Determiners are employed before a noun to provide clarity regarding the noun’s intended meaning. Utilize the resources available in this section to enhance your accurate usage of determiners in English.
Determiners in English
- Definite article : the
- Indefinite articles : a, an
- Demonstratives: this, that, these, those
- Pronouns and possessive determiners : my, your, his, her, its, our, their
- Quantifiers : a few, a little, much, many, a lot of, most, some, any, enough
- Numbers : one, ten, thirty
- Distributives : all, both, half, either, neither, each, every
- Difference words : other, another
- Pre-determiners : such, what, rather, quite
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1. The definite article
“The” is among the most frequently used words in the English language and serves as our sole definite article. In English, nouns are introduced by the definite article when the speaker assumes that the listener is already familiar with the subject being discussed. This assumption can stem from various reasons, a few of which are outlined below.
When to use “the”
General rules
Use the to refer to something which has already been mentioned.
Examples
- On Monday, an unarmed man stole $1,000 from the bank. The thief hasn’t been caught yet.
- I was walking past Benny’s Bakery when I decided to go into the bakery to get some bread.
- There’s a position available in my team. The job will involve some international travel.
Use the when you assume there is just one of something in that place, even if it has not been mentioned before.
Examples
- We went on a walk in the forest yesterday.
- Where is the bathroom?
- Turn left and go to number 45. Our house is across from the Italian restaurant.
- My father enjoyed the book you gave him.
Use the in sentences or clauses where you define or identify a particular person or object.
Examples
- The man who wrote this book is famous.
- I scratched the red car parked outside.
- I live in the small house with a blue door.
- He is the doctor I came to see.
Use the to refer to people or objects that are unique.
Examples
- The sun rose at 6:17 this morning.
- You can go anywhere in the world.
- Clouds drifted across the sky.
- The president will be speaking on TV tonight.
- The CEO of Total is coming to our meeting.
Use the before superlatives and ordinal numbers.
Examples
- This is the highest building in New York.
- She read the last chapter of her new book first.
- You are the tallest person in our class.
- This is the third time I have called you today.
Use the with adjectives, to refer to a whole group of people.
Examples
- The French enjoy cheese.
- The elderly require special attention.
- She has given a lot of money to the poor.
Use the with decades.
Examples
- He was born in the seventies.
- This is a painting from the 1820’s.
Use the with clauses introduced by only
Examples
- This is the only day we’ve had sunshine all week.
- You are the only person he will listen to.
- The only tea I like is black tea.
Proper nouns
Use the with names of geographical areas, rivers, mountain ranges, groups of islands, canals, and oceans.
Examples
- They are travelling in the Arctic.
- Our ship crossed the Atlantic in 7 days.
- I will go on a cruise down the Nile.
- Hiking across the Rocky Mountains would be difficult.
Use the with countries that have plural names
Examples
- I have never been to the Netherlands.
- Do you know anyone who lives in the Philippines?
Use the with countries that include the words “republic”, “kingdom”, or “states” in their names.
Examples
- She is visiting the United States.
- James is from the Republic of Ireland.
Use the with newspaper names.
Examples
- I read it in the Guardian.
- She works for the New York Times.
Use the with the names of famous buildings, works of art, museums, or monuments.
Examples
- Have you been to the Vietnam Memorial?
- We went to the Louvre and saw the Mona Lisa.
- I would like to visit the Eiffel Tower.
- I saw King Lear at the Globe.
Use the with the names of hotels & restaurants, unless these are named after a person.
Examples
- They are staying at the Hilton on 6th street.
- We ate at the Golden Lion.
Use the with the names of families, but not with the names of individuals.
Examples
- We’re having dinner with the Smiths tonight.
- The Browns are going to the play with us.
When not to use “the”
Do not use the with names of countries (except for the special cases above).
Examples
- Germany is an important economic power.
- He’s just returned from Zimbabwe.
Do not use the with the names of languages.
Examples
- French is spoken in Tahiti.
- English uses many words of Latin origin.
- Indonesian is a relatively new language.
Do not use the with the names of meals.
Examples
- Lunch is my favorite meal.
- I like to eat breakfast early.
Do not use the with people’s names.
