1. Determinatives: definition
The term determinative (det) refers to the type of words that realise the function (e.g. articles,
demonstratives, possessives, distributives, quantifiers) of determiner (d) in the NP.
2. At the semantic level, what do determinatives express?
Determinatives express the different features the speaker chooses to select and particularise
and so help to identify the noun referent within the context of discourse
3. Difference between determiner and determinative.
A determiner is described as the first element of the nominal group and it particularises by
‘selection’ and which is realised by determinatives.
4. Types and subtypes of determinatives according to Downing & Locke (2006).
There are four main types of selection:
(1) defining and particularising: definite, indefinite, demonstrative, possessive, interrogative /
relative, exclamative
(2) quantifying and distributing: fractional, multiplying, non-exact, other quantifiers,
distributives
(3) numbering and ordering: cardinal, ordinal
(4) semi-determinatives
5. Can we combine determiners freely? Justify your answer and give examples.
They can only be combined with a particular order and cannot be place side by side in most
cases, since it would not make sense.
Example of a correct combination of determiners: The woman has two puppies / Both the
puppies were cut
Example of an incorrect combination of determiners: The my book is interesting.
6. What kind of information does each subtype of determinative provide? (related
to question 4)
definite: the
indefinite: a (an), some,
demonstrative: this, that, these
possessive: my, your, his, her, their, Sam’s,
interrogative / relative: what, whose, which, whichever
exclamative: what (a)
fractional: half, a quarter…
multiplying: double, twice, thousands of
non-exact: some, any, no much, a little, a few, many, several, enough
