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determinative

determinative

1 8.5
A word placed before a noun that shows which one is meant, like 'the' or 'some'
  • noun
  • /dɪˈtɜːrmɪnətɪv/
  • Specialized
translation icon : determinante
  • Understanding how to use a determinative correctly can enhance the precision of your writing.

Examples

  • Articles and demonstratives are common types of determinatives used before nouns to give clarity in communication.

  • In grammar, a determinative helps specify which noun you are referring to, like in the phrase 'the book' or 'this car.'

  • No, I thought the article, because this is already the second class, we can put articles the determinative article.

  • The omission of the divine determinative is probably due to space.

    Academic text (1993)

  • They also include "determinatives," signs that clarify the meaning of a word in a particular context.

    Academic text (2007)

Synonyms

determiner
vsdeterminative
  • Specialized
1 1.0

A word that comes before a noun to show which one, how many, or who owns it

is the formal grammatical label typically used in technical descriptions

Surface Forms

determinative singular
determinatives plural

Etymology

Determinative comes from an old Latin verb made of de- 'completely' and terminare 'to end', the same root as determine and terminal. So a grammatical determinative, like the or those, sets the 'boundary' of a noun and shows which one or how many.