NCERT Solutions Class 11th English Grammar Determiners
| Textbook | NCERT/CBSE |
| Class | Class 11th |
| Subject | English |
| Chapter | English Grammar |
| Chapter Name | Determiners |
| Category | Class 11th English Grammar With Answers |
| Medium | English |
| Source | Last Doubt |
NCERT Solutions Class 11th English Grammar Determiners
?English Grammar?
✍Determiners✍
?English Grammar With Answers?
Study the sentences given below:
I saw a juggler yesterday.
My uncle is an officer in the army.
This car is very comfortable.
Some pictures are really fine.
Have you any complaint against me?
She is blind in one eye.
In the above sentences, a, an, the, this, my, some, any, and one are words which mark the subsequent arrival of a noun. Each of them modifies the noun which follows it. Such words are called Determiners or Fixing words as they fix the Nouns that follow them.
Here is a tentative list of the most frequently used Determiners:
(a) a, an, the (Article Determiners)
(b) this, that, these, those (Demonstrative Determiners)
(c) my, our, your, his, her, its, their, one’s (Possessive Determiners)
(d) one, two, three, etc. (Definite Numerical Determiners)
(e) some, any, no; all, both; much, many; few, less, several, little (Indefinite Numeral Determiners)
(f) each, every, either, neither (Distributive Numeral Determiners)
USE OF SOME COMMON DETERMINERS
(a) A, An, The [Article Determiners]
‘A’ and ‘ah’ are used before countable singular nouns. A’ is used before a word beginning with a consonant sound, while ‘an’ is used before words with a vowel sound as—
A hen laid an egg yesterday.
An elephant killed a boy.
She wants to be a painter.
I saw a boy reading a book.
It is not a crow. It is an owl.
‘The’ is a weakened form of ‘that’.
‘The’ is used to particularise a person or a thing as—
Call the boy (who is) waiting outside.
The apples in that basket are quite fresh.
Bring me the purse I gave you.
I reached the school late.
The girl who stood first was given a prize.
(b) This, That, These, Those [Demonstrative Determiners]
I. That (in case of plural, those)
(a) It is used to avoid the repetition of the preceding noun(s). e.g.
- My bat is better than that of my friend.
- Our soldiers are better equipped than those of Pakistan.
(b) It refers to person(s) or thing(s) far from the speaker, e.g.
- Get that dog out of here.
- Those houses are for sale.
II. This (in case of plural, these)
(a) It refers to persons or thing(s) near the speaker, e.g.
- This book is very interesting.
- These flowers are very beautiful.
(c) My, Our, Your, His, Her, Its, Their, One’s [Possessive Determiners]
These are Possessive forms of Pronouns. They are used before Singular and Plural Nouns to indicate relationship/possession; as—
My mother is a teacher.
Our school has fifty rooms.
Your father is calling you.
His bag contains many objects.
Her books lie scattered in the room.
Their house is double-storeyed.
One must do one’s duty.
(d) One, Two, Three, etc. [Definite Numeral Determiners]
These indicate a definite number of objects/persons; as—
The beggar is blind of one eye.
She has two daughters
Five boys are sitting on that bench.
Note. ‘Ordinal numbers’ like ‘first’, ‘second’, “third’, … etc. refer to the position of something in a series; as—
The girl in the third row is my cousin.
The man in the first room is our warden.
(e) (i) Some, Any and No [Indefinite Numeral Determiners]
Some is generally used in affirmative sentences.
No, and Any are used in negative and interrogative sentences; as—
There is no post office in this colony.
I have no friends in our class.
We have invited some T.V. anchors to the show.
There is still some milk in the jug.
There isn’t any sugar in the pot.
Have you any books on western music?
Study the use of some’ and ‘Any’ in the following contexts: ‘Some’ may be used in questions indicating request or invitation; as—
Will you have some tea?
Will you spend some days with us?
Won’t you spare some time for me?
Didn’t I lend you some money yesterday?
