How To Use French Determiners
A determiner's function is to introduce a noun. It also carries information about the noun it refers to. The French language classifies its determiners according to the type of information they bring. Let's get familiar with the different categories.
| Category | Information brought | Singular | Plural |
| Article défini |
used with a noun that refers to a specific known being/object |
Le/La |
Les |
| Article indéfini |
used with a noun that refers to an unknown/ generic being/object |
un/une | des |
| Déterminant démonstratif |
used to localize the being/object (in space or time) |
ce/cet* cette |
ces |
| Déterminant possessif |
informs on the owner of the being/object referred to |
mon/ton/son ma/ta/sa |
mes |
| Déterminant cardinal |
informs on the number of beings/objects referred to |
un | deux, trois etc. |
| Déterminant indéfini |
used with a noun that refers to unknow beings/objects part of a bigger ensemble |
Aucun(e) Plusieurs Tout(e), etc. |
Aucuns, Touts, etc. |
| Déterminant interrogatif |
indicates that the question following refers to the noun |
quel(le) | quel(le)s |
| Déterminant exclamatif |
indicates that the exclamation following refers to the noun |
quel(le) | quel(le)s |
*when the noun it introduces starts with a vowel and is masculin.
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