adjectivepronoun

Adjectivepronoun is a term used in linguistics to describe a word form that can function both as an adjective and as a pronoun. In many languages, demonstratives and certain determiners can appear in positions that modify a noun or stand alone as a pronoun, depending on context. The concept highlights that the boundary between adjectives, determiners, and pronouns can be fluid.

In English, demonstratives such as this, that, these, and those illustrate the multifunctionality. When used as determiners, they precede a noun (this book, those plans). When used as pronouns, they stand alone or head a copular sentence (This is good; Those are mine). The same form can thus serve a nominal-modifying role in one occurrence and a nominal-free, referential role in another.

The term adjectivepronoun emphasizes a typological observation rather than a single fixed part of speech. In some languages, the same morph or clitic marks both functions, while in others, a dedicated pronoun or determiner distinct from the noun-modifying form exists. This category is closely related to, but distinct from, standard classifications of demonstratives, determiners, and pronouns. Cross-linguistic variation shows that some languages privilege a single word form with both functions, whereas others use separate forms with overlapping usage.

In practice, recognizing adjectivepronouns helps describe how speakers compress information: a single form can signal definiteness, proximity, and reference to a noun, all within a compact grammatical unit.