DETERMINER (CLASS)

:''For the function in NP structure, see Determiner (function).''
A 'determiner' is a noun modifier that expresses the reference of a noun or noun phrase in the context, including quantity, rather than attributes expressed by adjectives. This word class or part of speech is defined in some languages, such as in English, as it is distinct from adjectives grammatically, though most English dictionaries still identify the determiners as adjectives. Determiners usually include articles, and may include items like demonstratives, possessive determiners, quantifiers, and cardinal numbers, depending on the language.
Not all languages have a lexically distinct class of determiners. In most Indo-European languages, determiner functions are either independent words or clitics that precede the rest of the noun phrase. In other languages, the determiner function is filled by affixes to the noun, or by changing the noun's form. For example, Swedish ''bok'' ("book"), when definite, becomes ''bok'en''' ("the book"). Definite article suffixes like that are found in North Germanic languages and in Romanian.

Contents

English determiners

Differences from adjectives

Differences from pronouns

External links

References

English determiners

Determiners form a closed class of words that number (exclusive of cardinal and ordinal numerals) about 50 in English and include^[1]:

★ Articles: ''a, an'', ''

★ Demonstratives: '', '', '', '', '', etc.

★ Quantifiers: '', '', '', '', '', '', '', '', '', etc.

★ Possessive determiners: '', '', '', '', '', '', '', '', etc.

★ Cardinal Numbers: '', '', '', etc.
Some of them can be used in other lexical categories, such as the pronoun ''that'' in ''that is good'' as opposed to the determiner ''that'' in ''that one''.
The words ''some'', ''one'', and ''no'' are also used in ways that are demonstrative, not quantitative: "Roger Clemens is 'some' ball player." "A diplomat who says 'no' is 'no' diplomat."
It is debated whether numerals are determiners or not^[2]. For instance, the English numerals for 100 or larger need a determiner, such as "'a' hundred men."
For a mostly complete , see Wiktionary.

Differences from adjectives

Traditional English grammar does not include determiners and calls most determiners adjectives. There are, however, a number of key differences between determiners and adjectives.
# In English, articles, demonstratives, and possessive determiners cannot co-occur in the same phrase, while any number of adjectives are typically allowed.
## A 'big green expensive English' book
##
★ 'The his' book
# Most determiners cannot occur alone in predicative complement position; most adjectives can.
## He is 'happy'.
##
★ He is 'the'.
# Most determiners are not gradable, while adjectives typically are.
## happy, happier, happiest
# Some determiners have corresponding pronouns, while adjectives don't.
## 'Each' likes something different.
##
★ 'Big' likes something different.
# Adjectives are licensed independent of number, while some determiners are licensed only for singular or for plural nouns.
## a 'big' person / 'big' people
## 'many' people /
★ 'many' person
# Adjectives are never obligatory, while determiners often are.

Differences from pronouns

Determiners such as ''this'', ''all'', and ''some'' can often occur without a noun. In traditional grammar, these are called pronouns. There are, however, a number of key differences between such determiners and pronouns.
# Pronouns may occur in tag questions. Determiners can't.
## This is delicious, isn't 'it'?
##
★ This is delicious, isn't 'this'?
# In phrasal verbs, pronouns must appear between the verb and particle. Determiners may occur after the particle.
## pick 'it' up
##
★ pick up 'it'
## pick this up
## pick up this
# Pronouns all have distinct genitive forms. Determiners don't.
## This is mine/yours/theirs.
##
★ This is all's.

External links

★ SIL Glossary of linguistic terms - What is a determiner?

References

1. Cambridge Grammar of the English Language
2.