What is the difference between determinants and pronouns

Do you have doubts about the difference between a determinant and a pronoun ? Although they share similarities, the truth is that they are two totally different grammatical categories with different uses. However, we know that they commonly cause confusion and we want to help you solve your doubts, so in this article we explain in detail what is the difference between determinants and pronouns.

Determinants

The determinants correspond to a grammatical category of words that accompany a noun or name and, as its name indicates, determine or limit its meaning. Thus, they coincide in gender and number (male / female and singular / plural) and can be of different types:

• Determinants articles: el, la, lo (neutral form), los, las.
• Demonstrative determinants: this, that, that ...
• Possessive determinants: me, you, your, our, your, your ...
• Indefinite determinants: a, some, a little, a lot, too much, etc.
• Numeral determinants: one, two, three, first, second, middle ...
• Interrogative and exclamatory determinants: what, how much, etc.

Examples of sentences with determinants:

• My cousin's dog is white.
• I do not want this book, I prefer some magazine.
• What a beautiful shirt you wear!

Pronouns

Pronouns are the words that are used to substitute a noun or noun, that is, take their place. Most pronominal categories match those of the determinants, although not all:

• Personal pronouns: I, you, he, she, it, we, you, them ...
• Demonstrative pronouns: this, that, that ...
• Possessive pronouns: mine, yours, yours, ours, yours, yours, etc.
• Indefinite pronouns: some, a lot, none, etc.
• Numeral pronouns: one, two, three, first, second, middle ...
• Interrogative and exclamatory pronouns: what, how much, etc.
• Relative pronouns: who, who, whose, where ...

Examples of sentences with pronouns:

• I do not know what time they will arrive .
• That is not your dog, it is that .
• I have not found any, I'll keep looking.

Differences between determinants and pronouns

So, to differentiate a determinant of a pronoun, we can highlight its differences:

• The determinant accompanies a name or noun -normally in front of it- and coincides in gender and number with the name in question.
• The pronoun goes alone, because it replaces a name.
• The determinants do not perform any grammatical function other than to limit the meaning of the noun, while the pronouns can perform any of the functions that a noun develops: subject, direct object, etc.