects: the sun, the moon. Before superlatives: the best, the first. Before musical instruments: the piano, the guitar.
When not to use 'The': Before names of meals: I am having lunch. Before names of certain places (e.g., school, hospital) when they serve their primary purpose: She goes to school. Before plural and uncountable nouns used in a general sense.
Demonstrative determiners (this, that, these, those) can act as both adjectives and pronouns. As Adjectives: They modify nouns and usually come before them. Example: This book is interesting. Those students are absent. As Pronouns: They stand alone, replacing the noun. Example: This is my book.
Those are my friends.
Possessives show ownership. They are either adjectives or pronouns. 1. Possessive Adjectives (my, your, his, her, its, our, their): These come before nouns to show possession. Example: This is my car. 2. Possessive Pronouns (mine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs): These replace the noun and show possession. Example: This car is mine.
Important Notes: 'Its' is only used as a possessive adjective (e.g., Its color is blue). Possessive adjectives do not take apostrophes. Only possessive pronouns may use apostrophes.
1. Many people love to swim for exercise or just plain fun. 2. They hosted a dinner party in our honour. 3. My mother has gone to the school to pay my school fee. 4. I request you to please call for a doctor. 5. Is there any sugar in your milk?
1. He told me that many relatives would be arriving today. 2. As we don't have much space in our house, he is taking them to the nearby cottage. 3. Put a little barley in the food to make it more delicious. 4. There are quite a few stamps in my collection. I wonder how much they are worth now. 5. She has a few more scarfs to sew, but there is very little thread left on the reel. 6. I shan't take much of your valuable time. I have got a few concerns to clear up with you.
1. There were seven books on the table. Each book had a different colour and name. 2. Sheen tried to call Sneha twice, but each time there was no reply. 3. We had a great trip to Malaysia. I enjoyed every second of it. 4. Every parent cares about his/her children. 5. The Olympic games take place every four years.
1. I would take fewer tablets if I were you. 2. Ashish earns less money but he spends more than Archit. 3. There were fewer accidents last year after the imposition of heavy fines for speeding. 4. There is less diesel in my car so let's take Ram's car. 5. There are fewer jobs for post graduates now because of the cut-throat competition.
i. In past years, many of (1) the rain forests has been (2) destroyed due to our negligence. (3) / No error (4) Error in part (2): "has" should be "have" because "many" is plural. ii. A few minutes that she had (1) at the end of the exam were (2) not enough for her to revise. (3) / No Error (4) No Error (4) iii. The manager and supervisor of the (1) store were not able to put forward (2) their opinions at the meeting (3) / No Error (4) No Error (4) iv. Many an electrical appliance (1) is made in China (2) these days (3) / No Error (4) No Error (4) v. Every visitor was (1) requested to carry (2) their ID proofs in the museum (3) / No Error (4) Error in part (2): "their" should be "his/her" because "every" is singular.
1. We've many seen bicyclists who wander from left side to right, who go from the sidewalk to the street and who weave in and out between parked cars. From moment to moment, nobody can tell what these bicyclists are about to do. Pedestrians jump back and car brakes squeal as such bicyclists approach. On the other hand, we've seen bicyclists who seem to blend into the traffic flow smoothly and effortlessly. You always know where they are headed and what to do around them, whether you're on a bicycle, in a car or on foot. They make bicycling look easy - but aren't they taking a huge risk with their lives? Isn't it safer to avoid the traffic as much as possible?
2. India is getting ready to open up commercial coal mining to private companies for the first time in four decades, with the aim of shifting the world's third-biggest coal importer towards energy self-sufficiency. The government has identified mines it plans to auction, and is now finalizing other terms such as eligibility criteria for companies to take part and whether and how to set up revenue-sharing. That plan should be ready in the 2-3 months, setting a clear timeline on the plan that has previously only been vaguely marked out. India has an ambitious plan to double its coal production to 1.5 billion tonnes a year by 2020, as part of the Prime Minister's push to bring power to 300 million people who live without electricity, and give a little boost to manufacturing. It would also support the government's efforts to develop eastern parts of the country, which are resource-rich and hold most of India's coal reserves but have lagged the western states in development. It's imperative that India opens up its coal sector so that private companies can bring in new technologies and the efficiencies that we keep talking about.