Examples
- John is coming over later.
- Mary Carpenter is my boss.
Do not use the with titles when combined with names.
Examples
- Prince Charles is Queen Elizabeth’s son.
- President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.
Do not use the after the ‘s possessive case
Examples
- His brother’s car was stolen.
- Peter’s house is over there.
Do not use the with professions
Examples
- Engineering is a well-paid career.
- He’ll probably study medicine.
Do not use the with names of shops
Examples
- I’ll get the card at Smith’s.
- Can you go to Boots for me?
Do not use the with years
Examples
- 1948 was a wonderful year.
- He was born in 1995.
Do not use the with uncountable nouns
Examples
- Rice is an important food in Asia.
- Milk is often added to tea in England.
- War is destructive.
Do not use the with the names of individual mountains, lakes and islands
Examples
- Mount McKinley is the highest mountain in Alaska.
- She lives near Lake Windermere.
- Have you visited Long Island?
Do not use the with most names of towns, streets, stations and airports
Examples
- Victoria Station is in the centre of London.
- Can you direct me to Bond Street?
- She lives in Florence.
- They’re flying into Heathrow.
2. Indefinite articles
In the English language, the two indefinite articles are “a” and “an.” Similar to other articles, indefinite articles remain unchanged. You select either “a” or “an” based on the initial letter of the word that follows the article, to facilitate pronunciation. Employ “a” when the subsequent word begins with a consonant, or before words starting with “u” and “eu” when they sound like “you.” Choose “an” when the next word starts with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) or with a silent “h.”
Examples
- a boy
- an apple
- a car
- a helicopter
- an elephant
- a big elephant
- an itchy sweater
- an ugly duck
- a european
- a university
- a unit
- an hour
- an honor
The indefinite article is used to refer to something for the first time or to refer to a particular member of a group or class. Some use cases and examples are given below.
Use a to refer to something for the first time.
Examples
- Would you like a drink?
- I’ve finally got a good job.
- An elephant and a mouse fell in love.
Naming members of a group
Use a with names of jobs.
Examples
- John is a doctor.
- Mary is training to be an engineer.
- He wants to be a dancer.
Use a with nationalities and religions in the singular.
Examples
- John is an Englishman.
- Kate is a Catholic.
Use a with the names of days of the week when not referring to any particular day.
Examples
- I was born on a Thursday.
- Could I come over on a Saturday sometime?
Use a to refer to an example of something.
Examples
- The mouse had a tiny nose .
- The elephant had a long trunk .
- It was a very strange car .
Use a with singular nouns after the words ‘what’ and ‘such’.
Examples
- What a shame!
- She’s such a beautiful girl.
- What a lovely day!
Use a meaning ‘one’, referring to a single object or person, or a single unit of measure. In these sentences using “one” instead of the indefinite article is grammatically correct. It will add emphasis to the number, and contrast with other numbers.
Examples
- I’d like an orange and two lemons please.
- I’d like one orange and two lemons please.
- The burglar took a diamond necklace and some valuable paintings.
- I can think of a hundred reasons not to come.
- I need a kilogram of sugar.
- I need one kilogram of sugar.
- You can’t run a mile in 5 minutes!
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3. Demonstratives
Demonstratives indicate the spatial or psychological proximity of an object, event, or individual in relation to the speaker. They can pertain to either physical or emotional closeness or distance. When discussing events, the proximal demonstratives frequently allude to the present, while the distal demonstratives often refer to the past.
| Near the speaker | Far from the speaker | |
|---|---|---|
| Adverb | Here | There |
| Demonstrative with singular nouns & uncountable nouns |
This | That |
| Demonstrative with plural countable nouns |
These | Those |
Demonstrative usage
Examples
| Near the speaker | Far from the speaker |
|---|---|
| Is this John’s house? | Is that John’s house over there? |
| This is a nice surprise! | That must have been a nice surprise for you. |
| These apples are mine. | Those apples are yours. |
| What are you up to these days? | Those days are long gone. |
| This time I won’t be late. | We really surprised you that time. |
| This sugar is for my crepes. | You can use that sugar for your cake. |
Sentence placement
Demonstratives can be placed before the noun or the adjective that modifies the noun.
