Use of Determiners in English

The Rules that Govern the Use of Determiners in English Grammar

Okay class, you must know that in English grammar we deal with rules. Maybe you’ve been finding it difficult using some determiners with other parts of speech like nouns. You need not worry any further. Here are some rules that will guide you.

#Rule 1:

 Always apply the correct determiner to the correct noun.

For example:

Water, wine, salt, fuel, will only agree with determiners such as “little”, “a little”, etc. while words like stones, persons, houses will only agree with determiners like “few”, “a few”, etc.

Consequently, for all liquid such as (water, petrol, milk, wine, etc. and other uncountable nouns) uses a little or little, while for countable common noun such as (man, boy, woman, chair, table, etc.) use few/a few.

E. g

A.      Please, give me__________ water. (a) little   (b) many    (c) a few   (d) a very little

The correct option will be A because we are dealing with uncountable noun

B.      There are   _________ boys already in the party. (a) a little (b) a few (c) little (d) every

The most suitable option will be B because we are dealing with plural countable noun

#Rule 2:

Whenever ‘a few’ or ‘few’ is used the countable noun must be in plural. Remember that among indefinite determiners that suggest plurality are “few” and “a few”, therefore, whichever countable noun they modify must be in plural form.

 The grammatical structure is usually:

      A few/few + countable noun + s

                  e.g.

A few + boy + s   = a few boys. 

                          OR

Few + man + s   = few men

#Rule 3:

Determiners such as ‘any’ and ‘every’ are only used with singular, countable noun.

                  E. g

                  Every boy must come to school tomorrow.

                  Give me any pencil.

However, if the determiners are immediately followed by numbers such as two, three, four, etc. (not second, third or fourth), the nouns must be in plural form.

For example:

1.      We meet every two Sundays of the month

2.      Our annual prayer is for any three days that end the year

#Rule 4:

The determiner ‘some’ is usually used with plural countable nouns.

              E.g.

1. I saw some boys at the park.

2. Some goods are left without.

However, when you are not sure of the subject or the identity of the person in question, use ‘some’ with a singular noun.

           E.g.

1. Some man is at the gate

2. Some lady is at the door

3. Someone wrote you a letter

Please, try to make out some examples by yourself in order to improve more on this.