JLPT N5 · There is, this and that · 21 of 60

This and that: これ・それ・あれ

これ・それ・あれ kore, sore, are This; that; that over there

これ, それ and あれ (kore, sore, are) mean "this", "that near you" and "that over there". They stand alone, with no noun after them.

Level: JLPT N5, beginner
Type: There is, this and that
English links: demonstratives, articles, singular and plural

What it means

Japanese points with four starting sounds. こ means near me. そ means near you. あ means far from both of us. ど asks "which?". So これ is "this", それ is "that, near you", あれ is "that over there", and どれ is "which one?"

These words stand alone, like a noun. Say これは本です (This is a book), not これ本. If you want a noun after the pointing word, you need この, その or あの. That is the next point.

それ has one more job. It can point back to something someone just said: それはいいですね, "That is nice." English uses "that" in the same way, so this part is easy.

Ask yourself: is it near me, near you, or far from both of us? If the student is holding it, use それ. Do not worry about getting it perfect. People will understand you anyway.

How to build it

Pattern	How it works
これ／それ／あれ + は + noun + です kore / sore / are + wa + noun + desu	This is N. That is N.
これ／それ／あれ + は + noun + ですか kore / sore / are + wa + noun + desu ka	Is this N? Add か for a question.
どれ + が + ～ですか dore + ga + ~ desu ka	Which one? どれ takes が, never は.
これ／それ／あれ + を + verb kore / sore / are + o + verb	They work like any noun: これをください, "This one, please."

Examples

これは本です。 kore wa hon desu. This is a book.
それはペンです。 sore wa pen desu. That is a pen. (near you)
あれは駅です。 are wa eki desu. That over there is the station.
これは何ですか。 kore wa nan desu ka. What is this?
すみません、これをください。 sumimasen, kore o kudasai. Excuse me, I will take this one, please.

How English says it

English has two steps, not three. "This" is near me. "That" is everything else, near you or far away. When distance matters, English adds words: "that one over there".

English also has plural forms: "these" and "those". Japanese has none in normal speech. これ can be one book or ten.

In short answers, English changes to "it". "Is this your bag?" "Yes, it is." Japanese repeats the pointing word, or drops it: はい、そうです.

Why it can make English hard

これ has no plural, so many students say "This is my shoes" and do not hear the problem.
Japanese has no articles. "This is pen" is a very common first-year sentence.
English "that" covers both それ and あれ. Some students look for a third word, or use "it" for something far away.
Short answers use "it" in English. Students who follow the Japanese pattern answer "Yes, this is" or "Yes, that is."

Mistakes you will hear

This is pen. This is a pen. From これはペンです. Japanese has no word for "a".
This is my shoes. These are my shoes. これ is one word for one or many. English needs "these".
Is that your bag? Yes, that is. Is that your bag? Yes, it is. English short answers use "it", not "this" or "that".

In the classroom

Use the room. Hold a pen: "This is a pen." Point to a pen on a student's desk: "That is a pen." Point out of the window: "That is the gym." Students copy with their own things.
Play "What is this?" with a bag of real objects. Each answer must use "It is a ..." or "They are ...". The plural cards make students think.
Put two of everything on the board: a pen and pens. Students point and say "this pen" and "these pens" fast. Speed helps the plural stick.

Practice

Try each one, then open it to check.

1. A student is holding your pen. Fill the gap: ＿は私のペンです。 (That is my pen.)

Answer: それ

The pen is near the listener, so use そ.
2. You point at a building far from you both. Fill the gap: ＿は何ですか。 (What is that over there?)

Answer: あれ

It is far from both of you, so use あ.
3. A student writes "This are my books." Fix it.

Answer: These are my books.

"Books" is plural, so English needs "these" and "are".
4. Translate: どれですか。

Answer: Which one is it?

どれ asks "which one" from a group of things.