Determinant vs. Article — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 20, 2024
Determinants specify nouns, emphasizing quantity or definiteness, while articles define noun specificity or introduction.
Difference Between Determinant and Article
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Determinants are words that clarify nouns by providing information about their quantity, possession, or definiteness. They include words like "some," "my," and "this." Articles, on the other hand, are a subset of determinants that specifically indicate the definiteness or indefiniteness of a noun. They include "the," "a," and "an."
Determinants serve a broad function in English, helping to specify the noun in various ways, such as quantity ("two"), definiteness ("the"), or possession ("your"). Articles, whereas, narrow down this function specifically to defining whether a noun is known to the reader or listener ("the") or is being introduced as a new, unspecific concept ("a" or "an").
While determinants can be demonstratives, possessives, quantifiers, or articles, articles strictly serve to indicate specificity. For instance, "those" (demonstrative) and "many" (quantifier) are determinants but not articles.
The choice of determinant can change the meaning of a sentence by altering the noun's reference, whereas the choice between "a" and "the" mainly affects the specificity or generality of the noun. For example, "a book" introduces any book, while "the book" refers to a specific book.
Articles are unique in that they only have three forms in English ("a," "an," "the"), making them less varied than other determinants which can change form based on number, possession, and other grammatical factors.
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Comparison Chart
Function
Specifies nouns by quantity, possession, or definiteness
Specifies noun definiteness or introduction
Varieties
Includes demonstratives, possessives, quantifiers, and articles
Limited to "a," "an," and "the"
Usage
Can modify a noun in various contexts
Primarily used to introduce a noun or specify it as known
Examples
"Some," "my," "these"
"A," "an," "the"
Flexibility
Can change form based on number, possession, etc.
Fixed forms without variations
Compare with Definitions
Determinant
Determines the quantity of nouns.
Several students attended the seminar.
Article
Specifies known or specific nouns.
The cat sat on the mat.
Determinant
Indicates ownership or possession.
Her ideas were innovative.
Article
Implied in the absence for plural nouns.
Books can be enlightening.
Determinant
Used in questions to specify nouns.
Which option do you prefer?
Article
Has only three forms: a, an, and the.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
Determinant
Refers to nouns one at a time.
Each student received a certificate.
Article
Introduces a singular noun not specified.
A storm is coming.
Determinant
Points out specific items or people.
Those apples look fresh.
Article
Sometimes omitted in certain expressions.
She is in prison for theft.
Determinant
Determinative.
Article
A particular item or object
Small household articles
Articles of clothing
Determinant
An influencing or determining element or factor
"Education is the second most important determinant of recreational participation" (John P. Robinson).
Article
A piece of writing included with others in a newspaper, magazine, or other publication
An article about middle-aged executives
Determinant
(Mathematics) The value computed from a square matrix of numbers by a rule of combining products of the matrix entries and that characterizes the solvablitity of simultaneous linear equations. Its absolute value can be interpreted as an area or volume.
Article
A separate clause or paragraph of a legal document or agreement, typically one outlining a single rule or regulation
It is an offence under Article 7 of the Treaty
Determinant
(Immunology) An epitope.
Article
A period of training with a firm as a solicitor, architect, surveyor, or accountant
It may be worth taking articles in a specialized firm
He is already in articles
Determinant
A determining factor; an element that determines the nature of something.
Article
The definite or indefinite article.
Determinant
(linear algebra) A scalar that encodes certain characteristics of a given transformation matrix; the unique scalar function over square matrices which is distributive over matrix multiplication, multilinear in the rows and columns, and takes the value 1 for the unit matrix; abbreviated as: det.
Article
Bind (a trainee solicitor, architect, surveyor, or accountant) to undergo a period of training with a firm in order to become qualified
He was articled to a firm of solicitors in York
Determinant
(biology) A substance that causes a cell to adopt a particular fate.
Article
An individual thing or element of a class; a particular object or item
An article of clothing.
Articles of food.
Determinant
(genetics) Something that causes a nuclease to cut at a specified point
Article
A particular section or item of a series in a written document, as in a contract, constitution, or treaty.
Determinant
Serving to determine or limit; determinative.
Article
A nonfictional literary composition that forms an independent part of a publication, as of a newspaper or magazine.
Determinant
Serving to determine or limit; determinative.
Article
The part of speech used to indicate nouns and to specify their application.
Determinant
That which serves to determine; that which causes determination.
Article
Any of the words belonging to this part of speech. In English, the indefinite articles are a and an and the definite article is the.
Determinant
The sum of a series of products of several numbers, these products being formed according to certain specified laws
Article
A particular part or subject; a specific matter or point.
Determinant
A mark or attribute, attached to the subject or predicate, narrowing the extent of both, but rendering them more definite and precise.
Article
To bind by articles set forth in a contract, such as one of apprenticeship.
Determinant
A determining or causal element or factor;
Education is an important determinant of one's outlook on life
Article
A piece of nonfictional writing such as a story, report, opinion piece, or entry in a newspaper, magazine, journal, dictionary, encyclopedia, etc.
Determinant
A square matrix used to solve simultaneous equations
Article
An object, a member of a group or class.
An article of clothing
A sales article
Determinant
Having the power or quality of deciding;
The crucial experiment
Cast the deciding vote
The determinative (or determinant) battle
Article
(grammar) A part of speech that indicates, specifies and limits a noun (a, an, or the in English). In some languages the article may appear as an ending (e.g. definite article in Swedish) or there may be none (e.g. Russian, Pashto).
Article
A section of a legal document, bylaws, etc. or, in the plural, the entire document seen as a collection of these.
The Articles of War are a set of regulations...to govern the conduct of...military...forces
Article
A genuine article.
Article
A part or segment of something joined to other parts, or, in combination, forming a structured set.
Each of the chelicerae is composed of two articles, forming a powerful pincer.
Article
A person; an individual.
A shrewd article
Article
(archaic) A wench.
She's a prime article (whip slang), she's a devilish good piece, a hell of a goer.
Article
(dated) Subject matter; concern.
Article
(dated) A distinct part.
Article
(obsolete) A precise point in time; a moment.
Article
(transitive) To bind by articles of apprenticeship.
To article an apprentice to a mechanic
Article
(obsolete) To accuse or charge by an exhibition of articles or accusations.
Article
To formulate in articles; to set forth in distinct particulars.
Article
A distinct portion of an instrument, discourse, literary work, or any other writing, consisting of two or more particulars, or treating of various topics; as, an article in the Constitution. Hence: A clause in a contract, system of regulations, treaty, or the like; a term, condition, or stipulation in a contract; a concise statement; as, articles of agreement.
Article
A literary composition, forming an independent portion of a magazine, newspaper, or cyclopedia.
Article
Subject; matter; concern; distinct.
A very great revolution that happened in this article of good breeding.
This last article will hardly be believed.
Article
A particular one of various things; as, an article of merchandise; salt is a necessary article.
They would fight not for articles of faith, but for articles of food.
Article
Precise point of time; moment.
This fatal news coming to Hick's Hall upon the article of my Lord Russell's trial, was said to have had no little influence on the jury and all the bench to his prejudice.
Article
One of the three words, a, an, the, used before nouns to limit or define their application. A (or an) is called the indefinite article, the the definite article.
Article
One of the segments of an articulated appendage.
Article
To formulate in articles; to set forth in distinct particulars.
If all his errors and follies were articled against him, the man would seem vicious and miserable.
Article
To accuse or charge by an exhibition of articles.
He shall be articled against in the high court of admiralty.
Article
To bind by articles of covenant or stipulation; as, to article an apprentice to a mechanic.
Article
To agree by articles; to stipulate; to bargain; to covenant.
Then he articled with her that he should go away when he pleased.
Article
Nonfictional prose forming an independent part of a publication
Article
One of a class of artifacts;
An article of clothing
Article
A separate section of a legal document (as a statute or contract or will)
Article
(grammar) a determiner that may indicate the specificity of reference of a noun phrase
Article
Bind by a contract; especially for a training period
Common Curiosities
How do articles function in English?
Articles indicate the definiteness or indefiniteness of a noun, specifying whether it is known or being introduced.
What are determinants in English?
Determinants are words that clarify nouns, providing information about quantity, possession, or definiteness.
What are some examples of determinants?
Examples include "some," "my," "these," "every," and "any."
Are all determinants articles?
No, not all determinants are articles. Determinants also include demonstratives, possessives, and quantifiers.
What is the difference between "a" and "an"?
"A" is used before words starting with a consonant sound, while "an" precedes vowel sounds.
Is "the" always necessary before nouns?
"The" is used for specificity, but it's not always necessary, especially with uncountable or plural nouns in general statements.
What role do articles play in noun introduction?
Articles help introduce nouns, indicating whether they are known or new to the listener or reader.
How many articles are there in English?
There are three articles: "a," "an," and "the."
How does the use of determinants affect sentence meaning?
Determinants can change a sentence's meaning by altering the noun's reference, quantity, or possession.
What is the role of demonstrative determinants?
Demonstrative determinants, like "this" and "that," point out specific nouns.
Can an article be a determinant?
Yes, articles are a specific type of determinant focused on noun definiteness.
How do possessive determinants work?
Possessive determinants, such as "my" and "your," show ownership or association with the noun.
What distinguishes a quantifier determinant?
Quantifiers, like "many" or "few," express the quantity of the noun they modify.
How is the indefinite article used with plural nouns?
The indefinite article is not used directly with plural nouns; its absence can imply an indefinite quantity.
Can determinants be omitted in English?
Some determinants can be omitted in certain contexts, depending on the emphasis and meaning intended.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