Examples
- This blue car needs to be washed next.
- Those people were here first.
- That metal rod should work.
- These oranges are delicious.
Demonstratives can also appear before a number by itself when the noun is understood from the context.
Examples
- I’d like to try on that one.
- This one is broken.
- I’ll take these three.
- Those two are not as pretty as these two.
Demonstratives can be used by themselves when the noun they modify is understood from the context.
Examples
- I’ll never forget this.
- That has nothing to do with me.
- I didn’t ask for these.
- Those aren’t mine.
4. Pronouns
Pronouns stand in for nouns. The selection of a specific pronoun hinges on two factors: the noun being substituted and the role that noun plays in the sentence. In English, pronouns solely adopt the gender of the noun they replace in the 3rd person singular form. The 2nd person plural pronouns closely resemble the 2nd person singular pronouns, with the exception of the reflexive pronoun.
| Subject pronoun | Object pronoun | Possessive adjective (determiner) | Possessive pronoun | Reflexive or intensive pronoun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st person singular | I | me | my | mine | myself |
| 2nd person singular | you | you | your | yours | yourself |
| 3rd person singular, male | he | him | his | his | himself |
| 3rd person singular, female | she | her | her | hers | herself |
| 3rd person singular, neutral | it | it | its | itself | |
| 1st person plural | we | us | our | ours | ourselves |
| 2nd person plural | you | you | your | yours | yourselves |
| 3rd person plural | they | them | their | theirs | themselves |
Subject pronouns
Subject pronouns replace nouns that are the subject of their clause. In the 3rd person, subject pronouns are often used to avoid repetition of the subject’s name.
Examples
- I am 16.
- You seem lost.
- Jim is angry, and he wants Sally to apologize.
- This table is old. It needs to be repainted.
- We aren’t coming.
- They don’t like pancakes.
Object pronouns
Object pronouns are used to replace nouns that are the direct or indirect object of a clause.
Examples
- Give the book to me.
- The teacher wants to talk to you.
- Jake is hurt because Bill hit him.
- Rachid recieved a letter from her last week.
- Mark can’t find it.
- Don’t be angry with us.
- Tell them to hurry up!
Possessive adjectives (determiners)
Possessive adjectives are categorized as determiners, not pronouns. It’s beneficial to acquire knowledge about them alongside pronouns, as they share a resemblance in structure with possessive pronouns. Possessive adjectives operate as adjectives, thus positioning themselves before the noun they modify. Unlike pronouns, they don’t serve the purpose of substituting a noun.
Examples
- Did mother find my shoes?
- Mrs. Baker wants to see your homework.
- Can Jake bring over his baseball cards?
- Samantha will fix her bike tomorrow.
- The cat broke its leg.
- This is our house.
- Where is their school?
Possessive pronouns
Possessive pronouns replace possessive nouns as either the subject or the object of a clause. Because the noun being replaced doesn’t appear in the sentence, it must be clear from the context.
Examples
- This bag is mine.
- Yours is not blue.
- That bag looks like his.
- These shoes are not hers.
- That car is ours.
- Theirs is parked in the garage.
Reflexive & intensive pronouns
Reflexive and intensive pronouns share a common set of words, yet they serve distinct roles within a sentence.
Reflexive pronouns redirect back to the subject of the clause, as the subject of the action simultaneously acts as the direct or indirect object. These pronouns are employed with specific categories of verbs. Removing a reflexive pronoun from a sentence renders the remaining text grammatically incorrect.
Examples
- I told myself to calm down.
- You cut yourself on this nail?
- He hurt himself on the stairs.
- She found herself in a dangerous part of town.
- The cat threw itself under my car!
- We blame ourselves for the fire.
- The children can take care of themselves.
Intensive pronouns highlight the subject within a clause, without functioning as the target of the action. The presence of an intensive pronoun can be omitted from a sentence without drastically altering its meaning; however, the emphasized focus on the subject would be diminished. Intensive pronouns can be positioned right after the subject in the clause or at the clause’s conclusion.
Examples
- I made these cookies myself.
- You yourself asked Jake to come.
- The Pope himself pardoned Mr. Brown.
