CBSE Class 8 English Class 8 Chapter 4 Determiners
1. Like Adjectives, Determiners also qualify the Nouns that follow. They point out the Noun.
Examples: My uncle, the best students, every house, that book, some files.
2. Kinds of Determiners :
- Demonstratives: This, that, these, those.
This is used before Singular Nouns and these before Plural Nouns.
Examples:
This book is the best book on Mathematics.
These dresses belong to a very famous filmstar.
This and these refer to persons or articles which are near.
That and those refer to persons or objects which are at a distance.
That is used before singular nouns and those before plural nouns.
That house belongs to a famous businessman of Mumbai.
Those houses are owned by a Corporate House. - Possessives: My, our, your, his, her, its, their.
- Distributives: Either, neither, each, every.
- Quantifiers: Some, any, much, many, several, little, a little, the little, few, a few, the few,both, all, a lot of, lots of, a large number of, a great deal of, a good deal of.
- Interrogative: What, which, whose.
- Articles: A, an, the.
Exercise-1
Fill in the blank spaces with this, that, these, those:-
Book shop
Rani: Raman, look! Have you noticed __________ new books on computers?
Answer: These
Raman: Oh, yes! I have not seen______ books before.
Answer: Those
Rani: I want __________ one with a red cover and ________ book right here.
Answer: That, and this
Raman: Look Rani, at _________ one. It is written by my teacher, there must be more written by him.They must be on _______ counter. I will go and look.
Answer: that, that
Rani: I want to buy __________ books on paintings also. I love looking at them.
Answer: Those
Raman: Okay. Now let us pay for all the books we have bought.
Rani:___________ is a good idea. We have spent a lot of money. I am sure we will enjoy reading __________books.
Answer: That, these
Exercise-2
Fill in the blanks with Possessives (my, our, your, his, her, its, their) :
Question 1. I was astonished at___________ reaction to the good advice given to him.
Answer: his
Question 2. _________performance in the examination was much above expectations.
Answer: His, Her ,Their
Question 3. We have been let down very badly by _________cricket team in the first match against Sri Lanka.
Answer:
Question 4. They were asked to remove_________shoes before entering the building.
Answer: their
Question 5. Hundreds of people came to pay_______________ homage to the departed leader.
Answer: their
Question 6. Reading will help you to improve_________ vocabulary.
Answer: your
Question 7. I was dismayed at the non-arrival of_________ suitcase at the airport.
Answer: my
Question 8. In a rage Hari threw his pencil box on the floor, all________ contents fell in different directions.
Answer: its
Exercise – 3
Complete the passage by filling the blanks with Possessives:—
The children enter their classroom and find their books and stationery thrown by some intruder everywhere. Complete their conversation.
Geeta: Here is_____ maths book.
Answer: my
Vijay: It is __________. Has anyone found _________pencil box?
Answer: mine, my
Rashid: Here it is. I think this pen is also______.
Answer: your
Surbhi: Whose bags are these? They do not seem to belong to anyone in_______ class.
Answer: our
Geeta: They belong to my cousins,_________names are written on them.
Answer: their
Vijay: Thank God, we have found most of ___________things. We must tidy the classroom quickly.
Answer: our
3. Distributives :
Each, every, either, neither — Each means one of two things or one of any number exceeding two. Every is used to in speaking of some number exceeding two, as :
Examples:
- Each of them had a gun in his hand.
- Each of you can go to the market.
- Every man expects to be rich and successful.
- Every country expects loyalty from its people.
Either has two meanings: (1) one of two, or (2) each of two, that is, both.
Neither is the negative of either and means neither the one nor the other.
You can leave by either door, (by one door or the other).
Trees grew on either side of the road, (both sides)
He looked at neither side of the road, (neither this side nor the other)
Exercise-4
Fill in the blanks with Each, Every,
Either or Neither:—
Question 1. ___________of the twenty boys was fined.
Answer: Each
Question 2. You can stand on __________ side.
