Introduction to Determiners

Introduction to Determiners

ଓଡ଼ିଆ: ନିର୍ଦ୍ଧାରକଗୁଡ଼ିକ ହେଉଛି ଏପରି ଶବ୍ଦ ଯାହା ବିଶେଷ୍ୟ ପଦବନ୍ଧ (noun phrase) ପୂର୍ବରୁ ଆସି ସେମାନଙ୍କ ବିଷୟରେ ଅଧିକ ସୂଚନା ଦିଏ। ଏହା ବିଶେଷ୍ୟକୁ ସ୍ପଷ୍ଟ କରିବାରେ ସାହାଯ୍ୟ କରେ।

Determiners are words that come before a noun in a noun phrase to provide more information about it. They are essentially pre-modifiers (ପୂର୍ବ-ବିଶେଷଣ) of the noun phrase, helping to specify or quantify the noun. We cannot change the order of determiners, as they follow a definite sequence.

Types of Determiners

ଓଡ଼ିଆ: ବିଭିନ୍ନ ପ୍ରକାରର ନିର୍ଦ୍ଧାରକ ଅଛି ଯାହା ବିଶେଷ୍ୟକୁ ବିଭିନ୍ନ ଉପାୟରେ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନା କରେ। ଏଗୁଡ଼ିକ ଆର୍ଟିକଲ୍, ସୂଚକ, ସଂଖ୍ୟାବାଚକ ଇତ୍ୟାଦି ଅଟନ୍ତି।

Determiners can be broadly categorized as follows:

1. Articles (ଆର୍ଟିକଲ୍)

• Indefinite Articles (ଅନିର୍ଦ୍ଦିଷ୍ଟ ଆର୍ଟିକଲ୍): a, an These do not refer to any specific person or thing. They are used only before singular count nouns (ଗଣନୀୟ ବିଶେଷ୍ୟ).
  • a is used before nouns beginning with a consonant sound. Example: a book, a university (ୟୁନିଭର୍ସିଟି).
  • an is used before nouns beginning with a vowel sound. Example: an orange, an hour (ଆୱାର).
  • Example: Give the child an orange. (any orange)
• Definite Article (ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦିଷ୍ଟ ଆର୍ଟିକଲ୍): the The refers to a specific person or thing. It is used when we make specific reference to any uncount (ଅଗଣନୀୟ) or count nouns.
  • General: Water is essential for life.
  • Specific: The water in this pot is muddy.
  • General: Books are our good friends.
  • Specific: The books I bought yesterday are helpful.

2. Demonstratives (ସୂଚକ)

• this, that are used before both singular countable and uncountable nouns.
• these, those are used before plural count nouns only.
  • Example: This pen writes well. (singular count)
  • Example: That water is not good to drink. (uncount noun)
  • Example: These people are hardworking. (plural count noun)

3. Numerals (ସଂଖ୍ୟାବାଚକ)

• Cardinals: one, two, three, etc.
• Ordinals: first, second, third, etc. They can be used separately or in combination.
  • Example: I met three tourists from Japan. (cardinal)
  • Example: The first girl was intelligent. (ordinal)
  • Example: The first two boys were healthy. (ordinal + cardinal)

4. Quantifiers (ପରିମାଣବାଚକ)

These indicate quantity or amount.

• many, few, a few, several: Used with plural count nouns only.
  • A few children are playing. (a few = less in number)
  • Few children are playing. (few = almost none, less than expected)
• much, little, a little: Used with uncount nouns only.
  • There is a little water in the jug. (a little = very less in quantity)
  • There is little water in the jug. (little = almost nothing, less than required)
• any, no, some, enough, more, less, both, all, a lot of: Used with both plural count and uncount nouns.
  • Example: Many people were present there. (plural count)
  • Example: How much water is left? (uncount)
  • Example: There is some water in the pot. (uncount)
  • Example: I need a lot of food for them. (uncount)

5. Possessives (ଅଧିକାରବାଚକ)

• Pronominal possessives: my, your, his, her, its, our, their.
  • Example: Where are my books?
• Nominal possessives: Raja's, Meera's, etc.
  • Example: Rashmi’s brother is my friend.
  • Note: Possessives do not go with articles, demonstratives, and quantifiers. [[3]]

6. Distributives (ବଣ୍ଟନବାଚକ)

• each, every, either, neither.
  • Each child got a prize. (Each child is seen as a separate individual.)
  • Every child got a prize. (All are seen as part of a whole body, or group.)
  • Either pen will do. (One of two options)

7. Wh-determiners (Wh-ନିର୍ଦ୍ଧାରକ)

• which, whose, what.
  • Example: Which pen do you want?
  • Example: Whose children are they?

8. Multipliers (ଗୁଣବାଚକ)

• double, twice, one-third.
  • Example: double the number, twice the quantity.

Sequence of Determiners

ଓଡ଼ିଆ: ଗୋଟିଏ ବିଶେଷ୍ୟ ପଦବନ୍ଧରେ ଏକାଧିକ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଧାରକ ବ୍ୟବହାର କରାଯାଇପାରେ, କିନ୍ତୁ ସେମାନେ ଏକ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦିଷ୍ଟ କ୍ରମ (order) ଅନୁସରଣ କରନ୍ତି। ଏହି କ୍ରମକୁ ବଦଳାଯାଇପାରିବ ନାହିଁ।

When more than one determiner is used in a noun phrase, they follow a definite order. This order cannot be changed. Sometimes, pre-determiners (like all, both, half) can come before other determiners.

• Example: My two sons are employed. (possessive + cardinal)
• Example: All my two sons are employed. (quantifier + possessive + cardinal)
• Example: The first two boys were healthy. (article + ordinal + cardinal)

Worked Example

ଓଡ଼ିଆ: ଏଠାରେ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଧାରକର ଭୁଲ୍ କ୍ରମ ଥିବା ଏକ ବାକ୍ୟ ଦିଆଯାଇଛି। ଆମେ ଏହାକୁ ସଠିକ୍ କରିବା।

Problem: Correct the error in the order of determiners: "His all sisters are doctors."

Solution: The correct order for this sentence should be quantifier + possessive + noun. The quantifier all should come before the possessive his.

Corrected Sentence: "All his sisters are doctors."