Section 6.5 Comparing the Three Classes
These three closed classes share important properties but differ in function:
Shared Properties.
| Property | Determiners | Pronouns | Prepositions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Closed class | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Limited membership | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Grammatical function | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| High frequency | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Distinctive Functions.
| Class | Primary Function |
|---|---|
| Determiners | Specify reference within NPs |
| Pronouns | Replace entire NPs |
| Prepositions | Show relationships; head PPs |
How They Work Together.
In a sentence like “She gave the book to him”, all three classes appear:
-
She (pronoun)—replaces a full NP as subject
-
the (determiner)—specifies which book
-
to (preposition)—shows relationship (recipient)
-
him (pronoun)—replaces a full NP as object of preposition
Each closed-class word does minimal semantic work but essential grammatical work—they’re the glue that holds sentences together.
