Determiners
What are Determiners?
Determiners are words placed in
front of nouns to clarify what the noun refers to. They play a key role in
specifying whether the noun is general or specific, singular or plural,
definite or indefinite. Without determiners, our sentences can feel unclear or
incomplete.
Types of Determiners
1. Articles
The most common determiners in English are articles.
Definite
Article: The
Used when referring to a specific
noun.
Example: “I saw the dog.”
Indefinite
Articles: A, An
Used when referring to any one member of a
group or category.
Example: “She found a book.”
Use ‘a’ before consonant sounds and ‘an’
before vowel sounds.
Example: “An apple a day.”
2. Demonstratives
Demonstratives point to specific nouns. There are four in English: this,
that, these, and those.
This/These: Used for things that
are near.
Example: “This is my car.” / “These are my
shoes.”
That/Those: Used for things that
are far away.
Example: “That house is old.” / “Those
books are mine.”
3. Possessives
Possessive determiners show ownership or relationship. Examples include-
my, your, his, her, its, our, their.
Example: “My friend is coming.”
Note: Do not confuse possessive determiners with possessive pronouns
like mine or yours.
4. Quantifiers
Quantifiers indicate quantity. They can refer to a specific number or an
approximate amount. Some common examples are:
Specific: One, two, three,
etc.
Example: “I have two cats.”
General: Some, many, few,
several, all, most, any, enough.
Example: “We need some milk.”
Cardinal numbers (one, two, three) and ordinal numbers (first, second,
third) are also determiners.
Example: “She has three children.” / “I finished in second place.”
6. Interrogatives
Interrogative determiners are used to ask questions about nouns. The
most common are what, which, and whose.
Example: “Which book did you read?”
7. Distributives
Distributive determiners refer to individual members of a group. Common
examples are each, every, either, neither.
Example: “Each student received a certificate.”
Position of Determiners
In English, determiners come before
a noun or before an adjective that modifies the noun.
Example:
Determiner + Noun: “The house is beautiful.”
Determiner + Adjective + Noun: “This big house
is beautiful.”
Common Mistakes
1. Omitting articles: Many
learners forget to use articles where they are needed.
Incorrect: “I have cat.”
Correct: “I have a cat.”
2. Using the wrong quantifier:
Some quantifiers are only used with countable nouns (e.g., many, few), while
others are used with uncountable nouns (e.g., much, little).
Incorrect: “I have many money.”
Correct: “I have much money.”
Conclusion
Determiners are essential to
crafting clear and precise sentences. By understanding the different types of
determiners and how they function, you can make your writing more effective and
grammatically sound.
Questions
Q1.
__________ of the two sisters is married.
A.
Both
B. Every
C. Each
D. Any
Q2.
_________ of you should attend the conference.
A.
Both
B. Each
C. Every
D. Many
Q3.
We should inform __________ of them.
A.
many
B. every
C. few
D. all
Q4.
They have spent __________ for their son’s wedding.
A.
many
B. enough
C. all
D the little
Q5.
__________ of the candidates pass this exam.
A.
Enough
B. Fewer
C. Either
D. Most
Q6.
__________ of the deadlines is met.
A.
Neither
B. No
C. None
D. Much
Q7.
Can I borrow __________ sugar?
A.
much
B. some
C. a little
D. a few
Q8.
With this, you have lost __________ chance that you had.
A.
a little
B. little
C. the little
D. slight
Q9.
__________ participants left the meeting in between.
A.
Several
B. Much
C. The few
D. Little
Q10.
It seems that they would need _________ workers for the construction.
A.
little
B. either
C. more
D. some
Q11.
_________ man that we saw turned out to be a thief.
A.
A
B. The
C. That
D. This
Q12.
Can ___________ help me?
A.
many
B. nobody
C. everybody
D. somebody
Q13.
He should work _________ and take a break.
A.
less
B. little
C. a little
D. more
Q14.
He told me that __________ blue was her favorite color.
A.
a
B. the
C. this
D. None of the above
Q15.
You can pick ___________ of two.
A.
many
B. more
C. either
D. some
Q16.
__________ those students were punished.
A.
All
B. Much
C. Enough
D. Some
Q17.
There isn’t ___________ cash left with us.
A.
some
B. many
C. more
D. much
Q18.
Despite looking for her ___________, I couldn’t find her.
A.
somewhere
B. anywhere
C. everywhere
D. nowhere
Q19.
____________ one of them has been invited.
A.
Each
B. Every
C. Many
D. Much
Q20.
___________ sun is about to set.
A.
A
B. An
C. The
D. A little
Q21.
___________ of the people who came have left.
A.
Most
B. Many
C. Every
D. Each
Q22.
We need to do ___________ of work before the event starts.
A.
much
B. a lot
C. more
D. some
Q23.