Answer: either
Question 3. _____________soldier was at his post.
Answer: Each
Question 4. ____________seat in the auditorium was occupied.
Answer: Every
Question 5. ____________ of the girls was present.
Answer: Neither
Question 6. __________Reeta nor her sister has to come to work today.
Answer: Neither
Question 7. When we went to Mumbai we visited the beach__________ day.
Answer: every
Question 8. _________of you will be given a uniform to wear in school on Sunday.
Answer: Each
Question 9. ________________ Indian is expected to do his duty.
Answer: Every
Question 10. __________ building has been provided with twenty four hours backup inverters in the case of a power-cut.
Answer: Each
4. Quantifiers :
- Much, many; Much stands for quantity and many denotes number.
Was there much milk left in the pot?
Were there many people watching the movie?
We haven’t got many books.
She doesn’t have much money.
Note: Words and expressions like the ones given in the box below, may be used instead of many.
a great many; a good many; a great number (of); plenty (of); a lot (of); lots of.
Words and expressions used instead of much are :
a great deal (of); a good deal (of); a large quantity (of); plenty (of); a lot (of). - Little, a little, the little :
Little means hardly any or not much. It has a negative meaning.
There was little money in the house.
There was little that she could do to help the patient.
A little means- some at least. It has an affirmative meaning.
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
There is a little milk left in the pot.
The little means some. It can be used both positively and negatively.
He wasted the little strength he had in being angry.
It means 1. The strength he had was not much. (negative)
2. He wasted all his strength. (positive) - Few, a few, the few: Few means not many and has a negative meaning.
He has few books left in his library.
A few means some at least. It has a positive meaning.
I have a few books left in my library.
The few means not many. It has both positive and negative meanings.
He lost the few friends he had.
It means he lost all the friends he had. (positive)
The friends he had were not many, (negative). - Less, fewer: Less is used with reference to quantity and fewer with reference to number.
The huge pumpkin weighed no less than ten pounds.
I cannot buy less than ten kilograms of rice.
No fewer than two thousand people joined the strike.
No fewer than ten civilians were hurt in the firing. - Some, any — to express quantity some is used in the affirmative sentences; any in the negative.
I have some milk but I do not have any sugar.
She bought some shoes but did not buy any dresses.
- Some is used in Interrogative sentences when making polite requests :
Will you give me some sugar?
Will you have some more tea? - In conditional sentences as :
If there are any oranges in the market, please buy some.
Some is used in conditional sentences.
If you see any oranges in the market, could you buy some for me? - Use of any in interrogative or negative sentences :
Did you buy any stamps?
Have you any articles on the recent events?
I didn’t see any oranges in the market.
- Some is used in Interrogative sentences when making polite requests :
Exercise-5
Fill in the blanks with much or many:-
Question 1. How ________ sugar do you want in your tea?
Answer: much
Question 2. How _________ times have you been to Shimla?
Answer: many
Question 3. We don’t get_______ rain here.
Answer: much
Question 4. He is facing__________ problems.
Answer: many
Question 5. __________ problems can be solved by sitting together and discussing them.
Answer: Many
Question 6. _________time was wasted in trying to break the lock and the thief escaped through the window.
Answer: much
Question 7. He could not do __________ for his family as he was suffering from poor health.
Answer: much
Question 8. Inspite of his ___________ attempts, he could not improve his driving skills.
Answer: many
Question 9. Nothing___________ happened before recess as_________ students were absent due to Asian Flu.
Answer: much
Question 10. __________ people have short tempers, they start shouting over trivial things.
Answer: Many
Exercise-6
Fill in the blanks with Each, Every, Either, or Neither:-
Question 1. _________ of the two soldiers was court-martialled.
Answer: Either
Question 2. You can stand on_______ side.
Answer: either
Question 3. ____________artist sees things differently.
Answer: Every
Question 4. ___________girl in the class took participation.
Answer: Each
Question 5. ____________first class ticket costs a hundred rupees.
Answer: Each
Question 6. __________you nor I are to blame.