‘Any’ is used in interrogative sentences to make an inquiry, as—
Is there any news?
Has the postman brought any letters for me?
Didn’t you buy anything from the general store?
Note:
1. We use ‘any’ after ‘hardly’, ‘barely’ and ‘scarcely’ (adverbs with negative meanings); as—
He has hardly any money on him.
There is hardly any sugar in the house.
She has barely any beautiful dress.
He has scarcely any friend in this new city.
2. In case there is Some doubt, we use ‘any’ after ‘ if ’; as—
If you need any help, press this button.
If you face any difficulty, don’t hesitate to seek my help.
3. ‘Some’ with a countable plural noun indicates an unknown or indefinite number while with an uncountable noun, some means an indefinite quantity; as—
Some boys were hurt in the bus accident (number)
Some persons always speak ill of others. (number)
I bought a note-book and some paper. (quantity)
He wants a pen and some ink. (quantity)
(e) (ii) All and Both [Indefinite Numeral Determiners]
‘All’ denotes the total of many units together while ‘Both’ shows the total of two units together; as—
She gave me all the apples.
All the boys are playing now.
Both Ajay and Vijay are fine cricketers.
Both father and mother are at home.
Note:
1. ‘The’ is used after ‘All’ and ‘Both’ but ‘before’ ‘whole’
All the girls are present in the class.
Both friends refused to part.
The whole village was ruined in the fire.
2. ‘All’ is used with both countable and uncountable nouns; as—
All my books have been tom.
All the milk turned sour.
(e) (iii) Much and Many [Indefinite Numeral Determiners]
‘Many’ shows the number and is used
1. In interrogative and negative sentences:
Did you see many persons at dinner?
She has not solved many sums.
2. as the subject or part of the subject:
Many have been respected and admired.
Many of us went to see a famous actor.
3. In the expressions—a good many, a great many, so many, too many, how many, as many, many a; as—
I have known her for a great many years.
Even if one person is hurt that is one too many.
Many a good man has been destroyed by drink.
In all other cases, replace many by ‘a lot of ‘a great number’, ‘ plenty of ’; as—
Have you read many books?
Yes, I have read a lot of books.
No, I haven’t read a great number of books.
Much’ shows quantity and is used in the same way as ‘many’. ‘Much’ can be replaced by ‘a lot of’ ‘a great deal of and ‘plenty of’; as—
Does your cow give much milk?
Yes, she gives a lot of milk.
No, she doesn’t give a great deal of milk.
Note:
Many is followed by a plural number while, many a takes singular number after it.
The verb agrees with the noun placed before it; as—
Many Problems have come up suddenly.
Many a flower is born to blush unseen.
(e) (iv) Few, Less and Several [Indefinite Numeral Determiners]
“Few’ is the opposite of ‘Many’ and ‘Less’ is the opposite of ‘Much’. Few denotes a number, while ‘Less’ denotes quantity. ‘Several’ means ‘more than two but not many.’
We have few holidays during this term.
A few persons attended the meeting.
She pays less attention to her children.
Several letters arrived this morning.
They said goodbye and went their several ways. (different)
(e) (v) Little and Few [Indefinite Numeral Determiners]
‘Little’ means not much, hardly any.
‘Few’ means not many, hardly any.
1. In other words, ‘Little’ and ‘Few’ mean practically nothing. ‘Little’ is used with singular countable nouns while ‘Few’ is used with plural countable nouns; as—
There is little water in the pot. (hardly any)
There are few buses running.
He had little money.
I have few friends.
There was little hope of her recovery.
Few women can keep a secret.
2. ‘A little’ and ‘A few’ make a positive sense, A little means some quantity though not much, while ‘A few’ indicates a certain number, though not many; as—
I shall return the money in a few days. (= some)
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. (some but not much)
She has a little money left. (some, but small amount)
He has a few books of his own. (some, but not many)
3. ‘The little’ and ‘The few’ imply two statements—One negative and the other affirmative.
She wasted the little money she had.
We lost the little hope of her recovery.
