Determiners

Determiners ‘Determiner’ is a general term for words which are used before nouns to show which person or thing is being referred to. Determiners of quantity are used to describe how much or little of something there is. a complete a large a small zero amount amount amount amount ➝ all many enough a few no every much few neither each most several both a little little The following determiners must only be used with countable nouns in the plural: We don’t get many tourists here. We get several letters a week. Hold on with both hands. I take fewer trips abroad these days. We’ve invited a fewfriends to dinner. So fewpeople attended. Note: Fewhas a negative meaning, and means ‘almost no’. A fewhas a positive meaning and means ‘some’. The following determiners must only be used with uncountable nouns: Will it take much time? I had less money than I thought. Add a little salt. We get so little light in this room. Note: Little has a negative meaning, and means ‘almost no’. A little has a positive meaning and means ‘some’. The following determiners can be used with countable nouns in the plural and with uncountable nouns: Kim’s got more bags than me. Kim’s got more luggage than me. Most items of jewellery are made Most gold is used to make jewellery. from gold. All children should receive education. All meat is rich in protein. Do you have enough clothes? We don’t have enough furniture. He left no instructions. There’s no ice in the fridge. The following determiners must be used with singular countable nouns: He checked each document carefully. Every child needs affection. If you follow one determiner with another determiner (such as the or this) you usually put of between them. Take some bread. Take some of the bread. Every and no cannot be used with of. Every one of or none of is used instead. Every tree is marked with a cross Every one of the young trees is marked with a cross. We have no accurate information. None of this information is accurate. ➝ Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary, 3rd edition © Cambridge University Press 2008 . Determiners ‘Determiner’ is a general term for words which are used before nouns to show which person or thing is being referred to. Determiners of quantity are used. many enough a few no every much few neither each most several both a little little The following determiners must only be used with countable nouns in the plural: We don’t get many tourists here negative meaning, and means ‘almost no’. A fewhas a positive meaning and means ‘some’. The following determiners must only be used with uncountable nouns: Will it take much time? I had less money than