Are you finding Determiners Class 10 CBSE tricky to understand? Don’t worry, you’re in the right place! Determiners may seem confusing at first, but they are super easy once you get the hang of them. In this blog, we’ll make learning determiners fun and simple with real-life examples, clear explanations, and practice questions tailored just for CBSE students. Stick around, and by the end of this guide, you’ll not only understand determiners but also feel confident about acing them in your exams! Ready to dive in? Let’s get started!
What are Determiners?
Determiners are words placed before nouns to provide additional information such as quantity, specificity, possession, or interrogation. They play a crucial role in making sentences precise and clear.
Types of Determiners
Type | Definition | Examples |
---|---|---|
Articles | Used to define nouns. | A book, An apple, The sun |
Demonstratives | Point to specific nouns. | This car, Those books |
Possessives | Show ownership or possession. | My pen, Their house |
Quantifiers | Show quantity. | Many students, Some water |
Interrogatives | Ask questions. | Which book, Whose bag |
Numbers | Indicate exact quantity. | Two cats, Five apples |
Distributives | Refer to individual members of a group. | Each student, Every child |
1. Articles
- A: Used before singular countable nouns starting with a consonant sound.
E.g., A book, A university (consonant sound 'yu'). - An: Used before singular countable nouns starting with a vowel sound.
E.g., An apple, An honest man (vowel sound 'o' in 'honest'). - The: Used for specific nouns, unique objects, or something already mentioned.
E.g., The sun, The boy we met yesterday.
2. Demonstratives
- This, That: For singular nouns.
E.g., This book, That house. - These, Those: For plural nouns.
E.g., These books, Those cars.
3. Possessives
- My, Your, His, Her, Its, Our, Their: Show possession.
E.g., My pen, Their house.
4. Quantifiers
- Some, Any, Much, Many, A lot of, Several, A few, Few, Little, A little
E.g., Some water, Many students, A few books.
5. Numbers
- Cardinals: One, Two, Three, etc.
E.g., Two apples. - Ordinals: First, Second, Third, etc.
E.g., The first chapter.
6. Distributives
- Each, Every, Either, Neither
E.g., Each student, Every day, Neither option.
7. Interrogatives
- Which, What, Whose
E.g., Which book, What time, Whose bag.
8. Pre-determiners
- All, Both, Half, Double, Such, What
E.g., All students, Half the cake, What a surprise!
Important Rules for Using Determiners
1. Articles (A/An vs. The)
- Use a/an for something mentioned for the first time.
E.g., I saw a dog. - Use the for something already mentioned or unique.
E.g., The dog was barking loudly.
2. Countable and Uncountable Nouns
- Use few, a few, many for countable nouns.
E.g., A few friends, Many books. - Use little, a little, much for uncountable nouns.
E.g., A little water, Much effort.
3. Some vs. Any
- Use some in positive statements.
E.g., I have some money. - Use any in negative statements or questions.
E.g., Do you have any money?
4. Each vs. Every
- Use each for individual members of a group (specific focus).
E.g., Each student received a prize. - Use every for generalization.
E.g., Every student should follow the rules.
5. Much vs. Many
- Use much with uncountable nouns.
E.g., Much sugar. - Use many with countable nouns.
E.g., Many students.
6. Either vs. Neither
- Either means one of the two options.
E.g., Either book is fine. - Neither means none of the two options.
E.g., Neither book is interesting.
7. Possessives vs. Articles
- Do not use an article and a possessive determiner together.
Incorrect: The my book.
Correct: My book.
8. Demonstratives
- Use this/that for singular; these/those for plural.
E.g., This car, Those trees.
9. Quantifiers with Singular Nouns
- Use every, each with singular nouns.
E.g., Every student.
10. Double Determiners
- Avoid using two determiners together unless they complement each other.
Incorrect: The my pen.
Correct: My pen.
Important Practice Questions
1. Fill in the blank with the correct option to complete the note of appreciation by the Head of an organization.
It is good to know that ______ registration forms were received this time for our event, as compared to the previous year.
A. many
B. most
C. much
D. more
Ans. D. More
2. Fill in the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete an official announcement.
Attention all prefects,
Please be informed that the deadline for submitting your registrations for participation in the Art Exhibition has been extended; (that/ these/ this) should be communicated to all students of classes IX-X.
Ans. This.
3. Fill the blank by choosing the correct option, to complete the concluding line of an issued circular by an Organisation, to its Managers.
