pluraldetermines

Pluraldetermines is a term used in linguistics to describe the role of determiners in marking or signaling plurality within noun phrases. In languages analyzed under this idea, the determiner either carries explicit plural morphology or interacts in a way that requires the noun phrase to be interpreted as plural. The concept highlights how determiner systems contribute to the overall number information of a DP (determiner phrase) alongside or instead of noun-based plural markers.

Typology and mechanisms vary across languages. In some languages, plural information is encoded directly on the determiner, as in French le vs les or Spanish el vs los, where the form of the definite article changes with number and gender. In other systems, demonstratives or possessives display plural forms that align with the noun, so the determiner provides the primary cue to plurality. In languages with limited or no determiner usage, plural is expressed by noun morphology, verb agreement, or context, reducing the role of determiners in plural marking. Some languages use a combination where determiners mark definiteness and number in a way that strongly constrains interpretation, even if the noun itself carries its own plural morphology.

The term is primarily descriptive and cross-linguistic. It is not always used as a single universal label, but it helps linguists discuss how determiner systems contribute to number interpretation, how agreement patterns arise, and how definite or proximal determiner forms interact with plural interpretation. Related concepts include determiner, noun phrase structure, number agreement, and article systems.