Grammar · Determiners
The words that introduce a noun
A determiner comes before a noun to introduce it — telling you which one, whose, how many or how much. They include the articles (a, an, the), possessives (my, your, their), demonstratives (this, those) and quantity words (some, many, several). Learn each below.
1 What a determiner does
A determiner comes before a noun to introduce it — it tells you which one, whose, how many or how much.
the dog · a cat · my book · three apples · some water ✓
Test: if a word sits just before a noun and introduces it, it's a determiner.
2 Articles: a, an, the
The most common determiners. Use the for a specific thing, a/an for any one.
the moon (the one we know) · a dog (any dog) · an apple (before a vowel sound) ✓
Rule: use an before a vowel sound (an egg, an hour), a before a consonant sound (a book, a unicorn).
3 Possessive & demonstrative determiners
Possessive: my, your, his, her, its, our, their (whose it is). Demonstrative: this, that, these, those (which one).
my coat · their house · this pen · those shoes ✓
4 Quantity determiners (how many/much)
These tell you an amount: numbers and words like some, many, few, several, all, no, much, any.
three cats · many people · some milk · several books ✓
Careful: use many for things you can count, much for things you can't (many cars, much water).
Watch out Determiner vs pronoun
Words like 'this' and 'those' are determiners when they come before a noun, but pronouns when they stand alone.
This book is mine. (determiner) vs This is mine. (pronoun) ✓
The 30-second method
How to handle any determiner question fast
- Spotting one? Look for the word right before a noun that introduces it.
- a / an / the? 'an' before a vowel sound, 'the' for a specific thing.
- Whose? my, your, his, her, our, their.
- Which one? this, that, these, those.
- How many/much? numbers, some, many, much, several, all.
10 worked examples
Read the question, then the answer with the rule that solves it.
1. Which is the determiner? — The sun rose.
The — it introduces the noun 'sun' (Rule 2).
2. a or an? — ___ egg.
an — before a vowel sound (Rule 2).
3. a or an? — ___ house.
a — 'house' starts with a consonant sound (Rule 2).
4. Which determiner shows whose? — their car.
their — a possessive determiner (Rule 3).
5. Which determiner points out? — those birds.
those — a demonstrative determiner (Rule 3).
6. many or much? — ___ water.
much — 'water' can't be counted (Rule 4).
7. many or much? — ___ cars.
many — 'cars' can be counted (Rule 4).
8. Which is a quantity determiner? — several dogs.
several — it tells how many (Rule 4).
9. Determiner or pronoun? — This is fun.
Pronoun — it stands alone (Watch out).
10. Determiner or pronoun? — This game is fun.
Determiner — it comes before the noun 'game' (Watch out).