What is the Difference Between Adjective and Determiner

The key difference between adjective and determiner is that a noun can have an unlimited number of adjectives, but it can have only one determiner.

Adjectives and determiners have similar functions; they describe nouns and give us more information about them. However, there is a difference between them in terms of their positioning and use. Adjectives can be used both before and after the nouns, but determiners can only be used before the noun.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is an Adjective 
3. What is a Determiner
4. Adjective vs Determiner in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Adjective vs Determiner

What is an Adjective?

An adjective is a word that describes the qualities and quantities of a noun. In general, they modify nouns and describe more about them. In such situations, adjectives occur just before the nouns they modify. However, they do not modify other adjectives, verbs, or adverbs. Here are some examples of adjectives that occur before nouns.

• A beautiful dress
• His green hat
• A massive tree

Such adjectives that occur before the noun are called attributive adjectives. Adjectives that occur after the noun are called predicative adjectives. Here are some examples of predicative adjectives.

• Her dress is beautiful
• His hat is green
• This tree is massive

Adjective Forms

• -able/-ible: likeable, pleasurable
• -y: likely, easy
• -ful/-less: beautiful, fearless
• -ish/-like: foolish, dislike
• -ous: enormous, fabulous

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

Comparative and superlative adjectives are adjectives we use for comparing. When we use a comparative adjective, we compare the noun with another noun. A superlative adjective, on the other hand, compares a noun to two or more nouns to the highest or lowest degree.

Possessive Adjectives

A possessive adjective has the ability to modify a noun by indicating who has ownership or possession of it. Some examples include my, your, his, her, its, our, their, and whose.

What is a Determiner?

A determiner is a word that gives information about the quantity or ownership of a noun. It comes before a noun and not after. At the same time, a determiner is a necessity before a singular noun but only an option before a plural noun.

Types of Determiners

• Definite Articles (The)

The speaker is referring to a specific noun. (something unique, mentioned earlier or already known)

This is the girl I told you about.

Follow the path to nirvana.

• Indefinite Articles (A, An)

This is used to define unspecific nouns or general versions of a noun.

A is used before a word that starts with a consonant

An is used before a word that starts with a vowel

I have a dog.

She ate an apple.

• Demonstrative Determiners (This, That, These, Those)

These are also known as demonstrative pronouns. They are used to make nouns more specific.

This, these- close things

That, those- distant things

I like this book.

These pens are mine.

That is a tree.

Those girls are in my class.

• Determiners as Quantifiers

This shows the amount or quantity of the noun that is being discussed

Few children were present there.

All the books were sold.

Many people were at the market.

• Possessive Determiners

They show that a noun belongs to someone or something

My mother wants to talk to you.

What is the Difference Between Adjective and Determiner?

The key difference between adjective and determiner is that a noun can have an unlimited number of adjectives, but it can have only one determiner. Moreover, adjectives can be used both before and after the nouns while determiners can only be used before the noun.

The following table summarizes the difference between adjective and determiner.

Summary – Adjective vs Determiner

An adjective is a word that describes the qualities and quantities of a noun. Nouns can have an unlimited number of adjectives. Adjectives can occur both before and after nouns. A determiner, on the other hand, is a word that gives information about the quantity or ownership of a noun. They usually occur before a noun and not after. A noun can have only one determiner. Moreover, a determiner is a necessity before a singular noun but only an option before a plural noun. This is the summary of the difference between adjective and determiner.

Reference:

1. “What Is an Adjective?” English Club.
2. Shrives, Craig. “What Is a Determiner?” Grammar Monster.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Apple Words” By Evelyn Saenz (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr