指示詞A1
This/That これ・それ・あれ
Demonstrative pronouns — これ (this), それ (that), あれ (that over there)
Learning Goal
Can use demonstrative pronouns
Exam Skills:JLPT N5 Grammar
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
これは何ですか。
What is this?
それをください。
Please give me that.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
これ・それ・あれ — Demonstratives
Japanese has a three-way distance system (ko-so-a-do):
| Distance | Pronoun | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Near speaker | これ | this (thing) |
| Near listener | それ | that (near you) |
| Far from both | あれ | that over there |
| Question | どれ | which one? |
Usage: これは何ですか。(What is this?) / それをください。(Give me that [near you].)
Confusing それ and あれ (それ = near listener, あれ = far from both); Using これ to point at something near the listener
これは何ですか。
What is this?
これ(this, near me) + は + 何(なに, what) + ですか
それをください。
Please give me that.
それ(that, near you) + を + ください(please give)
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises