Determiners in English
English grammar में Determiners बहुत महत्वपूर्ण topic है। हम बोलते और लिखते समय अक्सर ऐसे words का प्रयोग करते हैं जो noun के बारे में बताते हैं कि वह कौन-सा है, कितनी मात्रा में है, कितने हैं, किसका है या कितना specific है।
जैसे:
- a book
- the book
- this book
- my book
- some books
- many books
- each student
- every student
यहाँ a, the, this, my, some, many, each और every noun के बारे में additional information दे रहे हैं। इन्हें Determiners कहा जाता है।
What is a Determiner?
Determiner वह word है जो किसी noun के पहले आकर उस noun के बारे में quantity, number, possession, definiteness या identification जैसी जानकारी देता है।
सरल शब्दों में:
Determiner noun के पहले लगकर बताता है कि noun कौन-सा है, किसका है, कितने हैं या कितनी मात्रा है।
Examples:
- a boy
- the boy
- my boy
- this boy
- some boys
- many boys
इन सभी examples में determiner noun से पहले आया है।
Why Are Determiners Important?
Determiners sentence का meaning बदल सकते हैं।
Compare करें:
I saw a dog.
इसका अर्थ है कि मैंने कोई एक dog देखा, लेकिन कौन-सा dog था यह specific नहीं है।
I saw the dog.
अब बात एक particular dog की हो रही है, जिसे speaker और listener पहचानते हैं।
इसी तरह:
- my book → मेरी किताब
- this book → यह किताब
- some books → कुछ किताबें
- many books → बहुत-सी किताबें
- every book → प्रत्येक किताब
इसलिए English sentence को सही और स्पष्ट बनाने में determiners की बड़ी भूमिका होती है।
Main Types of Determiners
English में determiners को उनके function के आधार पर अलग-अलग categories में समझा जा सकता है।
मुख्य determiners हैं:
- Articles
- Demonstrative Determiners
- Possessive Determiners
- Quantifiers
- Distributive Determiners
- Interrogative Determiners
- Numbers
- Difference/Addition Determiners
- Other Common Determiners
अब इन्हें एक-एक करके समझते हैं।
1. Articles as Determiners
English में तीन articles होते हैं:
- a
- an
- the
इनका प्रयोग noun को introduce या identify करने के लिए किया जाता है।
A
A का प्रयोग सामान्यतः singular countable noun से पहले होता है, जब noun consonant sound से शुरू हो।
Examples:
- a boy
- a book
- a teacher
- a car
- a university
Example:
She has a book.
यहाँ book कोई specific book नहीं है।
An
An का प्रयोग singular countable noun से पहले vowel sound के पहले होता है।
Examples:
- an apple
- an egg
- an umbrella
- an elephant
- an hour
ध्यान रखें कि rule spelling पर नहीं बल्कि sound पर आधारित है।
an hour ✅
क्योंकि hour में h की sound नहीं आती।
लेकिन:
a university ✅
क्योंकि university की शुरुआत /yu/ sound से होती है।
The
The का प्रयोग किसी specific या already known noun के लिए किया जाता है।
Examples:
- the sun
- the moon
- the Earth
- the book on the table
- the teacher we met yesterday
Example:
I bought a book. The book is interesting.
पहली बार book के लिए a आया क्योंकि वह नया information है।
दूसरी बार उसी book की बात हो रही है, इसलिए the आया।
2. Demonstrative Determiners
Demonstrative determiners किसी व्यक्ति या वस्तु की ओर संकेत करते हैं।
मुख्य words:
- this
- that
- these
- those
This
This का प्रयोग singular noun के लिए किया जाता है, जो सामान्यतः पास हो।
- this book
- this boy
- this house
Example:
This book is useful.
That
That singular noun के लिए होता है, सामान्यतः किसी दूर की वस्तु या व्यक्ति के लिए।
- that car
- that building
- that boy
Example:
That house is beautiful.
These
These plural noun के लिए होता है।
- these books
- these students
- these flowers
Example:
These books are new.
Those
Those plural noun के लिए होता है।
- those boys
- those houses
- those cars
Example:
Those cars are expensive.
Quick Table
| Determiner | Number | Example |
|---|---|---|
| this | Singular | this book |
| that | Singular | that book |
| these | Plural | these books |
| those | Plural | those books |
याद रखने की आसान trick:
This / That → Singular
These / Those → Plural
3. Possessive Determiners
Possessive determiners बताते हैं कि कोई व्यक्ति या वस्तु किसकी है।
मुख्य possessive determiners:
- my
- your
- his
- her
- its
- our
- their
Examples:
- my book
- your house
- his car
- her bag
- its tail
- our school
- their teacher
Examples in Sentences
- My brother is a doctor.
- Your book is on the table.
- His car is new.
- Her dress is beautiful.
- Our school is nearby.
- Their house is large.
ध्यान दें कि possessive determiner के बाद noun आता है।
my book ✅
your pen ✅
their house ✅
Possessive Determiners vs Possessive Pronouns
यह distinction बहुत important है।
| Possessive Determiner | Possessive Pronoun |
|---|---|
| my | mine |
| your | yours |
| his | his |
| her | hers |
| our | ours |
| their | theirs |
Examples:
This is my book.
यहाँ my determiner है क्योंकि इसके बाद book noun आया है।
This book is mine.
यहाँ mine pronoun है और इसके बाद noun नहीं है।
इसी तरह:
That is her bag.
लेकिन:
That bag is hers.
4. Quantifiers
Quantifiers ऐसे determiners हैं जो noun की quantity या number बताते हैं।
Common quantifiers:
- some
- any
- much
- many
- little
- few
- several
- enough
- plenty of
- a lot of
- lots of
- all
- both
- no
Examples:
- some water
- many students
- much money
- few people
- little time
- several books
- enough food
Some
Some का प्रयोग affirmative sentences में countable plural और uncountable nouns के साथ किया जा सकता है।
Examples:
- some books
- some students
- some water
- some rice
Examples:
I bought some books.
There is some water in the bottle.
Questions में भी some आ सकता है, खासकर offer या request में।
- Would you like some tea?
- Could I have some water?
Any
Any का प्रयोग सामान्यतः negative और interrogative sentences में होता है।
Examples:
- I don’t have any money.
- There aren’t any students here.
- Do you have any questions?
- Is there any water?
Compare:
I have some money.
I don’t have any money.
Much
Much का प्रयोग uncountable nouns के साथ किया जाता है।
Examples:
- much water
- much money
- much time
- much information
- much knowledge
Example:
We don’t have much time.
How much money do you need?
Many
Many का प्रयोग plural countable nouns के साथ किया जाता है।
Examples:
- many books
- many students
- many people
- many questions
Examples:
There are many students in the classroom.
How many books do you have?
Much vs Many
यह exam में बहुत common question है।
Much → Uncountable
Many → Countable plural
| Much | Many |
|---|---|
| much water | many bottles |
| much money | many coins |
| much time | many hours |
| much information | many facts |
| much rice | many grains |
Few
Few का प्रयोग plural countable nouns के साथ होता है।
इसका अर्थ होता है बहुत कम।
Example:
Few students attended the class.
यहाँ meaning है कि students की संख्या बहुत कम थी।
A Few
A few का अर्थ है कुछ / थोड़े लेकिन पर्याप्त या कुछ मात्रा में।
Example:
I have a few friends in this city.
इसका अर्थ है कि मेरे कुछ friends हैं।
Difference
Few students passed the test.
→ बहुत कम students पास हुए।
A few students passed the test.
