Determiners – Class 10 (CBSE)
✅ Definition of Determiners
A determiner is a word placed before a noun to limit or fix its meaning. It tells us:
- Which one? (this, that)
- Whose? (my, your)
- How many? (two, many)
- How much? (some, little)
Without a determiner, a noun often feels incomplete.
- Example:
- Book is on table.
- The book is on the table.
Difference between Determiners and Adjectives
- Determiners → identify, specify, or limit nouns.
- Adjectives → describe qualities or features of nouns.
Example: My two red pens
- My (Determiner – possession)
- Two (Determiner – number)
- Red (Adjective – quality)
Types of Determiners with Examples
1. Articles (a, an, the)
Function: Used before nouns to show whether the noun is general or specific.
• - I saw a cat in the garden.
• - She ate an apple at lunch.
• - We visited the Taj Mahal yesterday.
• - He is reading a book on history.
• - The sun rises in the east.
• - There is an owl sitting on the tree.
2. Demonstratives (this, that, these, those)
Function: Point out or indicate specific persons or things.
• - This pen is mine.
• - That house belongs to my uncle.
• - These flowers smell sweet.
• - Those mountains are covered with snow.
• - This is my favourite movie.
• - Don’t touch those wires.
3. Possessives (my, your, his, her, its, our, their, whose)
Function: Show ownership or relationship.
• - My brother studies in Class 12.
• - Is this your notebook?
• - His car is parked outside.
• - Her dress is very beautiful.
• - The dog wagged its tail.
• - Our teacher is very kind.
4. Quantifiers
Function: Show quantity or amount (without giving an exact number).
• - She has some friends in Delhi.
• - Do you have any milk in the fridge?
• - There isn’t much sugar in the jar.
• - Many students attended the function.
• - We need enough chairs for everyone.
• - He read several books last week.
5. Numerals (Cardinals and Ordinals)
Function: Show exact numbers or order.
• - I have two brothers. (Cardinal)
• - She bought five apples. (Cardinal)
• - This is my first mobile phone. (Ordinal)
• - He stood second in the competition. (Ordinal)
• - We are celebrating our 25th anniversary. (Ordinal)
• - She solved three sums correctly. (Cardinal)
6. Distributives (each, every, either, neither, any, both)
Function: Refer to group members separately or in parts.
• - Each student was given a certificate.
• - Every child needs love and care.
• - You can take either pen.
• - Neither answer is correct.
• - Both brothers are hardworking.
• - You may choose any of these books.
7. Interrogatives (what, which, whose, how many, how much)
Function: Used to ask questions about nouns.
• - Which subject do you like most?
• - Whose umbrella is this?
• - What book are you reading?
• - How many students are in the class?
• - How much money do you need?
• - Which of these shirts will you buy?
8. Definitives / General Determiners (all, whole, half, enough, any, both)
Function: Express completeness, sufficiency, or general reference.
• - All children love chocolates.
• - She spent half her savings on books.
• - We don’t have enough time to finish.
• - He didn’t make any mistake.
• - I have travelled the whole world.
• - Both teams played well in the final.
Key Rules to Remember
1. A noun must follow a determiner (directly or with adjectives).
- These two tall buildings.
2. Normally, only one main determiner is used before a noun.
- All my friends are here.
3. Determiners always come before adjectives.
- My beautiful house.
Functions of Determiners (Summary)
- To introduce nouns. (A boy came running.)
- To specify or identify. (That girl is clever.)
- To show possession. (Our school is big.)
- To indicate quantity/number. (Several people were absent.)
- To ask questions. (Whose book is this?)