- My teacher didn’t know the answer herself.
- The test itself wasn’t scary, but my teacher certainly is.
- We would like to finish the renovation before Christmas ourselves.
- They themselves told me the lost shoe wasn’t a problem.
5. Quantifiers
Quantifiers encompass adjectives and adjective phrases that provide approximate or precise responses to inquiries like “How much?” and “How many?” The resources available in this section will provide further insights into the various quantifiers in English and their applications.
Quantifiers in English
- Numbers in English: ordinal, cardinal, and percentages
- Choosing the right quantifier: countable and uncountable nouns
- Expressing opinions about quantity
- Indefinite and incomplete quantities
- Using graded quantifiers to compare amounts
- Using the quantifier “enough”
6. Numbers in English
The cardinal numbers (one, two, three, etc.) are adjectives referring to quantity, and the ordinal numbers (first, second, third, etc.) refer to distribution.
| Number | Cardinal | Ordinal |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | one | first |
| 2 | two | second |
| 3 | three | third |
| 4 | four | fourth |
| 5 | five | fifth |
| 6 | six | sixth |
| 7 | seven | seventh |
| 8 | eight | eighth |
| 9 | nine | ninth |
| 10 | ten | tenth |
| 11 | eleven | eleventh |
| 12 | twelve | twelfth |
| 13 | thirteen | thirteenth |
| 14 | fourteen | fourteenth |
| 15 | fifteen | fifteenth |
| 16 | sixteen | sixteenth |
| 17 | seventeen | seventeenth |
| 18 | eighteen | eighteenth |
| 19 | nineteen | nineteenth |
| 20 | twenty | twentieth |
| 21 | twenty-one | twenty-first |
| 22 | twenty-two | twenty-second |
| 23 | twenty-three | twenty-third |
| 24 | twenty-four | twenty-fourth |
| 25 | twenty-five | twenty-fifth |
| 26 | twenty-six | twenty-sixth |
| 27 | twenty-seven | twenty-seventh |
| 28 | twenty-eight | twenty-eighth |
| 29 | twenty-nine | twenty-ninth |
| 30 | thirty | thirtieth |
| 31 | thirty-one | thirty-first |
| 40 | forty | fortieth |
| 50 | fifty | fiftieth |
| 60 | sixty | sixtieth |
| 70 | seventy | seventieth |
| 80 | eighty | eightieth |
| 90 | ninety | ninetieth |
| 100 | one hundred | hundredth |
| 500 | five hundred | five hundredth |
| 1,000 | one thousand | thousandth |
| 1,500 | one thousand five hundred, or fifteen hundred | one thousand five hundredth |
| 100,000 | one hundred thousand | hundred thousandth |
| 1,000,000 | one million | millionth |
Examples
- There are twenty-five people in the room.
- He was the fourteenth person to win the award.
- Six hundred thousand people were left homeless after the earthquake.
- I must have asked you twenty times to be quiet.
- He went to Israel for the third time this year.
Reading decimals
Read decimals aloud in English by pronouncing the decimal point as “point”, then read each digit individually. Money is not read this way.
| Written | Said |
|---|---|
| 0.5 | point five |
| 0.25 | point two five |
| 0.73 | point seven three |
| 0.05 | point zero five |
| 0.6529 | point six five two nine |
| 2.95 | two point nine five |
Reading fractions
Read fractions using the cardinal number for the numerator and the ordinal number for the denominator, making the ordinal number plural if the numerator is larger than 1. This applies to all numbers except for the number 2, which is read “half” when it is the denominator, and “halves” if there is more than one.
| Written | Said |
|---|---|
| 1/3 | one third |
| 3/4 | three fourths |
| 5/6 | five sixths |
| 1/2 | one half |
| 3/2 | three halves |
Pronouncing percentages
Percentages are easy to read aloud in English. Just say the number and then add the word “percent”.
| Written | Pronounced |
|---|---|
| 5% | five percent |
| 25% | twenty-five percent |
| 36.25% | thirty-six point two five percent |
| 100% | one hundred percent |
| 400% | four hundred percent |
Reading sums of money
To read a sum of money, first read the whole number, then add the currency name. If there is a decimal, follow with the decimal pronounced as a whole number, and if coinage has a name in the currency, add that word at the end. Note that normal decimals are not read in this way. These rules only apply to currency.
