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, and quantifiers.

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.

English determiners

• Articles: a, an, the
• Demonstratives: this, that, these, those (when used with noun phrases)
• Possessive determiners: her, his, its, my, our, their, your
• Quantifiers: all, few, many, several, some, every

In English, articles, demonstratives, and possessive determiners cannot co-occur in the same phrase.

See also: English grammar

External links

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

Parts of speech

Determinativ (Wortart) | Déterminant (grammaire) | 決定詞 | Determinativ | Determinativ