ABSTRACT
The class of pronouns comprises rather few words, in Norwegian as in English, but the pronouns occur very frequently, especially the personal pronouns. Pronouns are even more frequent in the spoken language than in written text. There are many differences between speech and writing when it comes to pronouns. In the written language, the personal pronouns differentiate for case, with a couple of exceptions. In the spoken language, a number of pronouns may sound rather differently. Both den and det can be used as inanimate pronouns in the third person singular; what distinguishes them is gender. The personal pronouns in the first and second person normally refer to animates; the third person pronoun, by contrast, often refers to non-animates. However, the distinction between pronouns and determiners is subtle. In fact, de, den and det are not alone in showing the ‘dual usage’.