| Written | Spoken |
|---|---|
| 25$ | twenty-five dollars |
| 52€ | fifty-two euros |
| 140₤ | one hundred and forty pounds |
| $43.25 | forty-three dollars and twenty-five cents (shortened to “forty-three twenty-five” in everyday speech) |
| €12.66 | twelve euros sixty-six |
| ₤10.50 | ten pounds fifty |
Pronouncing measurements
Just read out the number, followed by the unit of measurement, which will often be abbreviated in the written form.
| Written | Spoken |
|---|---|
| 60m | sixty meters |
| 25km/h | twenty-five kilometers per hour |
| 11ft | eleven feet |
| 2L | two liters |
| 3tbsp | three tablespoons |
| 1tsp | one teaspoon |
Pronouncing years
Reading years in English can be somewhat intricate. Typically, for a four-digit year, you read the first two digits as one complete number and the subsequent two digits as another. There are a few exceptions to this pattern. Years within the initial 100 years of a new millennium can be read as whole numbers, despite having four digits, or as two separate two-digit numbers. Millennia are always conveyed as complete numbers due to pronunciation challenges. When it comes to new centuries, they are articulated as entire hundreds. The term “thousand” is generally omitted when reading years within the past millennium.
Three-digit years can be read as a three-digit figure, or as a single-digit number followed by a two-digit number. Two-digit years are enunciated as whole numbers. To avoid ambiguity, you can precede any year with the phrase “the year,” which is especially common for two and three-digit years. For years before the year 0, BC (pronounced as two letters) follows.
Interestingly, these rules extend to reading street addresses as well.
| Written | Spoken |
|---|---|
| 2014 | twenty fourteen or two thousand fourteen |
| 2008 | two thousand eight |
| 2000 | two thousand |
| 1944 | nineteen forty-four |
| 1908 | nineteen o eight |
| 1900 | nineteen hundred |
| 1600 | sixteen hundred |
| 1256 | twelve fifty-six |
| 1006 | ten o six |
| 866 | eight hundred sixty-six or eight sixty-six |
| 25 | twenty-five |
| 3000 BC | three thousand BC |
| 3250 BC | thirty two fifty BC |
How to say 0
There are several ways to pronounce the number 0, used in different contexts. Unfortunately, usage varies between different English-speaking countries. These pronunciations apply to American English.
| Pronunciation | Usage |
|---|---|
| zero | Used to read the number by itself, in reading decimals, percentages, and phone numbers, and in some fixed expressions. |
| o (the letter name) | Used to read years, addresses, times and temperatures |
| nil | Used to report sports scores |
| nought | Not used in the USA |
Examples
| Written | Said |
|---|---|
| 3.04+2.02=5.06 | Three point zero four plus two point zero two makes five point zero six. |
| There is a 0% chance of rain. | There is a zero percent chance of rain. |
| The temperature is -20⁰C. | The temperature is twenty degrees below zero. |
| You can reach me at 0171 390 1062. | You can reach me at zero one seven one, three nine zero, one zero six two |
| I live at 4604 Smith Street. | I live at forty-six o four Smith Street |
| He became king in 1409. | He became king in fourteen o nine. |
| I waited until 4:05. | I waited until four o five. |
| The score was 4-0. | The score was four nil. |
7. Distributives
Distributive determiners pertain to a collection of individuals or items, encompassing each member of the group. These determiners present diverse perspectives on the individuals within a group, illustrating how elements are apportioned, shared, or separated.
Using distributives
- Using “each” and “every” to talk about the members of a group as individuals
- Using “all” to talk about the whole group
- Using “half” to talk about a divided group
- Using “both”, “either”, and “neither” to talk about pairs of people or things
Using “each” and “every”
“Each” provides a perspective where group members are considered as individuals, whereas “every” offers a viewpoint that regards a group as a sequence of its members.
These distributive determiners exclusively apply to countable nouns. Typically paired with singular nouns, they are positioned before the noun. Often, they can be interchanged in various contexts.
