Noun determiners

1 Noun Determiners

Fries in Aziz (1995) states that a determiner is a noun-modifier that expresses the reference of a noun or noun-phrase in the context, rather than attributes expressed by adjective. This function is usually performed by articles, demonstratives, possessive determiners, or quantifiers. There are specific determiners and the general determiners. The specific determiners are; the definite article: the, demonstratives: this, that, these, those, possessives: my, your, his, her, its, our, their. We use a specific determiner when people know exactly which thing(s) or person/people you are talking about. For example: (1) the dog barked at the boy. (2) These apples are rotten. (3) Their bus was late.

The general determiners are: the indefinite article: a, an, we use general determiners to talk about people or things without saying exactly who or what they are. For example: (1) a man sat under an umbrella. (2) Have you got any English books that I could have? (3) There is enough food to feed everyone.