What are determiners?
Determiners are like helpers for nouns in sentences. They give more information about them. Check out how they work:
- Articles: These are “a,” “an,” and “the.” “A” or “an” mean any one of something, like “a book” or “an apple.” “The” talks about something specific, like “the book on the shelf.”
- Possessives: These show ownership. “My,” “your,” “his,” “her,” “its,” “our,” and “their” are possessive determiners. Like “my cat” or “their house.”
- Demonstratives: These point to something. “This,” “that,” “these,” and “those” are demonstrative determiners. Like “this car” or “those shoes.”
- Quantifiers: These tell how much or how many. “Some,” “many,” “few,” and “several” are quantifiers. Like “some cookies” or “many friends.”
- Numbers: Numbers like “one,” “two,” “three,” etc., can also be determiners. Like “two dogs” or “three apples.”
- Interrogatives: These are used in questions. “Which” and “whose” are interrogative determiners. Like “Which book do you like?” or “Whose pencil is this?”
Determiners work with nouns to make sentences clear and detailed. They’re like the helpful friends of nouns in the sentence party!
Exercise
Exercise: fill in the blanks with a, an or the.
- ________ owl
- ________ rocket
- ________ apron
- ________ moon
- ________ Missouri River
- ________ mango
- ________ sun
- ________ animal
- ________ page
- ________ computer
- ________ eagle
- ________ baby
Exercise: write a, an or the in the blanks to complete the sentences.
1 There is _________ rainbow in _________ sky.
2 Who is _________ man outside ___________ gate?
3 _________ doctor gave Jane _________ injection.
4 Paul opened _________ door to let _________ dog in.
5 Mark is _________ only child in _________ family.
6 What’s largest animal in __________ world?
7 There’s __________ nest in __________ tree.
8 Sue is writing __________ letter to her grandfather.
9 Jack has __________ brother and __________ sister.
10 We reached __________ top of __________ hill in two hours.
Exercise: fill in the blanks with the correct demonstrative adjectives.
1 Come and look at __________ insects.
2 Stop __________ man!
3 I was in fifth grade last year. I am in sixth grade __________ year.
4 Bring __________ chairs here.
5 __________ ice cream is delicious.
6 Can you see __________ stars in the sky?
Exercise. Choose one of these possessive adjectives to fill in the blanks: my, its, his, your, their, her, our
1 Is this Jane’s dog? Yes, this is __________ dog.
2 The dog is chasing __________ own tail.
3 Peter, is __________ father at home?
4 Rudy is showing __________ stamps to Ali.
5 I am going to __________ aunt’s house this evening.
6 We always keep __________ classroom clean.
7 Children, have you all finished __________ homework?
8 The children are proud of __________ school.
Exercise. Choose one of these interrogative adjectives: what, which, whose
- __________ kind of animal is that?
- __________ runner is the winner?
- __________ is the matter?
- __________ desk is this?
- __________ phone is ringing?
- __________ is your name?
- __________ twin is taller?
- __________ hand is holding the pebble
Answers
Exercise: fill in the blanks with a, an or the.
an owl
a rocket
an apron
the moon
the Missouri River
a mango
the sun
an animal
a page
a computer
an eagle
a baby
Exercise: write a, an or the in the blanks to complete the sentences.
1 There is a rainbow in the sky.
2 Who is the man outside the gate?
3 The doctor gave Jane an injection.
4 Paul opened the door to let the dog in.
5 Mark is the only child in the family.
6 What’s the largest animal in the world?
7 There’s a nest in the tree.
8 Sue is writing a letter to her grandfather.
9 Jack has a brother and a sister.
10 We reached the top of the hill in two hours.
Exercise: fill in the blanks with the correct demonstrative adjectives.
1 Come and look at these insects.
2 Stop that man!
3 I was in fifth grade last year. I am in sixth grade this year.
4 Bring those chairs here.
5 The ice cream is delicious.
6 Can you see those stars in the sky?
Exercise. Choose one of these possessive adjectives to fill in the blanks: my, its, his, your, their, her, our
1 Is this Jane’s dog? Yes, this is her dog.
2 The dog is chasing its own tail.
3 Peter, is your father at home?
4 Rudy is showing his stamps to Ali.
5 I am going to my aunt’s house this evening.
6 We always keep our classroom clean.
7 Children, have you all finished your homework?
8 The children are proud of their school.
Exercise. Choose one of these interrogative adjectives: what, which, whose
1 What kind of animal is that?
2 Which runner is the winner?
3 What is the matter?
4 Whose desk is this?
5 Whose phone is ringing?
6 What is your name?
7 Which twin is taller?
8 Which hand is holding the pebble?