I have read the few books I had.
She spent the few rupees her mother gave her.
(f) Each, Every, Either and Neither [Distributive Numerals]
‘Each’ is used for two or more persons (definite) while ‘every’ is used for more than two persons or things, (indefinite). ‘Either’ means ‘anyone of the two’, ‘Neither’ means ‘not any one of the two’; as—
Each student has a book of his own.
Each person must take his turn.
I play hockey every day.
India expects every man to do his best.
Either book will do.
I have two pens. You may have either.
Take either road whichever you prefer.
Neither statement is true.
Neither party was willing to quit.
EXERCISE 1 (Solved)
Study the following sentences and check whether ‘a’, ‘an’ or ‘the’ are properly used or not. Write ‘no error’ for the correct sentences and suggest corrections for the incorrect sentences.
1. I have two sisters and a brother; my brother has the son; that makes me an uncle.
2. Would you like orange? Or would you prefer a banana? We also have strawberries.
3. Let’s go and see the movie. It’s an adventure film that I have really been wanting to see.
4. Is there an Internet cafe around here? I need to send an important e-mail.
5. My parents took an amazing trip to Manali last year-they even climbed a mountain near Kulu.
?♂️Answer:
1. I have two sisters and a brother; my brother has a son; that makes me an unc|e.
2. Would you like an orange? Or would you prefer a banana? We also have strawberries.
3. No error
4. Is there an Internet cafe around here? I need to send an important e-mail.
5. My parents took an amazing trip to Manali last year – they even climbed a mountain near Kulu.
EXERCISE 2 (Solved)
Fill in the blanks using this, that, these, or those.
1. ………….. is my wife.
2. Could you bring me a book ……………. I left in the garden?
3. Many parents complain about their childhood days.
4. The jeans you have bought today are better than you bought last month.
?♂️Answer:
1. This
2. that
3. these
4. those
EXERCISE 3 (Solved)
Fill in the blanks with Numeral Determiners—one, two, some, any, little, few, all, both, much, many, several, etc.:
1. How ………….. money do you want?
2. Have you read ………….. stories?
3. I have read………….. short stories in Hindi but only ………….. in English.
4. I read the letter again and noticed that there were………….. mistakes in it.
5. How ………….. milk do you take every day?
6. There are………….. countries in the world where the population is not growing fast.
7. Would you lend me your watch for ………….. days?
8. Do you have …………. complaint against the clerk?
9. There are ………….. eggs in the basket, but there isn’t ………….. butter.
10. ………….. care could have prevented the accident.
11. ………….. of the boys has broken this window pane.
12. I have already spent the ………….. rupees you gave me.
13. ………….. the husband and wife are members of this club.
14. ………….. the customers insisted that the shopkeeper must provide them full measure.
15. The story was published in ………….. the local newspapers.
?♂️Answer:
1. much
2. many/some
3. many/a lot of; few/some
4. many
5. much
6. a few
7. some/a few
8. any
9. some, any
10. A little
11. one
12. few
13. Both
14. All
15. all
EXERCISE 4 (Solved)
Fill in the blanks with suitable determiners:
1. There was ………….. accident near …………. central market this morning. ………….. car hit ………….. scooter and ………….. man on ………….. scooter was killed.
2. …………..postman put ………….. letter under ………….. front door just ………….. hour after you had left.
3. A cup of tea may seem ………….. ordinary thing to ………….. of us in India. But drinking tea is ………….. ritual which is taken very seriously in ………….. Japanese homes.
4. ………….. king fought bravely but he was defeated by ………….. enemies. ………….. defeated warrior left ………….. battlefield and hid in ………….. is cave.
5. ………….. people came to ………….. site where the revolutionary general was to be hanged. When asked if he had ………….. desire, ………….. smile ran on ………….. dry Ups and he nodded his head.
6. It was ………….. grand occasion for ………….. children ………….. of them had won prizes and ………….. parents felt proud ………….. of them introduced their parents to their teachers.
