Determiners

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Determiners are a class of words used before a noun or noun phrase to make it clear whether the noun refers to something specific or something general.

Specific Determiners

The specific determiner is used when it is believed that the listener/reader knows exactly what is being referred.

The specific determiners are:
Definite articles: the
Demonstratives: this, that, these, those
Possessives: my, your, his, her, its, our, their
Interrogative: which, whose

Example:
I have locked the door.
Those lovely gifts over there are from Rahul.
Which roads lead to Delhi?
Can you pass me the salt, please?
Thanks for your cooperation.
Whose helmet is this?
Look at those beautiful waterfalls.

General Determiners

The general determiner is used is used to refer things in general and the listener/reader does not know exactly what is being referred.

The general determiners are:
Indefinite articles: a/an
Indefinite Pronoun: any, other, another
Interrogative: what
No determiner: with plural noun and uncountable noun

Example:
She has a dog.
It is a very simple game. Any child can play it.
I have invited cousins, uncle, and few other relatives to the party.
I would like another cup of tea, please.
What do you mean?
Boys are generally taller than the girls. (No determiner is used as boys and girls are plural noun)
Water is very precious. (No determiner is used as water is an uncountable noun)

Uses of Determiners

The purpose of determiners is referring or quantifying the noun.

Example:
Where is the chair? (In this sentence determiner 'the' is used to refer noun.)
Have you seen my jacket? (In this sentence determiner 'my' is used to refer noun.)
There are twenty boys in the class. (In this sentence determiner 'twenty' is used to quantify noun.)
Do you have enough money to buy household things? (In this sentence determiner 'enough' is used to quantify noun.)

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