この・その・あの + noun
この／その／あの／どの + noun
この／その／あの／どの + noun = “this… (here, by you, over there) / which…?”. Without a noun, it's これ／それ／あれ／どれ.
In short
これ, それ, あれ are used on their own. In front of a noun, you use この, その, あの and どの: この ほん (this book), あの 人 (that person over there), どの かばん (which bag?).
- この かさは わたしのです。kono kasa wa watashi no desuThis umbrella is mine.
- あの 人は だれですか。ano hito wa dare desu kaWho is that person over there?
- どの かばんですか。dono kaban desu kaWhich bag?
The basics
この, その, あの and どの go in front of a noun, like “this” and “that” in English. Same zones as これ・それ・あれ, but here a noun has to come right after.
- この ほんは おもしろいです。kono hon wa omoshiroi desuThis book is interesting.
- あの 人は だれですか。ano hito wa dare desu kaWho is that person over there?
これ or この?
これ replaces the noun, この goes with it. It's the difference between “this one” and “this…” followed by a noun.
| On its own (replaces the noun) | In front of a noun | Question |
|---|---|---|
| これは かさです。 | この かさは わたしのです。 | どれ／どの かさ |
| それは なんですか。 | その かさは だれのですか。 | which one? / which umbrella? |
どの for choosing
どの + noun asks you to choose among several: どの かばんですか (which bag?). In the answer, you use この, その or あの again, or just the noun.
- どの かばんが いいですか。——あの あかい かばんです。dono kaban ga ii desu ka. ano akai kaban desuWhich bag do you like? — That red bag, over there.
Common mistakes
- Using この without a noun: “このは わたしのです” is wrong, you say これは.
- Translating “that book” word for word as それ ほん: it's その ほん.
- Repeating どの in the answer: you point with この／その／あの.
5 exercises on this point
Particles to choose, sentences to put back in order, translations: marked straight away, then reviewed at the right time. This JLPT N5 point is on the Hanzomon Line (This, that, who, where) of the Tokyo subway.