00:01Determiners introduce nouns.
00:06A determiner comes before the noun.
00:12They also come before an adjective if there is one.
00:16The dog, these trees, many classes, my new friend.
00:24A determiner is always used before a singular noun.
00:31For example, we couldn't say, there is book on floor.
00:35We would need determiners before book and floor.
00:41For example, there is a book on the floor.
00:47Determiners are optional before plural nouns.
00:52For example, we could say, there are books on the floor.
00:57Because books is a plural noun, we don't need to use a determiner.
01:01We might choose to, but we don't need to.
01:05A determiner is also optional before uncountable nouns.
01:10For example, there is money on the floor.
01:14Because money is uncountable, it doesn't require a determiner.
01:19This video will explain four types of determiners in English.
01:23Articles, demonstratives, quantifiers, and possessives.
01:30Let's begin with articles.
01:32Articles are a very common determiner.
01:35There are three articles.
01:38A, an, and the.
01:41All three can be used for singular nouns.
01:45Only the can be used for plural nouns.
01:49For example, dogs is plural.
01:52We would use the, the dogs.
01:56Shoe is singular.
01:58We could use a or the.
02:04A and an are indefinite articles.
02:08We use them when we don't want to refer to a specific member within the group.
02:12Or we are referring to a noun for the first time.
02:17The is a definite article.
02:19We use it when we want to refer to a specific member within the group.
02:25For example, there is a cat outside.
02:28The indefinite article used in this sentence tells us that the particular cat is not known.
02:35This is the first time it's being referred to.
02:39The next time it's referred to, the definite article the would be used.
02:44For example, the cat has green eyes.
02:48It is understood which particular cat the speaker is referring to.
02:53Another example.
02:55Let's go to a park.
02:57Let's go to the park.
03:01In this sentence, with the indefinite article, which park it is, isn't important.
03:09In this sentence, the definite article means they have a specific park in mind that they will go to.
03:16Or they have previously mentioned the park.
03:20Why are there two indefinite articles?
03:24A is used for nouns beginning with a consonant.
03:28A boat.
03:30A tree.
03:31A flower.
03:34An is used for nouns beginning with a vowel.
03:37For example, an orange.
03:40An umbrella.
03:41An award.
03:42An award.
03:45Let's now look at a second type of determiner.
03:49Demonstratives.
03:51The four most common demonstratives are this, that, these, and those.
03:59These words are generally used when the speaker is in close proximity to an object.
04:04And so they're even more specific than the definite article.
04:09This and that are used for singular nouns.
04:12Whereas these and those are used for plural nouns.
04:18These and these refer to objects that are close to you.
04:23This tree is beautiful.
04:24These trees are beautiful.
04:27That and those refer to objects that are, comparatively, further away.
04:33That tree is beautiful.
04:36Those trees are beautiful.
04:40Do you like this shirt?
04:43That shirt looks great.
04:47Now let's move on to the third type of determiners.
04:50Quantifiers.
04:53Quantifiers give information about the quantity of an object without providing a number.
05:01Some quantifiers can only be used with countable nouns.
05:05While others can only be used with uncountable nouns.
05:08Some quantifiers can be used with both.
05:12These quantifiers describe large quantities.
05:15Much.
05:17Most.
05:18A lot of.
05:19Many.
05:20Several.
05:22For example, is there much food left?
05:26Food is uncountable.
05:28We couldn't say, are there much apples left?
05:32Because apples are countable.
05:35We would need to say, are there many apples left?
05:40Most.
05:41And.
05:41A lot of.
05:42Can be used for both countable and uncountable nouns.
05:47Paula ate the most food.
05:50Paula ate the most apples.
05:53There is a lot of sand.
05:54There are a lot of animals.
05:59These quantifiers describe small quantities.
06:02A few.
06:04A little.
06:05A bit.
06:08A few grapes dropped on the floor.
06:11I like a little milk in my tea.
06:15There is a bit of water left.
06:18We can use these quantifiers if we don't know, or don't want to specify, the quantity.
06:24Some.
06:25And any.
06:27Some is used to make positive statements for both countable and uncountable nouns.
06:32For example, there is some ice cream.
06:36Here are some spoons.
06:40Any is used to make negative statements for both countable and uncountable nouns.
06:46For example, there isn't any ice cream.
06:49There aren't any spoons.
06:53Any is also used for questions.
06:56Is there any ice cream?
06:58Are there any spoons?
07:02Many and much are also used in questions of our quantity.
07:06Many for countable and much for uncountable.
07:11For example, how many dogs do you have?
07:14How many eggs would you like?
07:16How much water do you want?
07:18How much luggage do you have?
07:23Let's now look at the fourth type of determiner.
07:26Possessives.
07:28Possessives show that a noun is owned by someone or something.
07:34For singular first person, we use my.
07:37This is my car.
07:41For singular and plural second person, we use your.
07:45Your house is wonderful.
07:48For singular third person, we use his, her and it.
07:54For plural first person, we use our.
07:57And for plural third person, we use their.
08:01Be careful not to mix up these words.
08:05They're, they're, and they're.
08:07These two are not possessives.
08:11It's, and it's.
08:13This word is a contraction meaning it is, not a possessive.
08:19You're, and you're.
08:21This word is a contraction meaning you are, it's not a possessive.
08:27Remember, determiners introduce nouns.
08:31Thanks for watching.
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