I can point to a thing and name it — “this” or “that over there” — ask which one of several, and say where things are.
これ, それ, あれ: three sets
これ, それ, あれ: three sets
The goal of this lesson: point at a thing and ask what it is and where it is.
English has two distances, this and that; Japanese has three: こ — near me, そ — near the person you're talking to, あ — far from both of us; ど — the question. The second distance belongs to the other person: what they're holding is それ.
Three sets of four words:
• これ, それ, あれ, どれ — instead of a thing;
• この, その, あの, どの — only before a thing;
• ここ, そこ, あそこ, どこ — a place.
English “this” stands alone and before a noun; Japanese splits the two, and これ and この don't replace each other: 「これはかばんです。」, but 「このかばんはわたしのです。」
Questions: 「それはなんですか。」 — なに before です is said なん; 「かばんはどこですか。」 — 「あそこです。」 The question word doesn't move to the front as in English.
In stores and hotels you'll hear a polite set, こちら, そちら, あちら, どちら: the same distances, more polite. You don't need to practice it yet.
Common mistakes:
• NOT 「これかばんはわたしのです。」 — before a thing, この.
• NOT 「このはわたしのです。」 — without a thing, これ.
• NOT 「あれとけいはわたしのです。」 — before a thing, あの.
Three sets of demonstratives
こ — near me, そ — near you, あ — far from both of us, ど — question.
| Where the thing is | Instead of a noun | Before a noun | Place | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| near me | これ | この | ここ | これはわたしのペンです。 |
| near you | それ | その | そこ | そのさいふはたなか（田中）さんのです。 |
| far from both of us | あれ | あの | あそこ | あのけいたいはたなかさんのです。 |
| question | どれ | どの | どこ | どれですか。 |
Lesson notes
これ, それ, あれ: three sets
The goal of this lesson: point at a thing and ask what it is and where it is.
English has two distances, this and that; Japanese has three: こ — near me, そ — near the person you're talking to, あ — far from both of us; ど — the question. The second distance belongs to the other person: what they're holding is それ.
Three sets of four words:
• これ, それ, あれ, どれ — instead of a thing;
• この, その, あの, どの — only before a thing;
• ここ, そこ, あそこ, どこ — a place.
English “this” stands alone and before a noun; Japanese splits the two, and これ and この don't replace each other: 「これはかばんです。」, but 「このかばんはわたしのです。」
Questions: 「それはなんですか。」 — なに before です is said なん; 「かばんはどこですか。」 — 「あそこです。」 The question word doesn't move to the front as in English.
In stores and hotels you'll hear a polite set, こちら, そちら, あちら, どちら: the same distances, more polite. You don't need to practice it yet.
Common mistakes:
• NOT 「これかばんはわたしのです。」 — before a thing, この.
• NOT 「このはわたしのです。」 — without a thing, これ.
• NOT 「あれとけいはわたしのです。」 — before a thing, あの.