A copy of the plan is enclosed and __ (that/ then/ this) may be communicated to all Team Leaders for compliance.
Ans. this.
4. Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the closing line, from an analytical report.
In conclusion, this study explores the association among short-sleep pattern and overweight youngsters.
Option No. | Error | Correction |
A | explores | explore |
B | and | or |
C | among | between |
D | In | for |
Ans. Option (c)
5. Select the option that identifies the error and supplies the correction for the following line, from a news report:
Last week a child was not allowed to board the plane at Ranchi airport.
Option No. | Error | Correction |
A | child | children |
B | last | previous |
C | the | a |
D | at | in |
Ans. C. Error: the, Correction: a.
6. There’s never _______ petrol left after Rahul uses the car.
A. much
B. little
C. many
D. a little
Ans. (A) much
7. Choose the appropriate option from the box to complete the given sentences.
i. You may have _____ (either / any) of the four watches.
ii. I have been to ______ (a / the) doctor, whose name appeared in the New York Times.
iii. I had left _____ (the / my) green shirt on the bed, but I can't find it now.
iv. Is there _____ (the / a) fitness centre near your house?
v. _____ (one / few / an) example helps understand concepts better.
vi. _____ (India / India's) cultural diversity attracts tourists from all over the world.
vii. That house at the corner of the street belongs to _____ (many / those) people who are standing near its gate.
viii. He has hardly read _____ (many / any) book.
ix. He drove with _____ (much / little) care and hence was fined by the traffic police.
x. _____ (little / a little) milk is required for a cup of tea.
xi. _____ (few / some) of the mango trees in their garden bear fruit twice a year.
xii. _____ (any / each) student of this class is a scholar badge holder.
xiii. My _____ (another / other) sister is taller than me.
xiv. The _____ (many / three) monkeys that escaped from the Delhi zoo were found eating bananas in a fruit shop.
xv. I spent _____ (the little / a little) money I had.
Ans. i. You may have either of the four watches. (Either is used when choosing between limited options)
ii. I have been to the doctor, whose name appeared in the New York Times. (The specific doctor who was mentioned in the newspaper)
iii. I had left my green shirt on the bed, but I can't find it now. (Shows possession)
iv. Is there a fitness centre near your house? (Non-specific reference to any fitness centre)
v. An example helps understand concepts better. (Singular article before a vowel sound)
vi. India's cultural diversity attracts tourists from all over the world. (Possessive form needed)
vii. That house at the corner of the street belongs to those people who are standing near its gate. (Demonstrative adjective referring to specific people)
viii. He has hardly read any book. (Negative context)
ix. He drove with little care and hence was fined by the traffic police. (Indicating insufficient amount)
x. A little milk is required for a cup of tea. (Small but sufficient quantity)
xi. Some of the mango trees in their garden bear fruit twice a year. (Indicating a portion of the whole)
xii. Each student of this class is a scholar badge holder. (Referring to every individual student)
xiii. My other sister is taller than me. (Referring to a different sister)
xiv. The three monkeys that escaped from the Delhi zoo were found eating bananas in a fruit shop. (Specific number is more appropriate than 'many')
xv. I spent the little money I had. (Referring to a specific small amount)
Call to Action
- Found this helpful? Share this blog with your friends preparing for CBSE Class 10 exams!
- Got any doubts about determiners? Drop your questions in the comments below!
- Download the complete PDF guide for offline revision. [Click here to download!]
FAQs
1. What are determiners in English grammar?
Answer: Determiners are words that modify nouns by providing context such as quantity, possession, specificity, or questions.
2. What is the difference between "little", "a little" and "the little"?
Answer: "Little" emphasizes scarcity or insufficiency, often implying "almost none."
"A little" emphasizes that there is "some" amount, which is sufficient for the purpose.
"The little" refers to the entire amount of something that exists, even if it is very small.
Example: "There is little water left in the bottle." (Not enough to drink.)
"There is a little water left in the bottle." (Enough to drink.)
"The little knowledge he has is useful in this situation."
3. How to identify a determiner in a sentence?
Answer: Look for words placed before a noun that give more information about it.
4. What is the difference between 'few' and 'a few'?
Answer: 'Few' means hardly any, while 'A few' means some but not many.
5. Can a determiner be used without a noun?
Answer: No, determiners always modify a noun.
Conclusion
Mastering determiners is essential for Class 10 English as it builds the foundation for error-free grammar and fluent writing. With consistent practice and understanding of the rules, you can ace this topic in your CBSE exams. Happy learning!