LoginDeterminer Order
Master determiner order, which provides the correct sequence of words before nouns. Clear explanations and practice exercises to help you learn.
What is Determiner Order?
There are pre-determiners, determiners, and post-determiners in a noun phrase which can or cannot be used at the same time. Thus, it is important to know the permissible combinations of these categories.
Determiners: Types
The table below gives a list of the different types of determiners:
Pre-determiners | Central Determiners | Post-determiners |
|---|---|---|
multipliers | ||
unviersal determiners | ||
How Do We Use Determiners?
As you may know, there are various types of pre-determiners, determiners, and post-determiners that are used in specific orders to form noun phrases with a head noun. Let us take a look at the determiners that can be used together at the same time:
Pre-determiners and Central Determiners
Some pre-determiners cannot be used at the same time with certain central determiners. Check out the table below to find out which predeterminer + determiner combinations are allowed.
Multiplier | Fraction | Universal | |
|---|---|---|---|
Article | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Demonstrative | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Possesive | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Personal | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
Interrogative | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
Relative | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
Indefinite | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
Multipliers and Central Determiners
Multipliers can be used before articles, as well as demonstrative and possessive determiners. Take a look at the examples:
We exercise twice a week.
article
These shoes are twice my size.
possessive
He ate twice this amount last year.
demonstrative
Twice we students support the cause.
Triple what color is your favorite?
interrogative
Double which book you choose doesn't matter.
Three times some guests arrived.
Fractions and Central Determiners
Fractions can be used with articles, possessives, demonstratives, and personal determiners, as demonstrated in the examples below:
It took half a minute.
article
She wears half my size.
possessive
Half those animals are going to be extinct.
demonstrative
Half you imbeciles have no idea what you're doing.
Half which books are yours?
I will accept half what suggestions you have to offer.
relative
Half any book will be fine.
Universal Determiners and Central Determiners
Universal determiners are used with every type of central determiner except interrogative, relative, and indefinite determiners. Here are some examples:
All the animals were kept in cages.
Both my friends are at the party.
All these people are supposed to get injected.
All we supporters of the plan consider it feasible.
All what class did go to the picnic?
Both which type of flower you like is not my concern.
Both some people dislike this style.
Post-determiners and Central Determiners
Certain post-determiners can be used on their own, without a preceding determiner, while others require a central determiner to be present. It is important to know which post-determiners can be used with central determiners in a noun phrase. The table below shows which determiner + post-determiner combinations are acceptable:
Numerals | Quantifiers | |
|---|---|---|
Article | ✓ | ✓ |
Demonstrative | ✓ | ✓ |
Possessive | ✓ | ✓ |
Personal | ✗ | ✗ |
Interrogative | ✓ | ✗ |
Relative | ✓ | ✓ |
Indefinite | ✓ | ✓ |
Numerals and Central Determiners
Cardinal numbers can be used with all central determiners except personal determiners. Check out the examples:
The two sessions were held on Wednesday.
article
Those ten days changed my life forever.
demonstrative
Your two friends supports you unconditionally.
possessive
We five students remained in class.
I booked what two seats that were available.
relative
Which three students got the award?
interrogative
Some three students stayed late.
indefinite
Quantifiers with Central Determiners
Quantifiers cannot be used with interrogative and personal determiners. Check out the examples for more clarification:
We have a few plans.
article
We have discussed the matter in our many meetings.
possessive
You few players have to work hard.
Which many pages did you photocopy?
What few students that remained in class were attentive.
relative
Those few moments together were precious.
demonstrative
Some few errors remained.
indefinite
Three Determiners in Noun Phrase
There are only a few structures in which post-determiners and pre-determiners can be used together at the same time. Here are the possible structures:
unviersal (pre-determiner) + article + numeral (post-determiner) + head noun
Here is an example of this structure:
I will talk to all the five participants.
unviersal (pre-determiner) + demonstrative + numeral (post-determiner) + head noun
In this example, the above structure is used:
All those five nights I was playing the piano.
unviersal (pre-determiner) + possessive + numeral (post-determiner) + head noun
Check out the example for more clarification:
All my five classes were tiring.
Partitives as Pre-determiners
Both definite and indefinite partitives can be used as pre-determiners in a noun phrase. However, it's important to note that the first part of the partitive, which contains a number or an article (such as 'a', 'one', 'two', 'one hundred', and so on), is actually part of the partitive structure and is included in the formation of the pre-determiner. Therefore, the entire partitive construction is used as a pre-determiner. Here are the examples:
Many of their problems are because of the baby.
'Their' is a central determiner that is used after the partitive pre-determiner.
Three pieces of the pizza are left in the box.
Review
Pre-determiners and post-determiners cannot be used with every central determiner at the same time. Some combinations of these determiners are allowed while others are not acceptable. For example, interrogative, relative, and indefinite determiners are never used with a pre-determiner. Additionally, personal determiners cannot be used with any post-determiners. The table below summarizes the permissible combinations:
Multiplier | Fraction | Universal | Numerals | Quantifiers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Article | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Demonstrative | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Possesive | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Personal | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
Interrogative | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
Relative | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
Indefinite | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
Quiz:
Identify the incorrect combination
half my salary
twice a day
all which books
these three cats
Sort the words to form a correct sentence.
Match each phrase to its correct determiner pattern
Complete each sentence using the correct determiner.
She bought these
new dresses. (which/three/all)
the students passed the exam. (five/his/all)
She completed both
assignments. (her/each/which)
three books should I buy? (which/few/both)
All
five employees received bonuses. (either/the/whose)
Which partitive is used correctly?
many of these problems
three of much water
pieces of a advice
some of few books
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