Definiteness and indefiniteness are usually seen as essentially a matter of lexical semantics, in that whether a noun phrase (NP) is definite or indefinite depends on the choice of determiner. It may be more accurate to say that the position of the determiners within phrase structure configurations may correlate with the definite/indefinite distinction. Definite and indefinite determiners occupy different positions in the NP, and some constituent that is not lexically a definite determiner can induce definiteness in an NP by occupying the relevant position in it. With possessives, the filling of a particular structural position can produce definiteness where the lexico-semantic content of the expression involved is not enough by itself to do this. This is an example of how syntactic factors can interact with semantic considerations in the grammar of definiteness. (MSE)