→ कुछ students पास हुए।
इस छोटे से a के कारण meaning में बड़ा difference आ जाता है।
Little
Little का प्रयोग uncountable nouns के साथ होता है और इसका अर्थ होता है बहुत कम।
Examples:
- little water
- little money
- little time
- little hope
Example:
There is little water in the tank.
A Little
A little का अर्थ है थोड़ी मात्रा।
Example:
There is a little water in the glass.
यहाँ कुछ water मौजूद है।
Little vs A Little
There is little water.
→ पानी बहुत कम है।
There is a little water.
→ थोड़ा पानी है।
Few vs Little
यह difference हमेशा याद रखें:
Few → Countable plural nouns
Little → Uncountable nouns
Examples:
- few books
- few students
- few questions
लेकिन:
- little water
- little money
- little time
Several
Several का अर्थ है कई / एक से अधिक लेकिन बहुत अधिक नहीं।
इसके बाद plural countable noun आता है।
Examples:
- several students
- several books
- several questions
- several days
Example:
I visited the city several times.
Enough
Enough का अर्थ है पर्याप्त मात्रा या संख्या।
यह countable और uncountable दोनों के साथ आ सकता है।
Examples:
- enough food
- enough water
- enough money
- enough books
- enough students
Examples:
We have enough food.
There are enough chairs for everyone.
Plenty of
Plenty of का अर्थ है पर्याप्त से अधिक या काफी मात्रा में।
यह countable और uncountable दोनों के साथ प्रयोग हो सकता है।
Examples:
- plenty of time
- plenty of money
- plenty of books
- plenty of opportunities
Example:
We have plenty of time to finish the work.
A Lot of and Lots of
A lot of और lots of का प्रयोग countable plural तथा uncountable nouns दोनों के साथ किया जा सकता है।
Examples:
- a lot of books
- a lot of students
- a lot of water
- a lot of money
Similarly:
- lots of people
- lots of information
- lots of opportunities
Examples:
She has a lot of books.
There is a lot of water in the tank.
5. Distributive Determiners
Distributive determiners किसी group के members को individually या separately refer करते हैं।
मुख्य words:
- each
- every
- either
- neither
Each
Each का अर्थ है प्रत्येक।
Each के बाद सामान्यतः singular countable noun और singular verb आता है।
Examples:
- each student
- each child
- each book
- each question
Examples:
Each student has a notebook.
Each child is special.
Important
Each students ❌
Each student ✅
Every
Every का अर्थ भी प्रत्येक/हर होता है, लेकिन इसका प्रयोग पूरे group को collectively consider करने के लिए किया जाता है।
Examples:
- every student
- every day
- every child
- every question
Examples:
Every student must attend the class.
I go for a walk every morning.
Every के बाद भी singular countable noun आता है।
Every student ✅
Every students ❌
Each vs Every
दोनों का अर्थ कई situations में similar हो सकता है, लेकिन focus अलग हो सकता है।
Each → individuals पर अधिक focus
Every → पूरे group पर general sense में focus
Example:
Each student received a certificate.
यहाँ students को individually देखा गया है।
Every student must follow the rules.
यहाँ पूरी group के लिए general rule बताया गया है।
Either
Either का अर्थ है दो में से कोई एक।
Examples:
- either book
- either side
- either answer
- either option
Example:
You can choose either option.
अर्थ: दोनों options में से कोई एक।
Neither
Neither का अर्थ है दोनों में से कोई भी नहीं।
Examples:
- neither answer
- neither student
- neither option
Example:
Neither answer is correct.
अर्थ: दोनों answers में से कोई भी correct नहीं है।
Either and Neither
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| either | two में से कोई एक |
| neither | two में से कोई भी नहीं |
Example:
Either road will take you to the city.
Neither road is safe.
6. Interrogative Determiners
जब किसी noun के बारे में question पूछा जाता है, तो कुछ interrogative words determiner की तरह काम करते हैं।
मुख्य words:
- which
- what
- whose
Which
Which का प्रयोग किसी limited group में choice पूछने के लिए किया जाता है।
Examples:
- Which book do you want?
