determinative Definition
- 1having the power to determine or decisively affect something
- 2serving to determine or identify the nature of something
- 3a word or affix that expresses the semantic role of the noun phrase in which it occurs, such as the word 'my' in 'my book'
Using determinative: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "determinative" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The determinative factor in their decision was the cost.
Example
The presence of certain chemicals is determinative of the quality of the product.
Example
In Egyptian hieroglyphics, a determinative is a symbol placed at the end of a word to clarify its meaning.
determinative Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for determinative
Antonyms for determinative
Phrases with determinative
a clause that determines the meaning of the sentence or modifies the noun phrase
Example
In the sentence 'The man who stole my wallet was caught,' the clause 'who stole my wallet' is a determinative clause.
an element in a compound word that determines the meaning of the whole word
Example
In the word 'waterfall,' the determinative element is 'fall,' which indicates that the water is falling.
an adjective that determines the noun it modifies, such as 'former' in 'former president'
Example
In the phrase 'the big dog,' 'big' is not a determinative adjective because it does not determine which dog is being referred to.
Origins of determinative
from Latin 'determinativus', from 'determinare', meaning 'to limit'
Summary: determinative in Brief
The term 'determinative' [dih-tur-muh-nuh-tiv] refers to something that has the power to determine or decisively affect something, or serves to determine or identify the nature of something. It can also refer to a word or affix that expresses the semantic role of the noun phrase in which it occurs. Examples include 'The determinative factor in their decision was the cost,' and 'In Egyptian hieroglyphics, a determinative is a symbol placed at the end of a word to clarify its meaning.'