🎯 Determiners

Mastering All, Both, Most, and Other Quantifying Words

🎯 Objective

To help learners master determiners - words that specify quantity, identity, or relationship of nouns, including quantifiers like "all," "both," "most," and distribution words like "each," "every."

📖 What are Determiners?

Determiners are words that come before nouns to provide information about quantity, specificity, possession, or distribution. They help clarify which or how many things we're talking about.

Type Function Examples Usage
Articles Specify/generalize a, an, the the book, a car
Quantifiers Show quantity all, most, both, some all students, most people
Distributives Individual reference each, every, either each person, every day
Demonstratives Point out/identify this, that, these, those this book, those cars

📚 Step-by-Step Guide: Mastering Key Determiners

Understanding Determiner Functions

Key Concept: Determiners modify nouns by providing essential information about quantity, specificity, or relationship. They always come before the noun (and any adjectives).

Position: Determiner + (adjective) + noun → "all the expensive cars"

Group 1: Quantifiers (Amount/Quantity)

🔢 ALL - Complete Totality

Meaning: Every single one, 100% of the group

Usage Patterns:

  • All + plural noun: "All students passed the exam."
  • All + uncountable noun: "All water contains hydrogen."
  • All + the + noun: "All the books are expensive."
  • All of + pronoun/the: "All of them agree." / "All of the students"

Note: "All" emphasizes totality and completeness

👥 BOTH - Two Things Together

Meaning: The two items/people (not just one)

Usage Patterns:

  • Both + plural noun: "Both brothers are doctors."
  • Both + the + noun: "Both the answers are correct."
  • Both of + pronoun/the: "Both of us agree." / "Both of the cars"
  • Both...and: "Both Tom and Mary came."

Note: Only used when referring to exactly TWO items

📊 MOST - Majority (More than Half)

Meaning: The majority, usually 60-90%

Usage Patterns:

  • Most + plural noun: "Most people like music."
  • Most + uncountable noun: "Most water is clean."
  • Most of + the/pronoun: "Most of the students" / "Most of them"
  • The most + noun: "She has the most experience." (superlative)

Note: Implies a large portion but not necessarily all

🤏 SOME/SEVERAL/FEW - Partial Quantities

Some: An unspecified amount (positive contexts)

  • "Some students are late." (a number of students)
  • "I need some help." (an amount of help)

Several: More than two but not many (countable only)

  • "Several people called." (a small number, maybe 3-7)

A few: A small number (positive meaning)

  • "A few students stayed late." (some students, positive tone)

Few: Not many (negative meaning)

  • "Few students stayed late." (not many students, negative tone)

Group 2: Distributives (Individual Reference)

🎯 EACH - Individual Focus

Meaning: Every individual one separately

Grammar: Takes singular verb and noun

  • "Each student has a book." (individual possession)
  • "Each of the students is responsible." (singular verb)
  • "Give each person a copy." (one per person)

Focus: Individual treatment within a group

🔄 EVERY - Total Coverage

Meaning: All individuals in a group, no exceptions

Grammar: Always singular verb and noun

  • "Every student has homework." (all students, no exceptions)
  • "Every day is important." (all days)
  • "I check every email." (all emails)

Focus: Completeness and regularity

⚖️ EITHER/NEITHER - Choice Between Two

Either: One or the other (positive choice)

  • "Either option is fine." (one of two choices)
  • "You can take either road." (both roads are possible)

Neither: Not one and not the other (negative)

  • "Neither answer is correct." (both answers are wrong)
  • "Neither student came." (both students didn't come)

Group 3: Demonstratives (Pointing Words)

👉 Proximity Demonstratives

This/These: Close to speaker

  • "This book is interesting." (singular, near)
  • "These books are heavy." (plural, near)

That/Those: Far from speaker

  • "That car is expensive." (singular, far)
  • "Those cars are fast." (plural, far)

Usage Rules and Patterns

Order of Determiners:

Pattern: Pre-determiner + Central + Post-determiner + Adjective + Noun

  • All + the + three + expensive + cars
  • Both + my + young + brothers
  • Each + beautiful + flower
With "Of" Constructions:

Required with pronouns:

  • "All of us" (not "all us")
  • "Most of them" (not "most them")
  • "Both of you" (not "both you")

Optional with "the":

  • "All (of) the students"
  • "Most (of) the people"

Common Mistakes and Corrections

✅ Correct Usage:
  • "All students passed" (general statement)
  • "Both answers are correct" (exactly two)
  • "Each student has a book" (singular)
  • "Most of them agreed" (with pronoun)
❌ Common Errors:
  • "All of students" (missing "the")
  • "Both three answers" (both = only two)
  • "Each students have" (plural after "each")
  • "Most them" (missing "of")

🧩 Task: Correct the Determiner Errors

Read the text about a school survey and identify/correct the errors with determiners.

📝 Student Text:

Our school conducted a survey about student preferences. All of students participated in the study. Most students prefer online learning, while few students like traditional classrooms better. Both three teaching methods were evaluated: online, hybrid, and in-person. Each students had to choose their favorite approach. Most of them found online learning convenient, but several student mentioned technical difficulties. Every students were asked about their internet access, and neither option was available for most families. The survey showed that all student want flexible learning options. Both online and in-person learning have advantage, so most of schools are now offering hybrid programs.

1. ❌ Find and correct the missing article errors with quantifiers.

2. ❌ Identify the singular/plural agreement errors with distributives.

3. ✅ Correct the logical error with "both" and explain why it's wrong.

4. ✅ Fix the inappropriate use of "neither" and suggest a better alternative.

✅ Answer Key & Explanation

1. ❌ Missing Article Errors:

Error 1: "All of students" → "All of the students" OR "All students"

Error 2: "all student" → "all students"

Error 3: "most of schools" → "most schools" OR "most of the schools"

Rule: Use "the" after "of" when referring to a specific group. Without "of," no article needed.

2. ❌ Singular/Plural Agreement Errors:

Error 1: "Each students" → "Each student" (singular)

Error 2: "several student" → "several students" (plural)

Error 3: "Every students were" → "Every student was" (singular)

Rule: "Each" and "every" take singular nouns and verbs. "Several" takes plural.

3. ✅ "Both" Logical Error:

Error: "Both three teaching methods"

Correction: "All three teaching methods"

Explanation: "Both" can only refer to exactly TWO items. For three or more items, use "all" or "all three."

4. ✅ "Neither" Misuse:

Error: "neither option was available for most families"

Problem: Context suggests good internet access, so "neither" (negative) doesn't fit

Correction: "both options were available" OR "either option was available"

Rule: "Neither" = both options are NOT available. Use "both" for positive availability.

🏆 Corrected Model Text

Our school conducted a survey about student preferences. All students participated in the study. Most students prefer online learning, while a few students like traditional classrooms better. All three teaching methods were evaluated: online, hybrid, and in-person. Each student had to choose their favorite approach. Most of them found online learning convenient, but several students mentioned technical difficulties. Every student was asked about their internet access, and both options were available for most families. The survey showed that all students want flexible learning options. Both online and in-person learning have advantages, so most schools are now offering hybrid programs.

Determiner Analysis:
  • ✅ "All students" - general group, no "the" needed
  • ✅ "All three teaching methods" - correct for three items
  • ✅ "Each student" - singular noun and verb
  • ✅ "Several students" - plural noun with "several"
  • ✅ "Every student was" - singular verb with "every"
  • ✅ "Both options were" - positive context, plural verb
  • ✅ "Both online and in-person" - correlative use of "both"
Key Corrections Made:

Quantifier fixes: Removed unnecessary "of" constructions and added missing articles where needed

Number agreement: Made distributives (each/every) singular and quantifiers (several) plural

Logical corrections: Changed "both three" to "all three" and "neither" to "both" for positive context

Consistency: Maintained parallel structure and appropriate formality level

Determiner Functions Demonstrated:

Totality: "All students" (100% participation)

Majority: "Most students" (majority preference)

Individuality: "Each student" (individual choice)

Universality: "Every student" (no exceptions)

Duality: "Both options/Both online and in-person" (two alternatives)

Small quantity: "A few students, several students" (limited numbers)