- Which colour do you like?
- Which student is absent?
- Which subject is your favourite?
What
What का प्रयोग general information पूछने के लिए होता है।
Examples:
- What book are you reading?
- What subject do you like?
- What colour do you want?
- What time is the meeting?
Whose
Whose ownership या possession पूछता है।
Examples:
- Whose book is this?
- Whose pen is on the table?
- Whose car is outside?
ध्यान दें:
Whose और Who’s अलग हैं।
Whose → किसका
Who’s → who is / who has
Example:
Whose bag is this?
Who’s coming with us?
7. Numbers as Determiners
Numbers भी noun के बारे में quantity या number बताते हैं और noun के पहले determiner की तरह काम कर सकते हैं।
Examples:
- one student
- two books
- five apples
- ten teachers
- twenty students
Cardinal Numbers
Cardinal numbers quantity बताते हैं:
- one
- two
- three
- four
- five
Examples:
Three students are absent.
I bought five books.
Ordinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers position या order बताते हैं:
- first
- second
- third
- fourth
- fifth
Examples:
- the first chapter
- the second question
- the third floor
- the fifth student
8. Difference and Addition Determiners
कुछ words noun में difference या addition का sense देते हैं।
Common examples:
- another
- other
- the other
- others
Another
Another का अर्थ है एक और / कोई दूसरा।
यह सामान्यतः singular countable noun के साथ प्रयोग होता है।
Examples:
- another book
- another chance
- another day
- another student
Example:
Please give me another chance.
Other
Other का अर्थ है अन्य / दूसरे।
यह plural countable या uncountable nouns के साथ आ सकता है।
Examples:
- other students
- other books
- other people
- other information
Examples:
Other students agreed with me.
Do you need any other information?
The Other
The other का अर्थ होता है किसी known set में बचा हुआ दूसरा।
Example:
I have two pens. One is blue and the other is black.
यहाँ दो pens में से पहले एक और फिर दूसरा बताया गया है।
Other vs Another
यह बहुत important distinction है।
Another → एक और / additional one
Other → दूसरे / अतिरिक्त
Examples:
I need another pen.
→ मुझे एक और pen चाहिए।
I need other pens.
→ मुझे दूसरे pens चाहिए।
9. All
All का अर्थ है सभी / पूरा।
यह plural countable और uncountable nouns दोनों के साथ आ सकता है।
Examples:
- all students
- all books
- all people
- all water
Examples:
All students must attend the exam.
All the information is useful.
Both
Both का अर्थ है दोनों।
यह दो लोगों या वस्तुओं के लिए प्रयोग किया जाता है।
Examples:
- both students
- both books
- both answers
- both options
Example:
Both answers are correct.
ध्यान दें:
Both student ❌
Both students ✅
No
No का अर्थ है कोई नहीं / बिल्कुल नहीं।
यह countable और uncountable दोनों nouns के साथ प्रयोग किया जा सकता है।
Examples:
- no student
- no students
- no money
- no water
- no information
Examples:
There is no water in the bottle.
No students were absent.
Determiners with Countable and Uncountable Nouns
यह topic determiners समझने के लिए बहुत important है।
| Determiner | Countable | Uncountable |
|---|---|---|
| many | ✅ | ❌ |
| much | ❌ | ✅ |
| few | ✅ | ❌ |
| little | ❌ | ✅ |
| several | ✅ | ❌ |
| some | ✅ | ✅ |
| any | ✅ | ✅ |
| enough | ✅ | ✅ |
| plenty of | ✅ | ✅ |
| a lot of | ✅ | ✅ |
| all | ✅ | ✅ |
| no | ✅ | ✅ |
Examples:
many books ✅
much water ✅
few students ✅
little money ✅
लेकिन:
much books ❌
many water ❌
few money ❌
little students ❌
Determiner Order
एक noun phrase में हमेशा कई determiners को अपनी इच्छा से एक साथ नहीं लगाया जा सकता।
उदाहरण:
my book ✅
this book ✅
some books ✅
लेकिन:
this my book ❌
my this book ❌
सामान्य तौर पर एक noun phrase में determiner selection context और grammar पर निर्भर करता है।
उदाहरण:
my book
the book
this book
some books
each student
इनको अलग-अलग structures की तरह समझना बेहतर है, बजाय इसके कि सभी determiners को एक साथ लगाने की कोशिश की जाए।
Determiner and Adjective: Difference
Determiner और adjective दोनों noun के पहले आ सकते हैं, लेकिन दोनों का काम अलग है।
Example:
This beautiful book is useful.
