What’s the difference between pronouns and determiners?
Pronouns (los pronombres) are words that replace nouns whereas determiners (los determinantes) are words that are used together with nouns.
Spanish has several different types of pronouns and determiners: personal, possessive, reflexive, relative, interrogative, demonstrative and indefinite.
In this section, you’ll find detailed information about each type of pronoun and determiner, as well as exercises where you can practise using them.
Personal pronouns replace a previously-mentioned noun. Use them to speak about yourself, or to address other people.
- Example:
- Beatriz canta una canción. Ella canta una canción para ti.
Possessive pronouns indicate possession/belonging. We differentiate between dependent and independent possessive pronouns.
- Example:
- Es mi maleta. (dependent)
Es la mía. (independent)
The reflexive pronouns are me, te, se, nos, os. We use them with reflexive verbs. Reflexive pronouns always refer to the subject.
- Example:
- Me miro en el espejo.
Relative pronouns introduce relative clauses.
- Example:
- La policía busca al hombre que atracó el banco.
Demonstrative pronouns include este, ese and aquel. We use demonstrative pronouns to point out something specific.
- Example:
- ¿Qué coche quiere comprar, este o aquel?
Some of the Spanish indefinite pronouns are algo, alguien, cualquiera, nada, ningún. We use them to generalise. There are two types of indefinite pronouns: dependent and independent.
- Example:
- No tengo ningún libro. (dependent)
- ¿Puedes prestarme alguno? (independent)
Some regions use the pronoun vos in place of tú and usted. This is known as voseo. Learn more about voseo and the different varieties that exist in Latin America.
- Example:
- Vos sos idéntica a Lucia.You’re identical to Lucía.
