Determiners — Interactive Lesson

What Are Determiners?

A determiner goes before a noun to tell us more about it — which one, how many, or whether it is specific or general.

Determiners are words that introduce a noun. You already know some well — articles (a, an, the), possessives (my, your, their), and numbers (one, two, three). This lesson focuses on the ones that cause the most confusion: each, every, all, both, either, neither, some and any.

💡 Think of a determiner as a label you attach to a noun before you hand it to the listener: "I'm giving you information about some apples" is very different from "every apple" or "neither apple".

Exercise 1

Click the Determiner

Read the task, then click the determiner in each sentence.

Sentence 1 of 5

🎯 Click the determiner that refers to members of a group one by one.

Click the determiner word.

Sentence 2 of 5

🎯 Click the determiner that means not one and not the other.

Click the determiner word.

Sentence 3 of 5

🎯 Click the determiner used in a positive statement about quantity.

Click the determiner word.

Sentence 4 of 5

🎯 Click the determiner that refers to exactly two things together.

Click the determiner word.

Sentence 5 of 5

🎯 Click the determiner that treats all members as a whole group (not one by one).

Click the determiner word.

each · every · all · both

All four refer to the whole of a group — but with very different angles. This is one of the most tested areas in English grammar.

each

Individual members of a group, considered one by one. Can be used with two or more things.

+ singular noun

"Each student received a different question paper."
"She kissed each child goodnight."

every

All members of a group as a whole. Used for three or more. Also used for frequency and generalisations.

+ singular noun

"Every seat in the hall was taken."
"The bus comes every ten minutes."

all

The complete group — nothing left out. Used with both countable (plural) and uncountable nouns.

+ plural or uncountable

"All the students passed."
"She ate all the cake."
"All was quiet."

both

Exactly two things or people, together. Not used with three or more.

+ plural noun (two only)

"Both teams played well."
"She can speak both French and Arabic."

each vs every — the key difference

each — one by one

"Each player was given a number."
"Check each item carefully."

Focus on the individual. Implies looking at them separately. Can be used with just two things.

every — the whole group

"Every player in the league trains hard."
"I enjoy every minute of it."

Focus on the group as a whole. Often used with frequency (every day, every ten minutes). Never with just two.

⚠️ all vs both vs every — number matters

both = exactly two · all or every = three or more (or uncountable)
✓ "Both my parents came." · ✓ "All my friends came." · ✗ "Both my three friends came."
all takes a plural noun · every takes a singular noun: "all the seats" ✓ · "every seat" ✓ · "every seats" ✗

Exercise 2

Each, Every, All or Both?

Choose the determiner that fits the noun and the meaning.

Question 1 of 4

She has two brothers. __________ brother works in London. (thinking about them one by one)

Question 2 of 4

The bus comes __________ ten minutes.

Question 3 of 4

__________ my parents came to the ceremony.

Question 4 of 4

__________ the 300 seats in the hall were taken. (the complete group)

some · any

Both refer to an unspecified quantity — but the choice depends on the type of sentence.

Situation	Use	Example
Positive statement	some	"I need some* help with this."*
Negative statement	any	"I don't have any* money."*
Question (genuine / neutral)	any	"Do you have any* questions?"*
Offer (expecting yes)	some	"Would you like some* tea?"*
Request (expecting yes)	some	"Could I have some* water, please?"*
Conditional / if	any	"If you have any* problems, call me."*

⚠️ The offer trap

Even though it is a question, an offer uses some because you expect the answer to be yes:
✓ "Would you like some coffee?" · ✗ "Would you like any coffee?" (sounds as if you hope they'll say no)

Exercise 3

Some or Any?

Choose some or any (or the correct alternative) for each sentence.

Question 1 of 4

Would you like __________ tea?

Question 2 of 4

I don't have __________ money with me.

Question 3 of 4

Could I have __________ water, please?

Question 4 of 4

Do you have __________ brothers or sisters? (a genuine question)

either · neither

Both are used with exactly two options. The difference is positive vs negative.

either vs neither

either — one or the other

"Either day works for me."
"You can take either road — both lead to the town."