यहाँ:
- This → determiner
- beautiful → adjective
- book → noun
Determiner noun को identify या quantify करता है।
Adjective noun की quality या characteristic बताता है।
Compare:
this book
→ कौन-सी book? यह book
beautiful book
→ कैसी book? सुंदर book
these beautiful books
→ ये सुंदर books
Determiner and Pronoun: Important Difference
कुछ words determiner और pronoun दोनों की तरह इस्तेमाल हो सकते हैं, depending on their position.
Example:
Some students are absent.
यहाँ some determiner है क्योंकि इसके बाद students noun है।
लेकिन:
Some are absent.
यहाँ some pronoun की तरह काम कर रहा है क्योंकि इसके बाद noun नहीं है।
इसी तरह:
These books are mine.
यहाँ these determiner है।
These are mine.
यहाँ these pronoun है।
Common Errors in Determiners
Error 1: Every + Plural Noun
Every students are present. ❌
Correct:
Every student is present. ✅
Error 2: Each + Plural Noun
Each students has a book. ❌
Correct:
Each student has a book. ✅
Error 3: Much + Countable Noun
Much books are available. ❌
Correct:
Many books are available. ✅
Error 4: Many + Uncountable Noun
Many water is wasted. ❌
Correct:
Much water is wasted. ✅
Error 5: Few + Uncountable Noun
Few money is left. ❌
Correct:
Little money is left. ✅
Error 6: Little + Countable Noun
Little students attended the class. ❌
Correct:
Few students attended the class. ✅
Error 7: One of + Singular Noun
One of my friend is here. ❌
Correct:
One of my friends is here. ✅
Error 8: Another + Plural Noun
I need another books. ❌
Correct:
I need another book. ✅
अगर plural quantity बतानी है:
I need some other books. ✅
Common Exam Confusions
Few vs A Few
Few → बहुत कम
A few → कुछ
Little vs A Little
Little → बहुत कम
A little → थोड़ी मात्रा
Much vs Many
Much → uncountable
Many → plural countable
Some vs Any
Some → generally affirmative
Any → generally negative/interrogative
Each vs Every
Each → individual members पर focus
Every → group के प्रत्येक member पर general sense
Either vs Neither
Either → दो में से कोई एक
Neither → दोनों में से कोई भी नहीं
Another vs Other
Another → एक और
Other → दूसरे/अन्य
How to Identify a Determiner in a Sentence?
Determiner पहचानने के लिए noun को खोजें और देखें कि उसके पहले कौन-सा word noun की number, quantity, identity या possession बता रहा है।
Example:
These three students completed their homework.
यहाँ:
- These → determiner
- three → number/determiner
- students → noun
- their → possessive determiner
- homework → noun
एक ही sentence में अलग-अलग noun phrases के साथ multiple determiners हो सकते हैं।
Determiners in Daily English
Determiners केवल exams के लिए important नहीं हैं। Daily English में भी इनका बहुत ज्यादा उपयोग होता है।
हम कहते हैं:
- I need some water.
- Give me that book.
- My brother is a teacher.
- Every student should study.
- I have many friends.
- There isn’t much time.
- These books are useful.