Examples
- Each child received a present.
- Every child received a present.
- I gave each plant some water.
- I gave every plant some water.
Each can also be used with plural nouns and pronouns but must be followed by ‘of’. Every cannot be used with plural nouns.
Examples
- Each of the children received a present.
- I gave each of the plants some water.
- He told each of us our jobs.
- I gave each of them a kiss.
Every can express different points in a series, especially with time expressions. Each works in the same way, but is less common.
Examples
- Every morning John goes jogging.
- This magazine is published every week.
- I have my coffee here every day.
- I go visit my mother each week.
- Each Monday, he buys a kilo of apples.
Using “all” as a distributive
The distributive determiner “all” is employed to discuss an entire group, emphasizing the inclusion of every element. “All” can serve as a distributive in various patterns.
It can stand alone when used with uncountable nouns and plural countable nouns. In this context, it denotes the group as a whole concept rather than focusing on individual members.
Examples
- All cheese contains protein.
- I like all dogs.
- All children need affection.
- This soap is for all purposes.
All can be used with uncountable nouns and plural countable nouns preceeded by the or a possessive adjective. In this case, the meaning is shifted towards referring to a concrete, physical group rather than the group as a concept. In these uses, the word of can be added just after all with no change in meaning.
Examples
- All the people in the room were silent.
- All of the birds flew away.
- Have you eaten all the bread?
- I will need all of the sugar.
- I’ve invited all my friends to the party.
- I’ve used up all of our eggs.
- You wasted all your time.
All can be used with plural pronouns preceeded by of.
Examples
- All of us are going.
- He scolded all of you.
- Did you find all of them?
All can be used in questions and exclamations with uncountable nouns preceeded by this or that. In these uses, the word of can be added just after all with no change in meaning.
Examples
- Who has left all this paper on my desk?
- Look at all this snow!
- Why is all of that sugar on the floor?
- Where did all of this confetti come from?
All can be used in questions and exclamations with countable nouns preceeded by these or those. In these uses, the word of can be added just after all with no change in meaning.
Examples
- Look at all those balloons!
- Where did all of those books come from?
- Why are all these children crying?
Using the word “half” as a distributive
The distributive determiner “half” is utilized to discuss a complete group that has been divided into two parts. “Half” can serve as a distributive in various arrangements. Similar patterns can accommodate other fractions, although they are less commonly used.
“Half” can be applied to measurements preceded by an indefinite article (a or an). In this context, it signifies a specific measurement.
Examples
- I had half a cup of milk left.
- I bought half a kilo of flour.
- He ran half a mile this morning.
- I will be back in half a minute.
Half can be used with nouns preceeded by the, a, a demonstrative, or a possessive adjective. In this case, the meaning refers to a concrete, physical division. The word of can be added just after half with no change in meaning.
Examples
- Half the people have already left.
- Half of an apple isn’t very much lunch.
- Did you use half my sugar?
- I will need half of the flour for my cake.
- I earned half of that money last summer.
- She found half these frogs in the river.
- I spent half that time on my project.
- You can take half of those books back.
- I’ve invited half my friends to the party.
- I’ve used up half of our eggs.
- You wasted half your money on that!
Half can be used with plural pronouns preceeded by of.
Examples
- Half of us are going.
- He scolded half of you but he let the rest off.
- You couldn’t find half of them?
Distributives for pairs of objects
The distributive determiners “both,” “either,” and “neither” are focused on dividing between two objects. Typically, these terms cannot pertain to a collection of three or more entities. Additionally, they cannot apply to an indefinite-sized group. These distributives exclusively apply to countable nouns.
Using “both”
Both refers to the whole pair and is equivalent to “one and the other”. Both can be used with plural nouns on its own, or it can be followed by “of”, with or without an article. When followed by a plural pronoun, both must be separated from the pronoun by “of”. Both cannot be used with singular nouns, because it refers to two things.
Examples
- Both children were born in Italy.
- Both the children were born in Italy.
- Both of the children were born in Italy.
- Both my parents have fair hair.
- Both of my parents have fair hair.
- Both of us like skiing.
- I told both of them to calm down.