7. Game hunting was ………….. favourite pastime of ………….. officers of ………….. British Raj. This resulted in decrease in ………….. number of animals in ………….. wild. Recent environmental degradation and destruction of natural habitats of wild animals have pushed them to ………….. brink of extinction.
?♂️Answer:
1. an, the, A, a, the, the
2. The, a, the, an
3. an, some, a, many
4. The, his, The, the, a
5. Many, the, any, a, his
6. a, many, some, their, Some/A few
7. a, the, the, the, the, the.
EXERCISE 5 (Solved)
Complete the following dialogues using suitable determiners:
1. Ruchika: want some sugar
Shopkeeper: …………………………………………………………..?
2. Ruchika: I require 10 kg.
Shopkeeper: Sorry, I don’t have ………………………………..
3. Ruchika: Then, you may give a little less.
Shopkeeper: There …………………………………………………………..
4. Ruchika: OK, then give me. …………………………….
Shopkeeper: I’ll give you the little quantity I’ve got.
5. Ruchika: Please give me some vegetable oil.
Shopkeeper: …………………………………………………………..?
6. Ruchika: I need only 5 kg.
Shopkeeper: You may have ………………………………..
7. Ruchika: I think 5 kg will be enough for ………………………………..
Shopkeeper: By the way, ……………………………….. are there in your family?
8. Ruchika: ……………………………….. Only I and my mom.
Shopkeeper: ……………………………….., madam?
9. Ruchika: I think, I will have potato chips/wafers
Shopkeeper: …………………………….. fresh arrivals over there.
10. Ruchika: …………………………….. money should I pay?
Shopkeeper: Two hundred rupees only.
?♂️Answer:
1. How many kgs do you want?
2. ………….. that much in stock
3. (There) is hardly 4 kg left.
4. ………….. as much as you can
5. How much do you need?
6. ………….. as much as you like
7. the whole month, how many members
8. ………….. Not many, anything else.
9. ………….. a few packs of, There are some
10. How much …………..
EXERCISE 6 (Solved)
1. Fill in the blanks with suitable determiners: (a, an, the, some, yours, much, etc.)
Two friends meet in their school canteen. They are going to have their lunch.
Namit: You can share my lunch and I’ll share (a) ……………………..
Vipul: Oh, that’ll be nice. I’ll have (b) ………………… good things to eat.
Namit: I’m afraid. I don’t have (c) ……………………. . to eat. There are only two sandwiches and (d) ……………………. . apple. Here’s your sandwich. And you can take half (e) ……………………. apple.
Vipul: Thanks. They look delicious. I have four puries and some pickles.
We can have two puries each. And we will order for (f) …………………… . drink. What would you like tea or coffee?
Namit: I’ll have tea.
Vipul: So shall I.
2. Complete the following passage by filling in suitable determiners:
My aunt lived on (a) ………………….. ground floor of (b) ………………….. old house on (c) ………………….. river Thames. She was afraid of burglars and always locked up (d) ………………….. house carefully before going to bed. She also took the precaution of looking under (e) ………………….. bed to see if (f) ………………….. burglar was hiding there.
3. Fill in the blanks with suitable determiners:
(a) …………………. abbreviation is (b)…………………. shortened form of (c)…………………. word or a group of words. It is used to save time and space (d)…………………. abbreviations are also used while speaking. Most of (e)…………………. dictionaries include (f)…………………. list of commonly used abbreviations.
4. Complete the passage with suitable determiners:
My friend lived on (a)…………………. first floor of (b) …………………. recently renovated old house on (c) …………………. river Beas. She was afraid of burglars and always locked up (d) house carefully before going to bed. She also took the precaution of looking under (e)…………………. bed to see if (f) …………………. burglar was hiding there.
5. Complete the following passage with suitable determiners:
I have met (a) …………………. people in my life but (b) …………………. man who has influenced me (c) …………………. most is Mother Teresa. To me she has been (d) …………………. symbol of true religion (e) …………………. people can do what she has done. If we adopt (f) …………………. ideology, the world would become a better place to live in.