There are ___________ messages for you.
A.
none
B. no
C. much
D. little
Q24.
___________ people who migrated here died in the floods.
A.
A few
B. Few
C. The few
D. Many
Q25.
Not ___________ is known about these legends.
A.
little
B. all
C. many
D. much
Q26.
There is not __________ space for others here.
A.
some
B. enough
C. many
D. little
Q27.
Is there __________ at the door?
A.
nobody
B. somebody
C. someone
D. everybody
Q28.
__________ Shatabdi express will arrive at eight o’clock.
A.
A
B. Any
C. Some
D. The
Q29.
It is __________ heirloom of the family.
A.
a
B. an
C. some
D. none
Q30.
He will be there in __________ hour.
A.
the
B. an
C. a
D. two
Q31.
He teaches us _________ Biology.
A.
the
B. a
C. an
D. None of the above
Q32.
___________ left a letter for you at the gate.
A.
Somebody
B. None
C. Everybody
D. Anybody
Q33.
She is __________ most intelligent in the class.
A.
a
B. the
C. much
D. None of the above
Q34.
He does not have ___________ friends.
A.
much
B. more
C. many
D. all
Q35.
___________ of the helpers is available.
A.
No
B. Any
C. Some
D. None
Q36.
She has eaten ___________ the chocolates in the box.
A.
each
B. every
C. all
D. none
Q37.
___________ of the teachers are absent today.
A.
Every
B. Some
C. Both
D. Little
Q38.
I would like ___________ cup of coffee.
A.
a
B. the
C. some
D. little
Q39.
I saw ___________ old woman near the door.
A.
a
B. any
C. an
D. all
Q40.
Do you have __________ rice left?
A.
little
B. few
C. a few
D. any
Q41.
It seems that ___________ the rooms are occupied.
A.
every
B. all
C. each
D. enough
Q42.
___________ principal is looking for you.
A.
The
B. A
C. An
D. Some
Q43.
__________ man is immortal.
A.
None
B. All
C. Some
D. No
Q44.
Charles Babbage is known as ___________ father of computers.
A.
a
B. the
C. any
D. some
Q45.
I have never read ___________ monthly magazine of TOI.
A.
the
B. a
C. any
D. every
Q46.
__________ of the two documents were updated.
A.
No
B. None
C. Neither
D. Some
Q47.
I have ____________ relatives.
A.
much
B. more
C. all
D. many
Q48.
He has __________ experience than his brother.
A.
many
B. more
C. much
D. some
Q49.
Can I borrow ___________ fruits?
A.
many
B. some
C. much
D. few
Q50.
____________ of us knew about the mishappening.
A.
None
B. Somebody
C. Anybody
D. No
Q51.
Who spilled ___________ tea on the floor?
A.
much
B. a
C. few
D. the
Q52.
I have bought __________ new books to read.
A.
much
B. every
C. some
D. all
Q53.
__________ driver is waiting for us.
A.
An
B. The
C. Some
D. Any
Q54.
__________ people were injured that night.
A.
Several
B. Much
C. Little
D. Enough
Q55.
He does not know how to use ___________ smartphone.
A.
the
B. an
C. some
D. a
Q56.
She is __________ more clever than we know.
A.
some
B. many
C. a lot
D. none
Q57.
There is hardly ____________ work left for you.
A.
much
B. any
C. all
D. enough
Q58.
__________the eggs are in the basket.
A.
Much
B. None
C. All
D. Many
Q59.
He is __________ university student.
A.
an
B. the
C. any
D. a
Q60.
That was __________ awful situation to be in.
A.
an
B. the
C. a
D. much
Q61.
Mathematics is __________ difficult subject to study.
A.
an
B. a
C. the
D. little
Q62.
Is there ___________ that you would like to share?
A.
everything
B. anything
C. enough
D. much
Q63.
Though Chinese is a difficult language, __________ students opted for it.
A.
much
B. more
C. many
D. few
Q64.
___________ of them were chosen to be captain.
A.
Some
B. Much
C. Little
D. None
Q65.
___________ black car is parked in front of your gate.
A.
The
B. A
C. An
D. Any
Q66.
___________ English is widely spoken around the world.
A.
The
B. An
C. A
D. None of the above
Q67.
___________ wealthy should be generous.
A.
A
B. An
C. The
D. Some
Q68.
It looks like I have seen you ___________.
A.
somewhere
B. anywhere
C. nowhere
D. everywhere
Q69.
Can I have __________ bowl of soup?
A.
more
B. another
C. enough
D. little
Q70.
The exam is compulsory for __________ students.
A.
several
B. many
C. much
D. all
Q71.
I don’t like __________ of them.
A.
neither
B. both
C. either
D. much
Q72.
Is ___________ left?
A.
few
B. many
C. several
D. anyone
Q73.