Using “either”
Either is positive and when used alone, refers to one of the two members of the pair. It is equivalent to “one or the other”. Because it refers to just one member of a pair, either must be used before a singular noun. It can also be used with a plural noun or pronoun if followed by “of”.
Examples
- I can stay at either hotel.
- Either day is fine for me.
- There are two chairs here. You can take either of them.
- Either of you can come.
- Either of the hotels will be fine.
- I can eat either of the salads.
Either can also be used with or in a construction that talks about each member of the pair in turn. The meaning remains the same, but in this case either is not functioning as a distributive. It is functioning as a conjunction.
Examples
- You can have either ice cream or chocolate cake.
- I will come on either Thursday or Friday.
- You can either come inside or put on your raincoat.
Using “neither”
Neither is negative and when used alone, refers to the whole pair. It is equivalent to “not one or the other”. Because it refers to just one member of a pair, neither must be used before a singular noun. It can also be used with a plural noun or pronoun if followed by “of”.
Examples
- Neither chair is any good.
- Neither brother came.
- Which bag do you want? Neither of them.
- Neither of us were on time.
- I think neither of these dresses fits me.
- Neither of the children wanted to go.
Neither can also be used with nor in a construction that talks about each member of the pair in turn. The meaning remains the same, but in this case neither is not functioning as a distributive. It is functioning as a conjunction.
Examples
- You can have neither cookies nor candy.
- It is neither raining nor snowing.
- She is neither tall nor short.
8. Determiners of difference
The determiners other and another refer to something different, remaining, or additional. They are placed before a noun. The other is treated separately because its usage is slightly different.
| Other | Plural countable nouns and all uncountable nouns |
| Another | Singular countable nouns |
| The other | Any noun that can take the definite article “the” |
Using “other”
Other can be used alone or after the determiners some, any, and no.
Examples
- Do you have other shoes?
- There are other jobs you could try.
- Is there any other bread?
- I have some other sugar we could use.
- We have no other ideas.
If used with a plural countable noun and one of these determiners, the noun may be omitted when it is understood from the context. In that case, other becomes plural. This can also happen with other used by itself, but it is less common.
Examples
- Do you have any others?
- I know some others who might like to come.
- There are no others in this box.
- I know others like vanilla, but I prefer chocolate.
- She doesn’t have to wear that dress. She has others.
Using “another”
Another is used with singular countable nouns. For uncountable nouns, another is often used with measure words that are singular.
Examples
- Have another cookie.
- Would you like another cup of tea?
- He has another brother.
- I don’t have another car.
- I’ll come by another time.
Using “the other”
If the other is modifying a plural countable noun, the noun may be omitted when it is understood from the context. In that case, other will become plural.
Examples
- Where is the other box of cereal?
- I work on the weekend and go to school on the other days of the week.
- May I use the other honey for my recipe?
- I enjoyed the first book but I didn’t read the other books in the series.
- Have you seen the others?
- Jim ate two cookies. I ate the others.
9. Pre-determiners
Pre-determiners are normally placed before an indefinite article + adjective + noun to express an opinion about the noun they modify. Such and what are used to express surprise or other emotions.
Examples
- What a lovely day!
- She’s such a beautiful woman.
- You can’t imagine what an incredible meal I just ate.
- I’ve had such a good time today!
Rather and quite are commenting words, referring to the degree of a particular quality as expressed by the adjective that modifies the noun. They can express disappointment, pleasure, or other emotions depending on the adjective in question. In British English, rather is used as a pre-determiner. In American English it is only used as an adverb. The examples given below are British English.
Examples
- It was quite a nice day.
- He’s had quite a bad accident.
- It’s rather a small car.
- I’ve just met rather a nice man.
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Jennifer is an experienced English Language Consultant at International English Test, where she has been working full-time since February 2020. Based in London, England.
Before joining us, Jennifer was a self-employed English Language Teacher from January 2015 to December 2019. During this time, she taught English Language and Literature remotely from Cambridge, England, helping numerous students improve their language skills.
Jennifer holds a degree in English Language and Literature in Cambridge. Her extensive experience and educational background make her a valuable asset in the field of English language education. She continues to contribute to us with her valuable articles about English teaching and assessment.
