2.264 'half' as predeterminer

Besides being used with 'of' as a quantifier, 'half' can also be used as a predeterminer, (see paragraph 1.236), directly in front of a determiner.

• Half the girls haven't seen a man before.
• I met half the girls at the conference.
• The farmers sold off half their land.
• ...half a pound of coffee.
• ...half a bottle of milk.

Note that 'half' is always used with 'of' before a pronoun (see paragraph 2.259).