Chapter VII : Determiner (All, Each, Every, Few and Little)

Determiner          

          A determiner is used to modify a noun. It indicates reference to something specific or something of a particular type. This function is usually performed by articles, demonstratives, possessive determiners, or quantifiers.

Determiners are followed by a noun.

·       The guy.

·       This apple.

·       Some flowers.

          Subject pronouns ( I , you , he , etc.) and possessive pronouns (mine, yours, his, etc.) cannot be determiners because they can never be followed by a noun.

A.             Quantifiers

          Quantifiers are followed by nouns which they modify. Examples of quantifiers :

some, any, few, little, more, much, many, each, every, both, all, enough, half, little, whole, less etc. Quantifiers are commonly used before either countable or uncountable nouns.

         1.      Each and Every

"Each" identifies one of a group.
"Every" refers to all the components of the whole group.        
Examples :

·      "Every restaurant in this town is expensive." ( = all the restaurants are expensive).

·      "Each pair of shoes is hand-made." (= each separate pair is hand-made)

          Use each, every and either with a singular countable noun.     

          Examples :

           ·       "Each car is fast."       

           ·       "Every car is fast."

         2.      All

We can use "all" with a plural or uncountable noun.    

Examples :

·       "All the flowers are beautiful."

We can also add ("of") + these / possessive adjective.

Examples :

·       "All of these flowers are beautiful."     

·       "All (of) her flowers are hand-made."

         3.      Few and Little

"Few" or "a few" means "not much".

"A few" means three or four, while "few" means one or two (= a smaller quantity that "a few").

A few + plural noun        

·      "There are a few amazing buildings on this road."

A few of + determiner + noun    

·      "I want a few of these jackets for winter."

Use "little" and "a little" with uncountable nouns.    

"Little" is smaller quantity than "a little".

·      "We have a little time left. Lets go to Mall." (Maybe we have fifteen minutes left.)

·      "We have little time left before our bus." (Maybe we only have five minutes left.)

SOURCE :

·         http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/grammar-lesson-determiners.php

·         http://www.english-at-home.com/grammar-demonstratives-determiners/