Micro-listening
English Determiners: Choose the Right Word
The short answer
Determiners establish the grammatical boundary and reference of a noun phrase. Rather than describing an item's qualities, determiners identify which item is meant, how many exist, or who owns it.
Key points
- Identify the noun first to check its number and countability.
- Then choose one determiner that matches your intended reference, whether pointing, showing ownership, indicating quantity, or asking a question.
- Place a determiner at the beginning of a noun phrase before any descriptive adjectives.
This lesson has 5 stages. You can stop at any time and continue later.
Stage 1 of 5
Understand
What it means, when to use it, and mistakes to avoid.
Examples
That train leaves from platform three.
Why it works: That points to a specific train at a visible distance.
3 more examples
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Our office ordered several boxes of copy paper.
Our shows possession, while several indicates an approximate plural quantity.
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Each employee completed an evaluation form.
Each considers employees individually, while an introduces a single countable form.
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Which bus stops near the museum?
Which asks the listener to choose one specific route from a known transit schedule.
Read the full guide
Identify the Noun Before Choosing a Modifier
Every determiner works directly with a noun or noun phrase. Before you choose a word such as a, this, or every, identify the noun you want to introduce. Check whether the noun is singular, plural, countable, or uncountable. Notice how the noun functions in your sentence so you select a word that clarifies its identity.
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Those computers belong in the training lab.
Why it works: Those identifies the specific computers and shows they are plural.
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A customer called regarding the delivery delay.
Why it works: A introduces one countable customer without identifying the exact person.
Your turn
In the sentence 'Several applicants submitted portfolios today,' which word is the determiner?
Answer: Several
Show the answer
Answer: Several
Several stands directly before the plural noun applicants to specify an indefinite amount.
Choose Between Indefinite and Definite Articles
Articles tell your listener whether an item is already familiar or newly introduced. Use a or an when introducing one countable item that is not yet known to the listener. Use the when both speaker and listener know the exact noun from context, shared environment, or earlier mentions. Choosing the wrong article confuses whether you mean any item or a specific one.
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I bought a notebook for our team meetings.
Why it works: A introduces one general notebook for the first time.
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The notebook is on the conference table.
Why it works: The refers to the specific notebook that was previously mentioned.
You can practise this again in Possessive Determiners: Choose the Right Form and English prepositions: choose the right word.
Your turn
You need a pen and see three pens on your colleague's desk. You do not care which one you borrow. What do you ask?
Answer: Can I borrow a pen?
Show the answer
Answer: Can I borrow a pen?
A pen refers to any single pen from the group rather than pointing to one particular pen.
Point to Near or Far Objects with Demonstratives
Demonstrative determiners show physical distance, time, or psychological closeness between the speaker and the noun. Use this and these for people, objects, or situations close to you in distance or current in time. Use that and those for items farther away or located in past conversations. Match this and that with singular nouns, and these and those with plural nouns.
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This desk wobbles whenever I type.
Why it works: This points to one singular desk close to the speaker.
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Those files in storage need shredding.
Why it works: Those points to plural files located away from the immediate area.
Your turn
You are holding two printed schedules in your hands. Which phrase correctly identifies them?
Answer: These schedules
Show the answer
Answer: These schedules
These matches plural nouns that are physically near the speaker.
Show Possession Without Adding Unnecessary Words
Possessive determiners clarify who owns or relates to a noun. Words such as my, your, his, her, its, our, and their precede nouns directly without an article. In English, you never combine an article and a possessive determiner before the same noun. Simply name the possessor using the appropriate possessive word to establish clear ownership for your listener.
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Our supervisor approved the annual budget.
Why it works: Our shows that the supervisor manages the speaker's workplace group.
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The company revised its refund policy.
Why it works: Its shows that the policy belongs to the singular organization.
Your turn
Which sentence shows correct possessive determiner usage?
Answer: She left her jacket in the lobby.
Show the answer
Answer: She left her jacket in the lobby.
Possessive determiners like her stand alone before the noun and never take an article.