__________ has been looking for you.
A.
Everyone
B. Anyone
C. Several
D. A few
Q74.
There are not ____________ students in the class.
A.
much
B. some
C. many
D. most
Q75.
___________ of my colleagues are going on the trip.
A.
No
B. None
C. Neither
D. Either
Q76.
___________ experience of yours is of no use!
A.
Some
B. The few
C. The little
D. A little
Q77.
Only __________ toys have been sold since morning.
A.
few
B. a few
C. little
D. the few
Q78.
____________ of their customers complain.
A.
Many
B. Much
C. Enough
D. Most
Q79.
I don’t have ___________ to say.
A.
much
B. most
C. some
D. all
Q80.
The poor beggar had __________ to go.
A.
anywhere
B. somewhere
C. nowhere
D. everywhere
Q81.
One of ___________ books that I borrowed is missing.
A.
a
B. the
C. several
D. many
Q82.
Fortunately, ___________ of the children were hurt.
A.
few
B. some
C. none
D. no
Q83.
We can take ____________ of the routes.
A.
several
B. no
C. any
D. either
Q84.
Due to his tours, he got to meet __________ of people.
A.
a lot
B. much
C. little
D. several
Q85.
____________ of the money we had, has been used.
A.
Many
B. All
C. Enough
D. Every
Q86.
___________ of the two halves is equal.
A.
Every
B. All
C. Each
D. None of the above
Q87.
____________ is waiting in the lobby.
A.
Anyone
B. All
C. Several
D. Everyone
Q88.
___________ exam copies are still unchecked.
A.
A few
B. Few
C. Little
D. Much
Q89.
__________ but one was against the proposal.
A.
Everyone
B. All
C. None
D. No
Q90.
She has done ____________ mistake.
A.
none
B. any
C. much
D. no
Q91.
He is ___________ early bird.
A.
the
B. a
C. an
D. some
Q92.
____________ Indus has five main tributaries.
A.
The
B. A
C. An
D. All
Q93.
____________ Taj Hotel is famous world-wide.
A.
A
B. Many
C. The
D. All
Q94.
___________ businessmen want to be rich.
A.
Many
B. Many a
C. Most
D. Enough
Q95.
___________ event is scheduled according to the plan.
A.
Each
B. Several
C. All
D. Every
Q96.
He has ____________ evidence to prove his innocence.
A.
many
B. all
C. either
D. enough
Q97.
___________ orchestra band that you called has arrived.
A.
An
B. A
C. The
D. Some
Q98.
He is ___________ head of the family.
A.
the
B. a
C. either
D. all
Q99.
___________ is known about her achievements.
A.
Few
B. Little
C. A little
D. None
Q100.
They have always helped __________.
A.
another
B. several
C. all
D. each other
Answer Key for Determiners MCQs
|
Q. |
Ans. |
Q. |
Ans. |
Q. |
Ans. |
Q. |
Ans. |
Q. |
Ans. |
|
1 |
C |
21 |
A |
41 |
B |
61 |
B |
81 |
B |
|
2 |
A |
22 |
B |
42 |
A |
62 |
B |
82 |
C |
|
3 |
D |
23 |
B |
43 |
D |
63 |
C |
83 |
D |
|
4 |
B |
24 |
A |
44 |
B |
64 |
D |
84 |
A |
|
5 |
D |
25 |
D |
45 |
A |
65 |
B |
85 |
B |
|
6 |
A |
26 |
B |
46 |
C |
66 |
D |
86 |
C |
|
7 |
B |
27 |
C |
47 |
D |
67 |
C |
87 |
D |
|
8 |
C |
28 |
D |
48 |
B |
68 |
A |
88 |
A |
|
9 |
A |
29 |
B |
49 |
B |
69 |
B |
89 |
B |
|
10 |
C |
30 |
B |
50 |
A |
70 |
D |
90 |
D |
|
11 |
B |
31 |
D |
51 |
D |
71 |
C |
91 |
C |
|
12 |
D |
32 |
A |
52 |
C |
72 |
D |
92 |
A |
|
13 |
A |
33 |
B |
53 |
B |
73 |
A |
93 |
C |
|
14 |
D |
34 |
C |
54 |
A |
74 |
C |
94 |
B |
|
15 |
C |
35 |
D |
55 |
D |
75 |
B |
95 |
D |
|
16 |
A |
36 |
C |
56 |
C |
76 |
C |
96 |
D |
|
17 |
D |
37 |
B |
57 |
B |
77 |
B |
97 |
C |
|
18 |
C |
38 |
A |
58 |
C |
78 |
D |
98 |
A |
|
19 |
A |
39 |
C |
59 |
D |
79 |
A |
99 |
B |
|
20 |
C |
40 |
D |
60 |
A |
80 |
C |
100 |
D |