Lesson 7: これ・この・の

N5 · Lesson 7 · 18 min — これ・それ・あれ・どれ／この + noun／の

In the last lesson you learned “A は B です”. In this lesson, A becomes “this” or “that”. You'll also learn の, the little word for “my” or “Rin's”. After this lesson, when you find something in Japan or are looking for your bag, you can ask in Japanese: “これは　せんせいのですか。” (Is this the teacher's?) And you can say “It's mine!” Let's start with the comic!

After this lesson, you can:

• Point at things with これ・それ・あれ・どれ, and know who each thing is near
• Say “this umbrella” or “that book” with この・その・あの・どの + noun
• Use の to say “my umbrella” or “snacks from Taiwan”, and also “It's mine”

Which umbrella is mine?

June, the rainy season. Time to go home after class, but the umbrella stand is full of identical umbrellas...

これ・それ・あれ・どれ; before a noun use この・その・あの・どの. That pineapple umbrella is Grandpa's send-off gift.

Nouns for this lesson

• 傘かさ (kasa): umbrella
• かばん (kaban): bag
• 本ほん (hon): book
• 財布さいふ (saifu): wallet
• スマホ (sumaho): smartphone
• おかし (okashi): snack, sweets
• パイナップルケーキ (painappuru kēki): pineapple cake (a Taiwanese pastry)
• 人ひと (hito): person
• わたし (watashi): I, me
• 先生せんせい (sensei): teacher
• 友達ともだち (tomodachi): friend
• 台湾たいわん (Taiwan): Taiwan
• 日本語にほんご (Nihongo): Japanese (language)
• コンビニ (konbini): convenience store

Grammar 1 / 3: これ・それ

Choose the word by who the thing is near.

• これ・それ・あれ = this・that・that (over there): These words mean “this thing” or “that thing” by themselves, so they can go right before は: これは　かさです。
• Think about the two people: これ: in my hand or next to me. それ: in your hand, or closer to you. あれ: far from both of us, like a shop across the street.
• どれ = which one: Use it to pick one from three or more things: “パイナップルケーキは　どれですか。” Answer with これ・それ・あれ: “これです。”
• Mainly for things: これ・それ・あれ are mainly for things. For people, say “この　ひと” or “あの　ひと”. It's more natural and more polite. (You'll learn this in the next grammar point, and even more polite words later.)

• これは　パイナップルケーキです。 — This is a pineapple cake.
• それは　スマホです。 — That is a smartphone. (In your hand.)
• あれは　コンビニです。 — That is a convenience store. (Far away.)
• パイナップルケーキは　どれですか。 — Which one is the pineapple cake?
• これですか。 — Is it this one?

Grammar 2 / 3: この＋noun

Before a noun, れ becomes の.

• れ→の: before a noun: これ・それ・あれ・どれ are complete words for “a thing”. To say “this umbrella” or “that book”, change them to この・その・あの・どの and put the noun right after.
• Same near/far rule: この = near me, その = near you, あの = far from both, どの = which ~. Exactly the same as Grammar 1.
• “This one” is これ, not この: English often says “this one” or “that one”. In Japanese, この needs a real noun: この　かさ (this umbrella), この　ほん (this book). If there's no noun, just say これ.
• For people: この　ひと・あの　ひと: For people, say “この　ひと” or “あの　ひと”: “あの　ひとは　ともだちです”. For teachers or older people there is an even more polite way. You'll learn it later.
• どの + noun = which ~?: “どの　かさですか。” (Which umbrella is it?) Answer: “あの　かさです。”

• この　おかしは　パイナップルケーキです。 — This snack is a pineapple cake.
• この　ひとは　ともだちです。 — This person is a friend (of mine). (showing a photo)
• その　かさは　わたしのじゃありません。 — That umbrella isn't mine.
• どの　かさですか。 — Which umbrella is it?
• あの　かさです。 — It's that umbrella over there.

Grammar 3 / 3: の

A の B = A's B. If the noun is already clear, “A の” alone is fine.

• Whose: わたしの　かさ: “person + の + thing” = someone's thing: せんせいの　ほん (the teacher's book), ともだちの　さいふ (my friend's wallet).
• What kind, from where: たいわんの　おかし: の can also show the type or the origin: にほんごの　ほん (a Japanese-language book), コンビニの　かさ (an umbrella from a convenience store).
• Noun already clear: わたしのです: When everyone knows what thing you mean, you can drop the noun after の: “その　かさは　わたしのです。” (That umbrella is mine.)
• Owner first, like “Rin's”: The owner comes first, the thing comes second, like English 's: Rin's umbrella = リンの　かさ. Don't follow the “of” order: “the umbrella of Rin” is still リンの　かさ.

• これは　わたしの　かさです。 — This is my umbrella.
• それは　せんせいの　ほんです。 — That is the teacher's book.
• あれは　ともだちの　かばんです。 — That (over there) is my friend's bag.
• これは　たいわんの　おかしです。 — This is a snack from Taiwan.
• この　さいふは　わたしのです。 — This wallet is mine.
• あの　スマホは　せんせいのですか。 — Is that smartphone the teacher's?