Indicate Quantities with Countable and Uncountable Nouns
Quantity determiners state how much or how many of a noun you mean without giving an exact numeral. Words such as many, few, and several combine only with plural countable nouns. Words like much and little modify singular uncountable nouns. Words such as some and all function smoothly with both plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns in standard statements.
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Several clients requested paper receipts.
Why it works: Several works with the plural countable noun clients.
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We need more information before making an offer.
Why it works: More modifies the uncountable noun information.
Your turn
Which determiner correctly completes: 'We do not have ___ time before the presentation'?
Answer: much
Show the answer
Answer: much
Time is an uncountable noun here, so it requires much in negative sentences.
Distribute Attention to Individual Members or Groups
Distributive determiners alter how a listener views items in a group. Use each when considering members of a group individually, one at a time. Use every when viewing all members together as a complete unit, though both each and every take singular nouns. Use all with plural nouns or uncountable nouns to describe the entire collection as a whole.
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Each candidate receives twenty minutes for questions.
Why it works: Each highlights candidates one by one with a singular verb.
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All candidates must wait in room three.
Why it works: All addresses the complete group using a plural noun.
Your turn
Which sentence uses a distributive determiner correctly with a singular noun?
Answer: Every participant signed the attendance sheet.
Show the answer
Answer: Every participant signed the attendance sheet.
Every must be followed by a singular countable noun such as participant.
Use Interrogative Determiners to Ask Specific Questions
Question determiners turn a standard noun phrase into a request for specific facts. Use which when the listener must select from a limited or known set of options. Use what when the choices are open or unlimited. Use whose when asking about ownership. Placing these determiners directly before the noun establishes the category of information you need.
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Which train goes directly to the airport?
Why it works: Which asks the listener to pick one train from a scheduled timetable.
-
Whose laptop is charging on that counter?
Why it works: Whose asks for the owner of the laptop.
Your turn
A waiter holds two desserts and asks you to pick one. Which question does the waiter ask?
Answer: Which dessert would you prefer?
Show the answer
Answer: Which dessert would you prefer?
Which is appropriate when selecting from a known, limited set of alternatives.
Keep Only One Central Determiner Before a Noun
A common mistake among English learners involves stacking two central determiners before a single noun. In English, you cannot place an article next to a possessive or demonstrative word. Saying 'the my car' or 'this a problem' is ungrammatical. Choose the single determiner that carries your primary communicative intention and let adjectives provide descriptive details.
-
This red folder contains the contract.
Why it works: This is the sole determiner; red is an adjective adding descriptive color.
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My new phone arrived this morning.
Why it works: My is the single determiner identifying ownership before the adjective new.
Your turn
Which phrase correctly avoids combining two central determiners?
Answer: That new office
Show the answer
Answer: That new office
English allows only one central determiner such as that before a noun and its descriptive adjectives.
Use it naturally
How people really use “several”
Neutral Fine almost anywhere, at work or with friends.
Words it often goes with
- several peopleThere were several people waiting outside the zoo.
- several daysWe stayed with my aunt for several days.
- several timesI've visited this park several times.
- several optionsWe have several options for lunch.
Questions about "English Determiners: Choose the Right Word"
What is the difference between each and every?
Both words modify singular countable nouns and refer to all members of a group. Use each when you want to focus on individuals one by one. Use every when you think of the members together as a collective whole. In addition, each can refer to as few as two items, whereas every requires at least three items.
Each student signed an individual project contract.
Every student in the class passed the final examination.
Can I use an article and a possessive word together?
No. In English, possessive determiners such as my, your, and our replace articles entirely. You should say my friend or a friend, but never the my friend or a my friend. If you want to combine the idea of an indefinite noun with possession, use the pattern a friend of mine.
She invited her colleague to the presentation.
A colleague of hers answered the phone.
How do I decide between this, that, these, and those?
Base your choice on two factors: number and distance. Use this and these for items that are singular and plural respectively when they are close in space or time. Use that and those for items farther away in location or further back in conversation. In phone calls, English speakers traditionally say This is Maria rather than That is Maria.
This coffee in my cup is cold.
Those cars across the street belong to visitors.
How can I tell a determiner apart from an adjective?
A determiner clarifies which thing, whose thing, or how many things you mean, and it almost always comes at the very beginning of the noun phrase. An adjective describes the quality, appearance, or condition of the noun. For example, in those two tall trees, those and two are determiners, while tall is a descriptive adjective.
That tall building opened last year.
Several young trees were planted along the sidewalk.
Before you go
Remember this
Identify the noun first to check its number and countability. Then choose one determiner that matches your intended reference, whether pointing, showing ownership, indicating quantity, or asking a question.
Stage 2 of 5
Listen
Hear it in real sentences, from short to long, and write what you hear.
0 of 4 done
Listening 1 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
Read the transcript
Every applicant must sign an agreement.
Every is a distributive determiner that modifies the singular noun applicant.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- In 'an agreement,' listen for 'a-nagreement': the final n joins the start of agreement.
- The final t or d is barely said before the next consonant.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- In 'an agreement,' listen for 'a-nagreement': the final n joins the start of agreement.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- In 'an agreement,' listen for 'a-nagreement': the final n joins the start of agreement.
- The final t or d is barely said before the next consonant.
Listening 2 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
Read the transcript
Those invoices require an immediate signature.
Those is a demonstrative determiner pointing to specific plural items.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- In 'an immediate,' listen for 'a-nimmediate': the final n joins the start of immediate.
- In American English this t sounds like a quick, soft d.
- In American English this t sounds like a quick, soft d.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- In 'an immediate,' listen for 'a-nimmediate': the final n joins the start of immediate.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- In 'an immediate,' listen for 'a-nimmediate': the final n joins the start of immediate.
- In American English this t sounds like a quick, soft d.
- In American English this t sounds like a quick, soft d.
Try a longer clip. Listen once, then replay the part you missed.
Listening 3 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
Read the transcript
Our agency reviewed seven proposals yesterday afternoon. Some applicants sent extra samples, but which artist manages our campaign remains uncertain.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- In 'sent extra,' listen for 'sen-textra': the final t joins the start of extra.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- In 'sent extra,' listen for 'sen-textra': the final t joins the start of extra.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- In 'sent extra,' listen for 'sen-textra': the final t joins the start of extra.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
This clip is longer. Follow the instruction above the answer field.
Listening 4 of 4
Listen, then type the missing words. The rest of the text is already there.
0:00
Read the transcript
Every attendee will receive an information packet upon arrival. These official badges allow access into all seminar rooms across our facility. Which open presentation interests you most? If any session becomes full, our coordinators can reserve extra seating in another hall so everyone enjoys each afternoon lecture.
A variety of determiners structure reference, quantity, and questions in a spoken message.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- In 'an information,' listen for 'a-ninformation': the final n joins the start of information.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- In 'an information,' listen for 'a-ninformation': the final n joins the start of information.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- In 'an information,' listen for 'a-ninformation': the final n joins the start of information.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
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Save my progressStage 3 of 5
Speak
Say it with the speaker, then use it in your own answer.
Shadow
Say it along with the speaker
Every applicant must sign an agreement.
Play the line slowly, then speak at the same time as the speaker. Copy the rhythm, not just the words.
Your turn
Say it your way
Speak for 30 to 60 seconds from memory about a family trip to a zoo. Explain which animals you want to see, what each person enjoys, and how you will spend your day together.
Use: several each our
Think for ten seconds, then answer out loud for as long as the task above asks, without looking at the lesson. Nothing is sent unless you ask for feedback.
0:00
Hear how someone else might say it
We're planning to visit the zoo on Saturday. There are several animals I want to see, especially the elephants and monkeys. My sister loves birds, so we'll visit that part of the zoo too. We'll let each child choose one animal to visit first. I think our parents will enjoy the gardens near the entrance. We'll buy our tickets online and arrive early. After lunch, we can watch the staff feed the penguins. If everyone gets tired, we'll sit near the lake before going home.
Try once more and answer this: Which animal would you like to see first?
Stage 4 of 5
Write
Write about your own day or week using it, then write a message.
Write
Put it in your own words
- I used “several”.
- It is about my life, not the lesson’s example.
- I read it once aloud to check it sounds right.
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