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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