English grammar · Intermediate
English Determiners and Quantifiers
Determiners are the words that go in front of a noun to pin down which one you mean (the, this, my, which); quantifiers are the determiners that say how much or how many (some, any, much, many, a few, enough, all). Together they are the front end of every noun phrase, and the choice between them depends on whether the noun is countable.
What it is
A determiner is the first word of a noun phrase and it answers one of two questions: which (the book, that book, my book, which book) or how much (some books, many books, enough books, no books). A noun phrase can have at most one central determiner, which is why my the book is impossible, though a quantifier can stack in front: all my books, both the doors.
The children ate some cake, a few biscuits, and much too much ice cream. Every underlined word tells you which or how much.
How to spot it
Cover the noun. If the word in front of it could not stand as a description of the noun (the way red or heavy could), it is a determiner. Then ask whether it identifies (which) or measures (how much).
- the, this, that, these, those (identifying: definite and demonstrative)
- my, your, his, her, its, our, their (identifying: possessive)
- some, any, much, many, a lot of (quantifying: amount)
- each, every, either, neither, both, all (quantifying: distribution over a set)
Many quantifiers split by countability: many, a few, and few go with plural countables; much, a little, and little go with uncountables; some, any, a lot of, and enough go with both.
Determiners & Quantifiers Quick Reference
Quantifiers by countability
| Quantifier | Plural countable | Uncountable | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| many / much | many books | much time | a large amount, mostly in questions and negatives |
| a lot of / lots of | a lot of books | a lot of time | a large amount, neutral in any sentence type |
| a few / a little | a few books | a little time | a small but sufficient amount |
| few / little | few books | little time | a small and insufficient amount |
| some | some books | some time | an unspecified amount, mostly in affirmatives |
| any | any books | any time | an unspecified amount, mostly in questions and negatives |
| enough | enough books | enough time | as much as is needed |
| no | no books | no time | zero |
All 2 determiners & quantifiers lessons
The definite article the is the most searched word in this whole library and gets a page of its own here, since it is a determiner first and an article second. The other pages cover the quantifiers as a system, then the individual ones learners look up (a few and a little, enough), the interrogative determiners which and what, and determiners as a class. Articles other than the live in the nouns and articles section.
- The (Definite Article): The is the definite article. You use it in front of a noun when both you and your listener know which particular thing you mean, because it has been mentioned already, because there is only one, or because the situation makes it obvious. It is the most common word in English, and the choice between the, a, and no article is the single hardest part of English for speakers of languages without articles.
- Quantifiers: Quantifiers are words that say how much or how many of a noun you mean: much, many, a lot of, some, any, no, a few, a little, all, most, both, each, every, either, neither, enough, plenty of. Which one you can use depends on whether the noun is countable or uncountable, whether the sentence is affirmative, negative, or a question, and whether you mean a whole group or part of one.
Determiners & Quantifiers FAQs
- What is the difference between a determiner and an adjective?
- A determiner identifies or quantifies the noun (the car, some cars) and comes first in the phrase; an adjective describes a quality of it (a fast car) and comes after any determiner. You can pile up adjectives (a fast red car), but a noun phrase takes only one central determiner: the my car is impossible.
- When do I use much and when many?
- Many goes with plural countable nouns (many people, many chances) and much with uncountable nouns (much time, much money). Both are most natural in questions and negatives: How many people came? There isn't much time. In affirmative statements, a lot of is more common in speech: There were a lot of people.
- What is the difference between a few and few?
- A few is positive: a small number, but enough. I have a few friends here means I am not alone. Few without the article is negative: a small number, and fewer than you would want. I have few friends here means I am lonely. The same split holds for a little and little with uncountable nouns.
- Is some only for positive sentences and any only for negatives?
- That is the default, not a strict rule. Some appears in questions that are really offers or requests (Would you like some tea? Can I have some water?), and any appears in affirmative sentences that mean it doesn't matter which (Take any seat). Any also follows words with a negative sense such as hardly, without, and never.
- Where does enough go in a sentence?
- Before a noun (enough money, enough chairs) but after an adjective or adverb (warm enough, quickly enough). Money enough exists but sounds old-fashioned. Enough is also followed by to plus an infinitive to state the purpose: old enough to vote, enough time to finish.