How to Use Numbers as Determiners in English?

You can use numbers as determiners in English. Numbers, whether they are cardinal numbers (e.g., one, two, three), ordinal numbers (e.g., first, second, third), or fractional numbers (e.g., half, one-third, three-quarters), serve as determiners to specify quantity, order, or proportion in relation to nouns. Using numbers as determiners is a fundamental aspect of English grammar and is widely employed in everyday communication and writing.

How to Use Numbers as Determiners?

Using numbers as determiners in English involves employing cardinal numbers, ordinal numbers, or fractional numbers to provide information about quantity, order, or proportion in relation to nouns. Here’s how to use numbers as determiners:

Cardinal Numbers:

Definition: Cardinal numbers (e.g., one, two, three) are used to specify the exact quantity of nouns. They answer questions like “how many?”

Examples:

• “I have two cats.”
• “There are five students in the classroom.”
• “She bought three books.”

Ordinal Numbers:

Definition: Ordinal numbers (e.g., first, second, third) are used to indicate the order or sequence of nouns. They answer questions like “which one in the order?”

Examples:

• “He is the first person to arrive.”
• “She finished in third place.”
• “This is the second time I’ve called.”

Fractional Numbers:

Definition: Fractional numbers (e.g., half, one-third, three-quarters) are used to represent parts or proportions of nouns. They answer questions like “how much of the whole?”

Examples:

• “I ate half of the pizza.”
• “She drank one-third of the glass of milk.”
• “We have three-quarters of the cake left.”

Using Numbers with Countable Nouns:

Use cardinal and ordinal numbers with countable nouns, which are nouns you can count individually.

Example: “I have three apples.” (countable noun)

Using Numbers with Uncountable Nouns:

Use fractional numbers with uncountable nouns, which represent substances or concepts that can’t be counted individually.

Example: “I drank half of the water.” (uncountable noun)

How to use numbers as determiners with countable nouns?

Using numbers as determiners with countable nouns involves specifying the quantity of individual, countable items. Here’s how to use numbers as determiners with countable nouns, along with examples:

1. Determine the Quantity: First, decide how many of the countable nouns you want to specify. This can be a specific number or an ordinal number indicating order.

2. Place the Number Before the Noun: Insert the number before the countable noun. The number functions as the determiner in this context.

3. Use the Correct Form of the Number: Ensure that the number agrees in form with the noun. For example, use “two” with plural nouns and “first” with singular nouns.

Examples:

Specifying Quantity:

• “I have three cats.”
• “There are six students in the classroom.”
• “She gave me two books.”

Indicating Order:

• “This is the first car I ever owned.”
• “He is the second person in line.”
• “She won the third prize in the contest.”

Using Determiners with Adjectives:

• “I need five red apples.”
• “They bought three expensive cars.”
• “Give me two large pizzas.”

Countable Nouns with Articles:

You can also use articles (a, an, the) in combination with numbers for additional specificity.

• “I saw a two-headed snake.”
• “She has an eight-year-old daughter.”
• “The store had the five bestsellers in stock.”

How to use numbers as determiners with uncountable nouns?

Using numbers as determiners with uncountable nouns involves indicating a portion or proportion of a substance or concept that can’t be counted individually. Here’s how to use numbers as determiners with uncountable nouns, along with examples:

1. Choose an Appropriate Fraction: Determine the portion or proportion you want to specify using fractional numbers (e.g., half, one-third, three-quarters).

2. Place the Fraction Before the Uncountable Noun: Insert the chosen fractional number before the uncountable noun. The fraction serves as the determiner in this context.

3. Use the Correct Form of the Fraction: Ensure that the fractional number agrees with the noun. For example, “half” is used for singular nouns, while “three-quarters” is used for plural nouns.

Examples:

Specifying Proportion:

• “I drank half of the milk.” (uncountable noun)
• “She ate one-third of the cake.” (uncountable noun)
• “We used three-quarters of the flour.” (uncountable noun)

Using Determiners with Adjectives:

Combine numbers with adjectives to provide more details.

• “I need half a gallon of paint.” (uncountable noun with adjective)
• “He drank one-third of the hot coffee.” (uncountable noun with adjective)
• “We have three-quarters of the expensive wine left.” (uncountable noun with adjective)

Exercises

Here are some practice exercises to help reinforce the usage of numbers as determiners:

Exercise 1: Cardinal Numbers

Complete the following sentences with the appropriate cardinal number to specify a quantity.

1. I have ______ apples in my bag.
2. She bought ______ tickets for the concert.
3. There are ______ students in the classroom.
4. Can you pass me ______ plates, please?
5. My friend has ______ siblings.

Exercise 2: Ordinal Numbers

Use ordinal numbers to indicate the order or rank of the items in these sentences.

1. This is the ______ time I’ve visited this museum.
2. He finished in ______ place in the race.
3. She is the ______ person to arrive at the party.
4. The book on the shelf is the ______ one in the series.
5. It’s the ______ chapter of the novel.

Exercise 3: Fractional Numbers with Countable Nouns

Combine fractional numbers with countable nouns to specify a portion of the item.

1. She ate ______ of the pizza slices.
2. They shared ______ of the chocolates.
3. We used ______ of the pencils.
4. I have finished reading ______ of the chapters.
5. He solved ______ of the math problems.

Exercise 4: Using Articles and Numbers

Add the appropriate article (a, an, the) and number to complete the sentences.

1. I saw ______ five cats in the alley.
2. Can you buy me ______ two oranges from the store?
3. She found ______ four-leaf clover in the garden.
4. We are going to watch ______ first movie of the day.
5. He ate ______ entire cake by himself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to using numbers as determiners in English, along with answers to address additional doubts:

Explore more:

• Indefinite Determiners in English
• Predeterminers in English
• Possessive Determiners in English
• Quantifiers in English
• Articles in English Grammar

Additional Resources & References:

1. What Are Determiners? Definition and Examples – Grammarly
2. Determiner – Wikipedia
3. Cardinal Numbers, Fractions and Multipliers Examples – Ifioque.com
4. Determiners – Cardinal Numbers vs. Ordinal Numbers – Convo English
5. Number – Grammar – Cambridge Dictionary