The Ultimate Determiners Quiz
Test your mastery with 50 challenging questions. You have 30 minutes!
1. Despite the media hype, there was _____ public interest in the event, and attendance was poor.
- a little
- little
- few
- a few
Rule: 'Little' is used with uncountable nouns (like 'interest') to mean 'almost none', carrying a negative meaning. 'A little' implies a small but positive amount. The phrase "attendance was poor" confirms the negative context, making 'little' the correct choice.
2. ______ of the candidates possessed the niche skills we were looking for, which was a major setback.
- A few
- Few
- A little
- Little
Rule: 'Few' is used with countable nouns (like 'candidates') to mean 'not many' or 'almost none', implying a negative outcome. The phrase "which was a major setback" signals this negativity. 'A few' would suggest a small but adequate number.
3. She has visited so _____ places that her stories are always captivating.
- many
- much
- a lot of
- plenty
Rule: The construction 'so + determiner + noun' requires either 'many' (for countable nouns like 'places') or 'much' (for uncountable nouns). Using 'so a lot of' or 'so plenty' is grammatically incorrect.
4. We must act now; there is _____ time for hesitation.
Rule: 'No' is a determiner used directly before a noun to indicate a complete absence. It's more emphatic than 'not any'. 'None' is a pronoun that stands alone (e.g., "None of the time was wasted."). 'No' is the most direct and fitting choice for this urgent context.
5. Could I get _____ water, please? I've just finished a workout.
Rule: 'Water' is an uncountable noun. 'Some' is used with uncountable nouns in requests or offers to refer to an unspecified quantity. 'A/an' and 'many' cannot be used with uncountable nouns like 'water'.
6. ________ love of money is said to be the root of all evil.
- A
- An
- The
- Zero Article (—)
Rule: While 'love' as a general concept is an abstract noun taking no article ("Love is a powerful emotion"), here it is made specific by the following phrase 'of money'. When an abstract noun is specified like this, it requires the definite article 'the'.
7. ________ single detail of the plan had been meticulously checked for errors.
Rule: The phrase 'every single' is a common, emphatic construction used to mean 'absolutely all' while still focusing on individual items. While 'Each detail' is also correct, 'Every' fits perfectly into the fixed phrase 'every single detail'.
8. The twins are so alike that I can't tell _____ of them apart from the other.
Rule: In a negative sentence ("can't tell"), 'either' is used to refer to one of two things. It means "I can't tell this one or the other one apart". 'Neither' is used in positive sentences to convey a negative meaning ("I can tell neither of them apart").
9. He has two main arguments, but _____ of them is particularly convincing.
Rule: 'Neither' is used to mean 'not one and not the other' when referring to a group of two. Since there are exactly two arguments, 'neither' is the correct choice. 'None' is used for groups of three or more.
10. _____ what may, the show must go on.
- Whatever
- Whichever
- Come
- Be
Rule: This question tests a fixed idiomatic expression. The phrase is 'Come what may', which means 'whatever happens'. The word 'Come' is part of this fixed phrase, making it a tricky question about determiner-like expressions.
11. I need to get _____ other pair of shoes; these are worn out.
Rule: 'Another' is a determiner that means 'one more' or 'an additional one'. It is a contraction of 'an + other'. Since 'pair' is a singular countable noun, 'another' is the correct choice. 'Other' would need a determiner before it (like 'the other pair' if there were only two pairs in total).
12. He spent _____ of his inheritance on frivolous things and has little to show for it.
- most
- the most of
- most of
- almost
Rule: When a quantifier like 'most' is followed by a pronoun or a noun with its own determiner (like 'his', 'the', 'these'), we must use the form 'most of'. For example, 'most people' but 'most of us' or, in this case, 'most of his inheritance'.
13. There's hardly _____ food left in the fridge; we need to go shopping.
Rule: Words like 'hardly', 'scarcely', and 'barely' create a negative context. In such semi-negative sentences, 'any' is used instead of 'some'. Using 'no' would create a double negative ('hardly no food'), which is grammatically incorrect.
14. _____ coffee they serve at that café is the best in town.
- A
- The
- Some
- Zero Article (—)
Rule: We use 'the' because we are not talking about coffee in general, but about the specific coffee that 'they serve at that café'. The relative clause specifies the noun, requiring the definite article 'the'.
15. She is one of the _____ individuals I've met who genuinely doesn't care about money.
Rule: The structure 'one of the...' must be followed by a plural countable noun. 'Few' (meaning 'a small number of') is used with countable nouns like 'individuals'. 'Little' and 'less' are used for uncountable nouns. The fixed phrase is 'one of the few...'.
16. The project was cancelled due to _____ of available resources.
- a lack
- lack
- little
- scarcity
Rule: The word 'lack' in the phrase 'a lack of...' functions as a singular countable noun, and therefore requires the article 'a'. 'Scarcity' could work, but 'a lack' is the most common and direct fit for the sentence structure 'due to ____ of'.
