Explanation

The particles この (kono), その (sono), and あの (ano) are used to indicate proximity or distance from the speaker or the listener. They function as demonstrative pronouns meaning 'this', 'that', and 'that (over there)', respectively.

Personalized Lesson For You!

Key Formation

• この + Noun

  このテーブル (This table)

• その + Noun

  その電車 (That train)

• あの + Noun

  あの建物 (That building)

Example Sentences

• この本は面白いです。

  This book is interesting.

  このほんはおもしろいです。

  Kono hon wa omoshiroi desu.

  Pronunciation

• その車は高いです。

  That car is expensive.

  そのくるまはたかいです。

  Sono kuruma wa takai desu.

  Pronunciation

• あの人は誰ですか？

  Who is that person?

  あのひとはだれですか？

  Ano hito wa dare desu ka?

  Pronunciation

• このお土産、おいしいですか？

  Is this souvenir delicious?

  このおみやげ、おいしいですか？

  Kono omiyage, oishii desu ka?

  Pronunciation

• あの山も登りたいです。

  I also want to climb that mountain.

  あのやまものぼりたいです。

  Ano yama mo noboritai desu.

  Pronunciation

Usage Notes

Notes and Tips for JLPT students

Related Grammar, and what's the difference?

• ここ/そこ/あそこ - (N5)
  - While この/その/あの indicate proximity or distance from the speaker or listener, ここ/そこ/あそこ are used to specify locations. ここ (koko) means 'here', そこ (soko) means 'there', and あそこ (asoko) means 'over there'.
• どの (dono) - (N5)
  - どの (dono) is used to ask 'which'. It is used before a noun to ask about a specific choice among multiple options.
• これ/それ/あれ - (N5)
  - これ/それ/あれ are similar to この/その/あの, but they are used as pronouns without a following noun. これ (kore) means 'this', それ (sore) means 'that', and あれ (are) means 'that (over there)'.

Useful Vocabulary that appeared in this page

• * 本 (ほん)bookPronunciation
• * 面白い (おもしろい)interestingPronunciation
• * 車 (くるま)carPronunciation
• * 高い (たかい)expensivePronunciation
• * 人 (ひと)personPronunciation
• * 誰 (だれ)whoPronunciation
• * お土産 (おみやげ)souvenirPronunciation
• * おいしい (おいしい)deliciousPronunciation
• * 山 (やま)mountainPronunciation
• * 登りたい (のぼりたい)want to climbPronunciation
• * 青い (あおい)bluePronunciation
• * ペン (ぺん)penPronunciation

Quiz

Which of the following means 'That pen is blue'?

• このペンは青いです。
• そのペンは青いです。
• あのペンは青いです。