Grammar-Quizzes › Noun Phrases › Determined Nouns
Determiners
Express the context of a noun
Determiners:
- include categories such as articles, demonstratives, quantifiers, possessive pronouns, and numbers. All singular and some plural nouns require a noun marker such as a, the, this, those, my, each, some, all.
- express information about a noun such as specific / unspecific (a), definite / indefinite (the) singular / plural (this, these), near or far (this, that), quantity (some, few, one), possession (your, my) and other reference.
- function to determine or limit the meaning of a noun phrase in a particular context.
- take form as a word placed before a noun—a, the, this, that, these, those, some, few, all, one none, your, each, and so on.
Determiner Summary
A Determiner (overview)
Top Search
Top Search (cont.)
Determiners
Summary of Practices
A Determiner: recognize a variety of noun markers
Beginning–Intermediate ESL
Determiners (list)
Predeterminer Modifiers (such, what)
Grammar Notes (show-hide arrow)
Practice 1 – correct / incorrect
Practice 2 – multiple choice
Also see Quantifiers.
A friend called. / *Friend called.
Friends called.
This / that friend called.
These / those / some / three friends called.
A hair is on your sweater. / Hair makes a guy look young.
Last week, this week and next week will be cold.
Demonstratives: specify which one — this, that, these, those
Beginning– Intermediate ESL
Expressions with this and that
Practice – complete the sentence (MC)
This blue marble is mine. (determiner)
This marble is mine. (determiner)
This is mine. (pronoun)
Determiners—Genitive Pronouns ("Possessive")
Genitive Pronouns: indicate a relationship between two nouns ("Possessives")
Beginning–Intermediate ESL
Genitive Determiners vs. Pronouns
Impersonal Pronouns (one / you / they)
Double Genitive (Double Possessive)
Practice 1 – multiple choice
Practice 2 – multiple choice
Practice 3 – edit paragraph
Our dog is over here. / Ours is over here.
All of the owners bring water for their (own) dogs.
One should exercise one's dog. (impersonal)
You should exercise your dog. (impersonal)
They don't like dogs there. Their dislike is unusual. (impersonal)
Genitive Nouns: indicate possession for people or things
Intermediate–Advanced ESL, Native Speakers
Genitives — Dependent vs. Independent
Determiners with Genitive Proper Nouns
Practice – fill in the blank
Related page: Apostrophes
The state's soccer team won several games.
The state's won several games.
The states' soccer teams won several games.
The goal post's leg was broken.
The leg of the goal post was broken.
Collective Genitive Pronouns: refer to the group or its individuals
Intermediate–Advanced ESL, Native Speakers
Practice – multiple choice
The paparazzi made its purpose clear. It had a right to be outside her house.
The paparazzi placed their cameras right in her face. They were rude, even mean.
Negative Word Forms: express absence, doubt, denial, prohibition and more
Beginning – Advanced ESL, native speakers
Negativity Expressed in Noun Phrases
Similar but Different Negatives
Practice 1 – identify the word form (MC)
Practice 2 – contrast word forms (MC)
No one / Not anyone has parked illegally.
His inability / disability was clear to us.
He was unsatisfied / dissatisfied.
Do not park there! We do not park there.
He would park there, wouldn't he?
We asked him not to park there.
I doubt that he *never / ever helps.
He is neither optimistic nor pessimistic.
His no nonsense approach to life is refreshing. (expression)