In mental spaces theory, elements in different mental spaces that are linked by connectors.

Counterparts are established on the basis of 'pragmatic function'. That is, when two (or more) elements in different mental spaces have a related pragmatic function, they are counterparts. One salient type of pragmatic function is 'identity'. For instance, in Ian Fleming's novels, James Bond is the name of the fictional British spy character and 007 is the code name used by the British Secret Service (MI6) to identify this spy. The pragmatic function relating the entities referred to as James Bond and 007 is coreference or identity. In other words, both expressions refer to the same individual and together form a 'chain of reference'.

To illustrate this, consider the following example: James Bond is a top British spy. In the war, 007 was an officer in the Royal Navy. In this example, each sentence sets up its own mental space. In the first sentence the expression James Bond prompts for the assignment of an element relating to James Bond. In the second sentence the expression 007 prompts for the assignment of the element 007 in the second mental space.

Background knowledge tells us that 007 is the code name conventionally assigned to James Bond. This knowledge provides a pragmatic function which serves to establish the two elements as counterparts.