This, that, and whose
Point to things and link people, places, and objects with の.
Choose これ, それ, and あれ.
Hear the lesson phrases
Google voice when available; device voice as a fallback.
Read the audio transcript
これは何ですか。
Point from the speaker’s position
これ refers to something near the speaker, それ to something near the listener, and あれ to something away from both in a typical face-to-face situation. These words can stand by themselves.
Before a noun, use この, その, or あの: この本, this book. Do not place これ directly before a noun. Conversation can also use these words to refer back to ideas.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- これkorethis thing
- はwatopic markerPronounced wa. Marks what the following comment is about; it is not the word “is”.
- ほんhonbook
- です。desuis (polite)
Japanese does not require a separate word for English “a” or “the” in this pattern.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- そのほんsonohonthat bookその means “that” before a noun; 本 means “book”.
- はwatopic markerPronounced wa. Marks what the following comment is about; it is not the word “is”.
- わたしのほんwatashinohonmy book私の means “my”; の links the owner to the following noun.
- です。desuis (polite)
Connect nouns with の
の links a modifying noun to the noun after it. 私の本 is my book; 日本語の本 is a book in or about Japanese. The relationship is broader than ownership.
誰の asks whose. 何 asks what; before です the reading is normally なん. Learn the question with its reading instead of treating 何 as having one fixed pronunciation.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- これkorethis thing
- はwatopic markerPronounced wa. Marks what the following comment is about; it is not the word “is”.
- だれのdarenowhose
- かばんkabanbag
- ですdesuis (polite)
- か。kaquestion markerMakes this a question. English may change its word order or add an auxiliary instead.
How the words match
Tap a word in either language to see its partner. Some phrases work as a group; particles explain the grammar.
- あのひとanohitothat person (over there)あの points to something away from both speakers.
- はwatopic markerPronounced wa. Marks what the following comment is about; it is not the word “is”.
- だれdarewho
- ですdesuis (polite)
- か。kaquestion markerMakes this a question. English may change its word order or add an auxiliary instead.
Lesson vocabulary
Read each word aloud, then test your recall of its meaning.
| これ これ | this (thing) | |
| それ それ | that (thing near you) | |
| あれ あれ | that (thing over there) | |
| 誰 だれ | who | |
| 何 なん | what (before です) | |
| かばん かばん | bag |
Practice questions
Answer the questions and read the explanations. You can repeat the exercises.
Ask what or whose something is.