Meaning
We learnt “これ“（this） and “あれ“（that) here. These are demonstrative words, used to point to specific people, objects, or ideas. Today, we’ll explore this in more detail.
There are a few differences between Japanese demonstrative words and English ones. Let’s take a look.
Other perspective “それ“(Sore)
Following Japanese would be translated into English like below.
これはわたしの教科書です。
This would be …（This is my textbook.)
あれはわたしの教科書です。
This would be …（That is my textbook.)
それはわたしの教科書です。
…?
In Japanese there is another one, “それ“ , means, “that” or “it,” specifically referring to an object, concept, or person located near the listener rather than the speaker.
So the translation would still be “That is my textbook.” But this sentence implies the textbook is near the listener.
• これ(this) = near the speaker
• それ (that)= near the listener
• あれ (that)= far from both
Demonstrative Adjective
・これはわたしの本です。(This is my book. )
In this sentence, “これ“（this) is a pronoun.
・この本はわたしのです。（This book is mine.)
In this sentence, “この“（this) is demonstrative adjective, and modifies “本“（book). In English, they are still the same but in Japanese “これ“ will be changed to “この“, “あれ” will be “あの“, “それ” will be “その“.
Vocabulary list
| きょうかしょ（教科書） | kyōkasho | textbook |
| これ | kore | this |
| あれ | are | that |
| それ | sore | that |
| かいしゃ（会社） | kaisha | company |
| くるま（車） | Kuruma | car |
| スマホ | sumaho | smartphone |
| いえ（家） | ie | home/house |
| ペン | pen | pen |
| ほん（本） | hon | book |
| はな（花） | hana | flower |
| きれい | kirei | beautiful |
Example
・それ は 会社 の 車 です。（That is the company’s car.)
(Sore wa kaisha no kuruma desu.)
※The car is near the listener rather than the speaker.
・あれ は 会社 の 車 です。（That is the company’s car.)
(Are wa kaisha no kuruma desu.)
※The car is far from both the listener and the speaker.
・この スマホ は 山田さん の です。（This smartphone is Mr. Yamada’s)
(Kono sumaho wa Yamada san no desu.)
・あの 家 は みく さん の ですか。（Is that house Miku’s?)
(Ano ie wa Mikusan no desu ka.)
・あの 家 は みくさん の では ないです。（That house is not Miku’s house.)
(Ano ie wa Mikusan no dewa nai desu.)
・その ペン は わたし の です。(That pen is mine.)
(Sono pen wa watashi no desu.)
※The pen is near the listener rather than the speaker.
・その 本 も わたし の です。（That book is also mine.)
(Sono hon mo watashi no desu.)
※The book is near the listener rather than the speaker.
Practice Section
Exercise 1: Translate to Japanese
1. That is the teacher’s textbook.
※The listener is holding the textbook.
2. Is that car yours?
※The listener is standing next to to the car.
3. Yes, this car is mine.
Exercise 2: Translate to English
1. この本はあなたのですか？
2. いいえ、それはみくさんのです。
3. その花はきれいです。
Answers are at the end.
Summary
• これ(this) = near the speaker
• それ (that)= near the listener
• あれ (that)= far from both
• この / その / あの modify nouns
• これ / それ / あれ are pronouns
Answer
Exercise 1: Translate to Japanese
1. That is the teacher’s textbook. → それは先生の教科書です。
※The listener is holding the textbook.
2. Is that car yours? → その車はあなたのですか？
※The listener is standing next to the car.
3. Yes, this car is mine. → はい、この車はわたしのです。
Exercise 2: Translate to English
1. この本はあなたのですか？→ Is this book yours?
2. いいえ、それはみくさんのです。→ No, that is Miku’s.
3. その花はきれいです。→ That flower is beautiful.
Next we will learn Japanese Adjectives!