Used with positive verbs. Means "one or the other (or both) of the two". Also used in negative sentences as "either...or": "You can either stay or go."

neither — not one and not the other

"Neither option is perfect."
"I've tried both restaurants — neither was very good."

Used with positive verbs (the negative meaning is built in). Also used in pairs: "neither...nor": "She speaks neither French nor German."

⚠️ neither + positive verb

Because neither already has a negative meaning, do not add another negative:
✓ "Neither of them came." · ✗ "Neither of them didn't come."
✓ "Neither answer is correct." · ✗ "Neither answer isn't correct."

🔑 Quick reference:
either / neither = two options · any / none = three or more
both = the two together · all = the whole group (3+)
each = one by one · every = all as one group (3+)

Exercise 4

each, every, all, both, either, neither

Choose the correct determiner for each sentence.

Question 1 of 6

___ student received a different question paper. (focus on individual members, one by one)

Question 2 of 6

I have two sisters. ___ of them live abroad. (the two together)

Question 3 of 6

The bus comes ___ fifteen minutes. (frequency / how often)

Question 4 of 6

We can take the motorway or the coast road. ___ route gets you there in about an hour. (one or the other of two choices)

Question 5 of 6

I tried the red wine and the white wine. ___ was particularly good. (not one and not the other — both were disappointing)

Question 6 of 6

___ the money was spent on equipment. (the complete amount — nothing left over)

this · that · these · those

These four point to a specific noun — either near or far in space or time.

Near — in space or time

this · these

this + singular · these + plural
Close to the speaker, or happening now / recently.

"This book is excellent." (I'm holding it)
"These biscuits are delicious." (on the table here)
"This year has been very busy." (the current year)

Far — in space or time

that · those

that + singular · those + plural
Further away, or in the past / already mentioned.

"That building over there is the museum."
"Those were the best years of my life." (past)
"That is a great idea." (just mentioned)

⚠️ that for previously mentioned ideas

That (singular) is often used to refer back to something just said — even if it is not physically distant:
"She said she was leaving. That surprised everyone." ✓
"He offered to help. This was very kind of him." ✓ (also possible — referring to what just happened)

Exercise 5

some, any, this, that, these, those

Choose the correct determiner for each situation.

Question 1 of 5

Would you like ___ more cake? (an offer — you expect them to say yes)

Question 2 of 5

She doesn't have ___ experience in this field. (negative sentence)

Question 3 of 5

"Look at ___ view!" (the beautiful view right in front of them, right now)

Question 4 of 5

Do you remember ___ holiday we took in 2018? (referring back to a past event, further away in time)

Question 5 of 5

If you have ___ questions, please ask now. (conditional sentence)

Exercise 6

Mixed Review

A mix of everything — each/every/all/both, either/neither, some/any, and this/that/these/those.

Each, Every, All, Both

Question 1 of 16

___ answer on the test was carefully checked. (one by one)

Question 2 of 16

___ passenger must show a valid ticket. (a generalisation about the whole group)

Question 3 of 16

___ the members of staff attended the meeting. (the complete group, three or more)

Question 4 of 16

___ shoes in this pair are the same size. (exactly two, together)

Either & Neither

Question 5 of 16

You can park on ___ side of the street. (one or the other, two options)

Question 6 of 16

___ of the two answers is correct.

Question 7 of 16

I don't like ___ of those two colours. (not this one and not that one)

Question 8 of 16

___ restaurant was any good — we were disappointed both times.

Some & Any

Question 9 of 16

Would you like ___ cake? (an offer — expecting yes)

Question 10 of 16

I haven't got ___ time today.

Question 11 of 16

If you need ___ help, just ask.

Question 12 of 16

Could I have ___ sugar in my coffee, please? (a request — expecting yes)

This, That, These, Those

Question 13 of 16

___ jacket I'm wearing is new. (near, singular)

Question 14 of 16

___ shoes over there by the door are mine. (far, plural)

Question 15 of 16

I lived in Paris for a year. ___ was a wonderful time. (referring back to something already mentioned)

Question 16 of 16

___ cookies here on the plate smell amazing. (near, plural)