17. Not _____ student in the class could solve the final problem.
Rule: The phrase 'not a single...' is a strong emphatic construction used to mean 'absolutely no one'. 'Not all student' is wrong (should be 'students'). 'Not each student' is awkward. 'Not a single' provides the intended emphasis perfectly.
18. He was standing on _____ side of the canyon, too far to hear us.
- another
- the
- the other
- other
Rule: When there are two distinct options (like the two sides of a canyon), and one is established (the side 'we' are on), the second one is referred to as 'the other'. 'Another' implies more than two options exist. 'Other' needs a determiner before it in this context.
19. We have _____ enthusiasm for the new proposal; it seems poorly thought out.
- plenty of
- a little
- little
- no any
Rule: 'Enthusiasm' is uncountable. The context "it seems poorly thought out" implies a negative quantity. 'Little' means 'almost no' and fits this negative context. 'A little' would imply some positivity. 'Plenty of' means the opposite. 'No any' is ungrammatical.
20. We visited _____ Netherlands last year, which is a country in Europe.
- Zero Article (—)
- a
- the
- that
Rule: We use the definite article 'the' with country names that are plural in form (e.g., the Netherlands, the Philippines) or that contain a political term like 'Kingdom' or 'Republic' (e.g., the United Kingdom).
21. _____ half of the city was left without power after the storm.
- A
- Zero Article (—)
- The
- Some
Rule: In the construction 'half of the...', no preceding article is needed before 'half'. The sentence correctly starts directly with 'Half'. While you can say 'a half-dozen', the structure 'Half of the...' is a complete unit on its own.
22. He gave me _____ very practical piece of advice.
Rule: 'Advice' is an uncountable noun. To make it countable, we use a partitive phrase like 'a piece of'. The article 'a' is required before 'very practical piece'. It agrees with the singular countable noun 'piece', not the uncountable noun 'advice'.
23. Of all the desserts on the menu, this one has _____ sugar.
- less
- the least
- the less
- fewest
Rule: 'Of all...' signals a superlative is needed. 'Sugar' is uncountable, so we must use the superlative form of 'little', which is 'the least'. 'Fewest' is the superlative of 'few' and is used for countable nouns.
24. _____ of the two initial designs was approved, so they had to start over.
Rule: 'Neither' means 'not one and not the other' and is used exclusively for two items. The context "so they had to start over" confirms the negative meaning. 'None' would be used for three or more items.
25. _____ knowledge of programming she possesses is truly remarkable.
- A
- Some
- The
- Zero Article (—)
Rule: 'Knowledge' is an abstract uncountable noun. Normally, it would take no article ("Knowledge is power"). However, here it is specified by the clause 'she possesses'. This specification requires the definite article 'the'.
26. We've invited _____ our colleagues from the department.
Rule: This question tests pre-determiners. 'All' can be used directly before a possessive determiner (like 'our', 'my', 'his'). The structure is 'pre-determiner + determiner + noun'. 'All our colleagues' is correct. 'Every' cannot be used this way ('every our...' is wrong).
27. She has such _____ command of the language that she sounds like a native speaker.
- a
- an
- the
- Zero Article (—)
Rule: When 'such' is used with a singular countable noun ('command' in this sense is countable), it is followed by 'a' or 'an'. The structure is 'such + a/an + adjective + noun'. Contrast this with uncountable nouns, where no article is used (e.g., 'such intelligence').
28. I have two extra pens. You can borrow _____ one if you need to.
Rule: 'Either' is used to present a choice between two options ('one or the other'). Since there are two pens, 'either' is the correct choice to indicate that the listener can take one of them. 'Any' would be used for three or more.
29. I have other ideas, but this is _____ best one by far.
- a
- the
- my
- Zero Article (—)
Rule: Superlative adjectives (like 'best', 'worst', 'fastest') are almost always preceded by the definite article 'the' when they modify a noun. The phrase 'by far' emphasizes this superlative quality.
30. _____ way you approach the problem, you will find it challenging.
- What
- Whichever
- Whatever
- However
Rule: 'Whichever' is used as a determiner before a noun ('way') when presenting a limited set of choices, meaning 'it doesn't matter which one'. 'Whatever' is used for things/ideas in general ('whatever you do...'). 'Whichever way' is the correct idiomatic phrase here.
31. He has _____ to gain and everything to lose by taking that risk.
- nothing
- anything
- something
- none
Rule: This is a common contrasting phrase. 'Nothing' is a pronoun that functions here as the object of 'has'. It means 'not anything'. The sentence structure is a parallel contrast: 'has nothing... has everything'.
32. We need to buy _____ new equipment for the lab; the old machinery is obsolete.
Rule: 'Equipment' is a classic uncountable noun. We cannot say 'an equipment' or 'many equipments'. 'Some' is used to refer to an unspecified quantity of an uncountable noun.
33. We arrived a full hour late, but _____ the other guests were still there.
- most
- most of
- a most of
- the most of
Rule: When a quantifier like 'most' or 'some' is followed by a noun that has its own determiner (in this case, 'the'), we must use the form 'most of' or 'some of'. The correct structure is 'most of the other guests'.