6. Fill in the blanks with determiners:
(a) …………………. entire polling station seemed to be (b) …………………. huge mass of humanity. It was (c) …………………. public holiday (d) …………………. old man insisted on talking to (e)…………………. polling officer. He refused to show (f)…………………. identity slip.
7. Complete the following passage with suitable determiners:
All religions have (a) …………………. common goal. (b) …………………. religion when followed faithfully, leads to God. (c) …………………. should be free to follow (d) …………………. faith one believes in. There should not be (e) …………………. compulsion. Tolerance should be (f) …………………. guiding principle.
8. Complete the following passage with suitable determiners:
Our Principal is (a) …………………. man of honesty and integrity. He does not accept (b) …………………. gifts from students, teachers or parents. On (c) …………………. occasion of (d)…………………. Children’s Day, he was rewarded (e)…………………. students for (f)…………………. honesty.
9. Fill in the blanks with suitable determiners:
In my childhood, the teacher never appeared in public without (a) …………………. cane in hand. I used to think that one’s guru was born clutching (b) …………………. cane in his right hand while (c) …………………. left held (d)…………………. pinch of snuff between (e)…………………. thumb and forefinger. He took (f) …………………. deep inhalation before proceeding to fluck the cane on my body.
10. Fill in the blanks with suitable determiners:
(a) There are (i) …………………. broken chairs in (ii) …………………. farthest corner of (iii) …………………. room.
(b) There is (i) …………………. egg on this plate and (ii) …………………. dirty marks on (iii) …………………. table cloth.
?♂️Answer:
I. ERROR CORRECTION
EXERCISE 7 (Solved)
Each of the following sentences in this exercise has an underlined word and three words are given after the sentence. If one of the given words makes the sentence grammatically correct, select the word as your answer. If the sentence is grammatically correct as it is, choose option (d) i.e. No correction.
1. Navin bought the books and put it is those bag.
(a) them, those
(b) its, that
(c) them, that
(d) No correction
?♂️Answer:
(c) them, that
2. One should be true to his word.
(a) One, one
(b) One’s, one
(c) One, one’s
(d) No correction
?♂️Answer:
(c) One, one’s
3. Book I read last week was a interesting one.
(a) A book, an
(b) The Book, an
(c) These book, an
(d) No correction
?♂️Answer:
(b) The Book, an
4. He is the same man who always likes to boast of his bravery.
(a) a, his
(b) a, him
(c) the, one’s
(d) No correction
?♂️Answer:
(d) No correction
5. The bus was hired by ladies for its picnic.
(a) a ladies, their
(b) the ladies, there
(c) the ladies, their
(d) No correction
?♂️Answer:
(c) the ladies, their
6. It’s very easy. Another child can do it.
(a) Any
(b) Other
(c) Many
(d) No correction
?♂️Answer:
(a) Any
7. I spoke to Vikram, Shashi and the few another friends.
(a) a, others
(b) a, other
(c) an, other
(d) No correction
?♂️Answer:
(b) a, other
8. Whoever coat is this?
(a) Who, these
(b) Whose, these
(c) Whose, this
(d) No correction
?♂️Answer:
(c) Whose, this
9. Thank you very much for yours letter.
(a) your
(b) your’s
(c) yours’
(d) No correction
?♂️Answer:
(a) your
10 We went to see Taj Mahal is ours vacations.
(a) a Taj Mahal, our
(b) the Taj Mahal, our’s
(c) the Taj Mahal, our
(d) No correction
?♂️Answer:
(c) the Taj Mahal, our
11. The woman has the right to a career.
(a) The, the
(b) A, the
(c) A, a
(d) No correction
?♂️Answer:
(c) A, a
12. Would you like an glass of wine?
(a) other
(b) the
(c) another
(d) No correction
?♂️Answer:
