This book, that car…
Now you can point to something and name it in the same phrase.
Coco-sensei
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These words use the same こ/そ/あ/ど distance pattern as これ and its companions. The difference is what follows: この needs a noun, as in この 本, その 傘, or あの ホテル. これ stands on its own.
| near me | near you | away from both | which? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| stands alone | これ | それ | あれ | どれ |
| before a noun | この 〜 | その 〜 | あの 〜 | どの 〜 |
English uses “this” both on its own—“I want this”—and before a noun—“I want this book.” Japanese uses two different words for those jobs: これ and この. Use この 本 for “this book”; do not use これ 本, and do not leave この without its noun.
Examples
この 本 は 私 の です。
This book is mine.
その 傘 は けんさん の です。
That umbrella is Ken’s.
あの ホテル です。
It’s that hotel over there.
どの 店 です か。
Which store is it?