Grammar: Word classes: Determiners
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Overview: Pop-up notes | |
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What is a determiner?
| Glossary |
Thing - We use the word 'Thing' as a technical term for the main or 'Head' word in the noun group when we are talking about 'what is going on in a text'. We usually express the Thing we are talking about with a noun:
Here the word computer is the Thing (or Head) in the noun group my new computer. Note that the terms Head and Thing are written with an initial capital letter because they are functional terms. Related term: Head |
| Glossary |
noun group - This is a group of words in which the main word is a noun. We can call this main word the Head of the group:
Noun groups sometimes consist of only one word:
Sometimes a pronoun or even an adjective can be the Head of a noun group:
In some grammars you will find the term 'noun phrase' or 'nominal group' instead of noun group. Note that the term Head is written with an initial capital letter because it is a functional term. Related terms: Head, noun, Participant, pronoun, Thing |
| Glossary |
Pointer - This is a functional label for a word in the noun group which answers a question such as 'which one?' or 'which ones?':
In this example the determiner those answers the question 'which boats?' It is functioning as a 'Pointer', pointing (or referring) to the particular boats we are talking about. The Pointer tells us whether we are talking about a specific thing (the boat, that boat, my boat) or not (a boat, [ ] boats). We use determiners, including the definite article (the) and the indefinite article (a/an), to point to the thing we are talking about. Note that the term Pointer is written with an initial capital letter because it is a functional term. Related terms:
determiner, noun group |
| Glossary |
reference - When we refer to somewhere else in a text, we are using the system of reference: Here Mr Gong is referring to something that had not been mentioned before but which Dotty can interpret because she knows which glasses her father is pointing to, ie his glasses. She then points to this new 'participant' in the text by replacing the words my glasses with they (a pronoun). This type of reference helps to make the site cohesive. There are many different ways for referring or pointing to people, animals, things and events, all of which are typically expressed through nouns (or pronouns) functioning as 'Thing' in a noun group. The most important types of reference are: Note that the term Thing is written with an initial capital letter because it is a functional term. Related terms:
classifying reference, cohesion, definite reference, general reference,
indefinite reference |
| Answer |
The Mystery of the Disappearing WaterDeep in the dark waters of the harbour, MegaMonster was complaining. "This water is so polluted! It’s full of poisons and rubbish. I want some clean water to drink!" He asked his MischiefMaker for some advice. "Think hard!" said the MischiefMaker. "Where is there lots of clean water in Hong Kong?" "Aha! Of course!" cried MegaMonster. Late that night, he stretched out a long tentacle until it reached into a swimming pool in Hung Hom. He drank up all the water from the swimming pool. "Ahhh! It tastes so clean!" he said. Then he stretched out a long tentacle until it reached into a swimming pool in Wan Chai. He drank up all the water from the swimming pool. "Ahhh! It tastes so sweet!" he said. Then he stretched out a long tentacle until it reached into a swimming pool in Tsing Yi. He drank up all the water from the swimming pool. "Ahhh! It tastes so fresh!" he said. When the children came out for a swim in the morning, they found their swimming pools empty. "Who has taken all the water?" they cried. "We want our water back!" MegaMonster swallowed so much water that he became enormous. His body rose above the water in the harbour. "There’s the water thief!" the children shouted. "Give us our water back!" |
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