- Do you have any questions?
- She bought a new dress.
- The train has arrived.
इसलिए determiners को अच्छी तरह समझना spoken और written English दोनों के लिए useful है।
Practice Questions on Determiners
Question 1
Choose the correct option:
There are ______ students in the classroom.
A. much
B. many
C. little
D. any
Answer: B. many
Question 2
Choose the correct option:
I don’t have ______ money.
A. many
B. few
C. much
D. several
Answer: C. much
Question 3
Choose the correct sentence.
A. Every students is ready.
B. Every student are ready.
C. Every student is ready.
D. Every students are ready.
Answer: C. Every student is ready.
Question 4
There is ______ water in the bottle.
A. many
B. a few
C. few
D. a little
Answer: D. a little
Question 5
I have ______ friends in this city.
A. a little
B. a few
C. much
D. little
Answer: B. a few
Question 6
______ of the two answers is correct.
A. Neither
B. Every
C. Much
D. Several
Answer: A. Neither
Question 7
______ students were absent today.
A. Much
B. Little
C. Several
D. A little
Answer: C. Several
Question 8
I need ______ information about the course.
A. many
B. some
C. few
D. several
Answer: B. some
Question 9
______ book is yours?
A. Which
B. Many
C. Few
D. Several
Answer: A. Which
Question 10
This is ______ interesting book.
A. a
B. an
C. some
D. many
Answer: B. an
Question 11
______ students have submitted their assignments.
A. All
B. Much
C. Little
D. Any
Answer: A. All
Question 12
I have two pens. One is blue and ______ is black.
A. another
B. other
C. the other
D. others
Answer: C. the other
Determiners: Quick Revision Chart
| Determiner | Main Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| a/an | one, non-specific singular noun | a book |
| the | specific noun | the book |
| this | near, singular | this book |
| that | distant, singular | that book |
| these | near, plural | these books |
| those | distant, plural | those books |
| my | possession | my book |
| your | possession | your pen |
| some | indefinite quantity | some water |
| any | questions/negative | any money |
| much | uncountable | much time |
| many | plural countable | many students |
| little | small amount | little water |
| a little | some amount | a little water |
| few | small number | few students |
| a few | some number | a few students |
| several | more than two, not many | several books |
| enough | sufficient quantity | enough food |
| each | every individual | each student |
| every | all members individually | every student |
| either | one of two | either option |
| neither | none of two | neither option |
| both | two together | both students |
| all | entire quantity/group | all students |
| no | zero quantity/number | no students |
| another | one more | another book |
| other | different/additional | other books |
| which | choice | which book |
| what | information | what subject |
| whose | possession question | whose bag |
Final Takeaway
Determiners English grammar का एक ऐसा topic है जो छोटे words के माध्यम से sentence का meaning काफी हद तक स्पष्ट करता है।
अगर आपको यह समझना है कि कौन-सी चीज, कितनी चीजें, कितनी मात्रा, किसकी चीज, कौन-सी चीज या group में से कितने लोग/वस्तुएँ हैं, तो determiner का सही प्रयोग जरूरी है।
सबसे पहले इन important groups को अच्छी तरह समझें:
Articles: a, an, the
Demonstratives: this, that, these, those
Possessives: my, your, his, her, its, our, their
Quantifiers: some, any, much, many, little, few, several, enough, all, both
Distributives: each, every, either, neither
Interrogatives: which, what, whose
Others: another, other, no, plenty of, a lot of
Determiners में सबसे ज्यादा mistakes अक्सर much/many, few/little, a few/a little, each/every, some/any, either/neither और another/other में होती हैं। इसलिए इन pairs को examples के साथ समझना और sentences में practice करना सबसे effective तरीका है।
एक बार इन rules और common exceptions की practice हो जाए, तो English में sentence formation, error detection, fill in the blanks और competitive-exam grammar questions को solve करना काफी आसान हो जाता है।