Answer: Neither
Question 7. ____________of you is getting a reward.
Answer: Each
Question 8. ____________ you keep quiet at once or leave the classroom.
Answer: Either
Question 9. The teacher has given___________ boy and girl his/her book.
Answer: Each
Question 10. _______________John ____________James were present in the class in the fifth period.
Answer: Neither, nor
Exercise-7
Fill in the blanks with few, a few, little or a little
Question 1. ___________customers have come to the shop and we are busy.
Answer: A few
Question 2. __________customers have come to the shop and we are not so busy.
Answer: Few
Question 3. Shyam has made ___________ progress in his work and is quite unhappy.
Answer: little
Question 4. Vicky has made __________ progress and is quite happy about it.
Answer: a little
Question 5. I cannot lift this box, I need____________ help.
Answer: a little
Question 6. __________tourists have gone to Kashmir this year because of the terrorism there.
Answer: Few
Question 7. I am quite tired and I am having__________ days holiday next week.
Answer: a few
Question 8. ___________ drops of the blue liquid were added to give colour.
Answer: a few
Question 9. _________ caution could have saved the child.
Answer: A little
Question 10. Only ___________ of the books printed by the firm were a hit, the rest failed to find buyers.
Answer: a few
Exercise:8
In the passage given below, there is a missing article or two in every line. Mark the place with ‘/’ and write the missing article in the space provided. One is done for you:-
Question 1.If you spill wax on/carpet by accident, you__________
Answer: a
Question 2. can get rid of wax quite easily. First cover____________
Answer: the
Question 3. with blotting paper or flattened paper bag._____________
Answer:
the, the, a,
Question 4. Next, heat iron. Then, place hot iron over____________
Answer:
the,a
Question 5. blotting paper or paper bag. You have to leave_____________
Answer:
the, the
Question 6. iron on the paper for minute or two. You will________________
Answer:
the a
Question 7. find that paper will absorb wax._______________
Answer:
the, the
Exercise -9
Complete the passage inserting articles in the space given:-
__________(1)dutiful teacher, _______(2)deeply spiritual thinker, _________(3)able policy maker, Dr. Radhakrishnan was every bit_________(4) visionary India needed. Nobel laureate C.V. Raman beautifully summed up his glorious life. “_________(5) frail body of Radhakrishnan enshrined__________(6)great spirit which we have leamt to revere and admire.”
Answer:
(1). A
(2). a
(3). an
(4). the
(5). The
(6). a
Exercise-10
Insert articles wherever they are necessary and rewrite the sentences:-
Question 1. While I was rearranging bookshelf, I found old photograph of my parents.
Answer:
While I was rearranging the bookshelf, I found an old photograph of my parents.
Question 2. As soon as our bus crossed traffic light we heard loud explosion.
Answer:
As soon as our bus crossed the traffic light we heard a loud explosion.
Question 3. The elderly couple were crossing road this morning, when motorcyclist knocked them down.
Answer:
The elderly couple were crossing the road this morning, when a motorcyclist knocked them down.
Question 4. The plane was flying at such low altitude that we had clear view of the Ganga.
Answer:
The plane was flying at such a low altitude that we had a clear view of the Ganga.
Question 5. As girl of 16, I used to walk up hill very often to find quiet place to study.
Answer:
As a girl of 16, I used to walk up a hill very often to find a quiet place to study.
Question 6. I praised honesty of my servant.
Answer:
I praised the honesty of my servant.
Question 7. Apple is a fruit, which eaten daily can keep doctor away.
Answer:
An Apple is a fruit, which eaten daily can keep the doctor away.
Question 8. My neighbours left for Pune week ago.
Answer:
My neighbours left for Pune a week ago.
Question 9. Rajdhani Express was hour late on the first of May.
Answer:
The Rajdhani Express was an hour late on the first of May.
Question 10. Andamans are group of islands in Bay of Bengal.
Answer:
The Andamans are a group of islands in the Bay of Bengal.