Articles and determiners

In a nutshell

A determiner is a word which goes before a noun, it helps identify the noun and gives information about it. There are several different types of determiners but articles are the most common. In this summary, you will learn how and when to use determiners correctly.

Articles

Articles are the most common kind of determiner, you use them all the time without thinking about it. The definite article is the. The is used to talk about a specific noun or thing. The indefinite articles are a and an. A and an are used to talk about a general noun or idea rather than a specific object.

Examples

Definite article	Indefinite article
Let's meet at *the* cinema.	I'm going to buy a book.
Please put it on *the* table.	I'd like to spot an owl.

Tip: Use a before a noun which starts with a consonant, and an before a noun which starts with a vowel.

Other determiners

Other types of determiners give different information about the noun they precede. Remember, determiners are almost always found just in front of a noun.

This, that, these and those

These are demonstrative determiners, they tell you how close an object is to the speaker. Use this (singular) and these (plural) to talk about an object which is close to the speaker. Use that (singular) and those (plural) to talk about an object which is further away from the speaker.

Examples

Can you see that tower over there in the distance?

They built these houses right here last year.

My, your, his, her, our and their

These are possessive determiners, they tell you who an object belongs to.

Examples

The yellow one is my lunchbox, mum packed it for me this morning.

That red lunchbox belongs to Will, it's his favourite one.

Some, any, much and many

These are quantifiers, they tell you about the number or amount of a noun or thing.

Examples

Is there any chocolate in the cupboard?

I think there is some left on the top shelf.

There isn't much food in the house, so I think we need to go shopping.

Tip: Any is only used in negative sentences or in questions.