34. It takes _____ hour to get there by train.
- a half
- half an
- one half
- half of
Rule: The two standard idiomatic forms are 'half an hour' and 'a half hour'. Since 'hour' is in the sentence, the blank must be filled with 'half an' to form the correct phrase. 'Half of hour' is incorrect.
35. _____ of the people who responded to the survey were in favor of the new law.
- From
- Between
- The majority
- A most
Rule: This question tests a noun phrase that functions as a determiner of quantity. The correct phrase is 'The majority of...'. 'Majority' requires the definite article 'the' in this partitive construction. 'A most' is ungrammatical.
36. _____ patience is a virtue, but even my patience has its limits.
- A
- The
- Zero Article (—)
- Some
Rule: When making a general, proverbial statement about an abstract uncountable noun like 'patience', we use the zero article (no article). The sentence is speaking about patience as a universal concept.
37. I have three sisters. _____ of them lives in a different country.
Rule: 'Each' is used to refer to individual members of a group (of two or more) one by one. It is followed by 'of' and takes a singular verb ('lives'). 'Both' and 'either' are for two items. 'Every' cannot be used with 'of' in this way ('every of them' is incorrect).
38. Is this _____ book you were telling me about yesterday?
Rule: The definite article 'the' is used because the book has been specified and is known to both the speaker and listener. The clause 'you were telling me about' identifies a particular book, not just any book.
39. There is _____ doubt that he is the most qualified person for the role.
Rule: The phrase 'no doubt' is a strong idiom meaning 'it is certain'. 'No' functions as a determiner to emphatically negate the existence of any doubt. 'Little doubt' is also possible, meaning 'almost no doubt', but 'no' provides the stronger sense of certainty implied here.
40. _____ of you who have completed the assignment may leave early.
Rule: 'Those' is a demonstrative pronoun used to refer to a specific subgroup of people (plural). The phrase 'Those of you' is the correct and formal way to single out individuals from the larger group ('you'). Note that the verb is 'have', as its subject 'who' refers to the plural 'Those'.
41. I had very _____ time to review the documents, so I may have missed something.
Rule: 'Time' is uncountable. The phrase 'so I may have missed something' indicates a negative context, meaning an insufficient amount. 'Little' (without 'a') means 'almost none' and fits this negative context perfectly.
42. _____ luggage are you checking in today, sir? Just the one bag?
- How many
- How much
- What
- Which
Rule: 'Luggage' is a classic uncountable noun. To ask about the quantity of an uncountable noun, we use 'How much'. 'How many' is used for countable nouns (e.g., 'How many bags').
43. Every employee was given a bonus, and _____ was delighted with the news.
- all
- everyone
- every
- the all
Rule: This question needs a pronoun to be the subject of the verb 'was'. 'Everyone' is an indefinite pronoun that means 'every person' and takes a singular verb. 'All' would take a plural verb ('All were...'). 'Every' is a determiner and cannot be used as a standalone subject here.
44. You've made far too _____ mistakes in this essay; you need to proofread it again.
Rule: The phrase 'too...' requires either 'many' for countable nouns (like 'mistakes') or 'much' for uncountable nouns. The correct structure is 'too many mistakes'. 'Far' is an intensifier used with 'too'.
45. She has _____ interest in gossip and prefers to discuss ideas.
Rule: 'No' is a determiner that is used directly before a noun ('interest') to negate it. 'Not' is an adverb and would require a different structure ("does not have any interest"). 'None' is a pronoun and can't be used before a noun.
46. _____ child deserves a safe and supportive environment.
Rule: To make a general statement about all members of a group, 'every' + singular noun is a common and powerful choice. It means all children, considered as a whole but emphasizing the right of each one. 'A child' can also be used for general statements, but 'Every' is stronger here. 'All' would need a plural noun ('All children...').
47. Of the five witnesses, _____ gave a clear description of the suspect.
- neither
- none
- no one
- not one
Rule: 'None' is a pronoun used for three or more items to mean 'not one of them'. 'Neither' is used for only two items. Since there are five witnesses, 'none' is the correct choice. 'No one' is also possible, but 'none of the...' is a very common partitive structure.
48. There are several jackets here. _____ one is yours?
Rule: 'Which' is used as an interrogative determiner to ask about a specific item from a limited, known group (the 'several jackets'). 'What' is used when the range of choices is unknown or unlimited ('What color is your car?').
49. I would like to buy that painting, _____ the cost.
- whichever
- whatever
- however
- no matter
Rule: 'Whatever' is used here as a determiner to mean 'regardless of what'. The phrase 'whatever the cost' means 'it doesn't matter what the cost is'. 'Whichever' would imply a choice between specific, listed costs.
50. I have two solutions, and _____ of them is equally effective.
Rule: This is a final, tricky question. 'Each' refers to the members of a group as individuals. The singular verb 'is' is the major clue. 'Each of them is...' is correct. 'Both of them are...' would be the correct structure for 'both'. 'Either of them is...' would also be grammatically correct, but 'each' implies that you have considered them individually and found them to be equal, which fits the context slightly better than just offering a choice.
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