We use a number of words used in front of common nouns (or adjective + common noun) which we call determiners because they affect (or determine) the meaning of the noun.
Determiners make it clear, for example, which particular thing(s) we are referring to or how much of a substance we are talking about.
Singular countable nouns must normally have a determiner in front of them.
There are two classes:
1. Words which help us to classify or identify:
-indefinite article: I bought a new shirt yesterday.
-definite article: The shirt that I am wearing is new.
-demonstrative adjectives: I bought this shirt yesterday.
-possessive adjectives: Do you like my new shirt?
2. Words which enable us to indicate quantity:
-numbers: I bought two new shirts yesterday.
-quantifiers: There wasn´t much material in the shop.
What is the difference between adjectives and determiners?
ADJECTIVE: It is an additional category.
ADJECTIVES may be placed or not before a noun:
DETERMINERS: they are obligatory with singular countable nouns and precede a noun.
Jack bought a (new) shirt.
*Jack bought (new) shirt.
DETERMINERS CAN BE USED AS PRONOUNS:
We understood her explanation but not his explanation.
We understood her explanation but not his.
The shirt is new
A new shirt
The shirt
*Shirt the (ungrammatical)
In addition, if there is one – or up to three – determiner(s) together with one or more adjectives preceding a noun, determiners always precede the adjectives.
I read those three interesting postmodern novels.
*I read interesting postmodern those three novels.
Determiners are classified into three big groups according to their relative position:
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