Types of determiner
Traditional grammar called many of these adjectives. Modern grammars group them as determiners because they work differently: they come first, and you normally use only one from the main group.
| Type | Words | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Articles | a, an, the | the answer |
| Demonstratives | this, that, these, those | these results |
| Possessives | my, your, his, her, its, our, their, and nouns with 's | their house, Ravi's car |
| Quantifiers | some, any, much, many, few, little, all, both, no, enough | enough time |
| Distributives | each, every, either, neither | each candidate |
| Numbers | one, two, first, second, last | the first two chapters |
| Question words | which, what, whose | Which bus goes to the station? |
Order and combining determiners
You normally use only one of the articles, demonstratives and possessives together. Say "my book" or "the book", not "the my book". To combine a and a possessive, use of with mine, yours and so on: "a friend of mine".
A few words, such as all, both and half, can come before them: "all the students", "both my parents", "half the class".
Numbers and words such as next, last and other can come after them: "my three sisters", "the next few days", "the other two options".
Determiner or pronoun?
Many determiners can also stand alone as pronouns: "Some students passed" (determiner) and "Some passed" (pronoun). The exceptions are the possessives my, your, her, our and their, which need a noun; their pronoun forms are mine, yours, hers, ours and theirs.
Every and no also need a noun. Alone, use each, everyone or none: "Every student passed", "Each passed", "None failed".
Common mistakes
Wrong: She is my the best friend.
Right: She is my best friend.
Use only one of my and the before a noun.
Wrong: He is a my friend from college.
Right: He is a friend of mine from college.
A and my can't go together. Use a friend of mine.
Wrong: Every students must carry an ID card.
Right: Every student must carry an ID card.
Every is followed by a singular noun.
Wrong: Both of the my brothers live abroad.
Right: Both my brothers live abroad. / Both of my brothers live abroad.
Don't put the before my.
Wrong: I have not met him since long time.
Right: I have not met him for a long time.
A period of time needs for, and the singular noun time here needs a.
Using this in IELTS and PTE
Missing or extra determiners are among the most frequent errors in IELTS and PTE writing, especially a singular countable noun with nothing before it: "Government should build hospital" needs "The government should build a hospital." In Task 1, determiners such as each, both and neither help you compare: "Both countries saw a rise, but neither reached 50%." Check every singular noun when you review an essay.
5 questions
Exercise
Try each one, then open it to check your answer.
1. Find the determiner: "Their old car broke down."
Their
It comes before the adjective and noun and shows whose car.
2. Correct this: "I want to buy laptop."
I want to buy a laptop.
A singular countable noun needs a determiner.
3. Correct this: "Each of the student received a prize."
Each of the students received a prize.
After each of the, use a plural noun, with a singular verb.
4. Put in order: "the / all / students"
all the students
All comes before the.
5. Determiner or pronoun? "Many came to the meeting."
Pronoun.
Many stands alone with no noun after it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a determiner and an adjective?+
A determiner identifies or counts the noun (the, my, two), and it comes first. An adjective describes the noun (new, red), and it comes after the determiner: "my new phone".
Is a lot of a determiner?+
It works like one, since it comes before a noun to show quantity, and many books call it a quantifier. It is a phrase rather than a single word.
Are numbers determiners?+
Yes, when they come before a noun: "three apples", "the first day". They can also be pronouns: "I'll take three."
Is its a determiner?+
Yes. Its is a possessive determiner: "The company changed its name." Don't confuse it with it's, which means it is or it has.
Keep going
More grammar lessons
© 2026 BandLadder. Written and checked by the BandLadder team. You may quote or cite this page with credit to BandLadder and a link to it; republishing it in full needs our written permission. Content use policy