(c) another
13. I did’t go with neither Savita or Kavita.
(a) or
(b) either
(c) a
(d) No correction
?♂️Answer:
(b) either
14. The second’s book in the row is my.
(a) second, the, mine
(b) second, a, mine
(c) seconds, the, mine
(d) No correction
?♂️Answer:
(a) second, the, mine
15. I think a rich should pay much taxes.
(a) the, much
(b) the, more
(c) a, more
(d) No correction
?♂️Answer:
(b) the, more
16. I do fewer work at weekends than I used to.
(a) few
(b) less
(c) least
(d) No correction
?♂️Answer:
(b) less
17. Nupur was wearing a blue shoes at the party.
(a) an blue shoes, the
(b) blue shoes, an
(c) blue shoes, the
(d) No correction
?♂️Answer:
(c) blue shoes, the
18. Pandas eat only one specific type of bamboo.
(a) one’s
(b) an
(c) the
(d) No correction
?♂️Answer:
(d) No correction
19. She worked as an waitress to help pay for these course.
(a) a, this
(b) the, this
(c) a, these
(d) No correction
?♂️Answer:
(a) a. this
20. Rohan has been the KKR fan for much years now.
(a) a, many
(b) an, many
(c) a, most
(d) No correction
?♂️Answer:
(a) a, many
II. EDITING TASK
(i) ERROR CORRECTION
EXERCISE 8 (Solved)
The following passage has not been edited. There is an error relating to determiners in each line. Write the incorrect word and the correction in your answer sheet as given below. Remember to underline the word that you have supplied.
(ii) OMISSIONS
EXERCISE 9 (Solved)
In the following passage, one word (determiner) has been omitted in each line. Write the missing word along with the word that comes before and the word that comes after it in your answer sheet. Ensure that the word that forms your answer is underlined as shown below:
(iii) REORDERING OF SENTENCES
EXERCISE 16 (Solved)
Rearrange the parts of the sentence in correct order.
1. P : were flying about
Q : with delight
R : the birds
S : and twittering
(a) RPSQ
(b) RPQS
(c) SQRP
(d) SPRQ
?♂️Answer:
(a) RPSQ
2. P : all animals have
Q : sensation but some
R : have memory
S : animals do not
(a) PRQS
(b) PQSR
(c) SRPQ
(d) PRSQ
?♂️Answer:
(b) PQSR
3. P : saw
Q : he
R : a most
S : wonderful sight
(a) PQRS
(b) QPSR
(c) QPRS
(d) SRQP
?♂️Answer:
(c) OPRS
4. P : one of the
Q : lemons are
R : most powerful
S : natural styptics
(a) QPSR
(b) QPRS
(c) PQRS
(d) SRQP
?♂️Answer:
(b) QPRS
5. P : requires the
Q : raising of incomes and
R : making food affordable
S : attaining a long-term food security
(a) SPRQ
(b) PRQS
(c) RQSP
(d) SPQR
?♂️Answer:
(d) SPQR
6. P : always provided
Q: cities have
R : and educational leadership
S : intellectual stimulus
(a) QSPR
(b) PRSQ
(c) QPSR
(d) PQRS
?♂️Answer:
(c) QPSR
7. P : the invention of the turbine by l
Q : Frank Whittle in England and Hans Von Ohain
R : the beginning of jet transport
S : in Germany in 1939 signalled
(a) PQSR
(b) PQRS
(c) SQRP
(d) SRQP
?♂️Answer:
(a) PQSR
8. P : lemon is a
Q : for anyone
R : useful tonic
S : with heart problems
(a) PQRS
(b) SQPR
(c) PRQS
(d) SRPQ
?♂️Answer:
(c) PROS
9. P : of lemon
Q : encourages the
R : high potassium content
S : heart action
(a) RQSP
(b) RQPS
(c) RPQS
(d) SPQR
?♂️Answer:
(c) RPQS
10. P : it is
Q : excellent for
R : halting the
S : progression of infections
(a) PQRS
(b) PSRQ
(c) SRQP
(d) PSQR
?♂️Answer:
(a) PQRS