Determiner

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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 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 include articles, demonstratives, possessive determiners, quantifiers, cardinal numbers, and ordinal numbers.

In most Indo-European languages, determiners are either independent words or clitics that precede the rest of the noun phrase. In other languages, determiners are prefixed or suffixed to the noun, or even change the noun's form. For example, in Swedish bok "book", when definite, becomes boken "the book" (suffixed definite articles are common in Scandinavian languages).

In some constructions, such as those which use the names of school subjects ("Physics uses mathematics"), a determiner is not used. This condition is called the "zero determiner" instance.

X-bar theory contends that every noun has a corresponding determiner. In a case where a noun does not have a pronounced determiner, X-bar theory hypothesizes the presence of a zero article.

[edit] English determiners

Determiners form a closed class of words that number (exclusive of ordinals) about 50 in English and include:

• Articles: a, an, the
• Demonstratives: this, that, these, those, which, etc. (when used with noun phrases)
• Possessives: my, our, your, her, his, its, their, whose, and possessive nouns (John's, the teacher's)
• Quantifiers: all, few, many, several, some, every, each, any, no etc.
• Cardinal Numbers: one, two, fifty, etc.
• Ordinals: first, second, last, next, etc.

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."

For a mostly complete list, see Wiktionary.

[edit] 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.

1. In English, articles, demonstratives, and possessive determiners cannot co-occur in the same phrase, while any number of adjectives are typically allowed.
   1. A big green expensive English book
   2. * The his book
2. Articles cannot occur alone in complement position, adjectives can.
   1. He is happy.
   2. * He is the.
3. Most determiners are not gradable, while adjectives typically are.
   1. happy, happier, happiest
4. Adjectives cannot stand alone as a subject or object in a fused-head construction, while determiners typically can.
   1. Each likes something different.
   2. * Big likes something different.
5. Adjectives are licensed independent of number, while many determiners are licensed only for singular or for plural nouns.
   1. a big person / big people
   2. many people / * many person
6. Adjectives are never obligatory, while determiners often are.

[edit] 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.

1. Pronouns may occur in tag questions. Determiners can't.
   1. This is delicious, isn't it?
   2. *This is delicious, isn't this?
2. In phrasal verbs, pronouns must appear between the verb and particle. Determiners may occur after the particle.
   1. pick it up
   2. *pick up it
   3. pick this up
   4. pick up this

[edit] External links

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