この・その・あの: demonstratives before nouns

The idea

When speaker and listener are apart, この names something near the speaker, その near the listener, and あの far from both. どの asks which one. Each form must be followed by a noun: この本 means “this book” and そのペン means “that pen”. The particle comes after the whole noun phrase.

Examples

• この本ほんは私わたしのです。This book is mine.
• そのペンは青あおいです。That pen is blue.
• あの店みせは何時なんじに開あきますか。What time does that shop over there open?
• この駅えきはとても新あたらしいです。This station is very new.
• その映画えいがはとても面白おもしろいです。That film is very interesting.
• あの猫ねこはまだ小ちいさいです。That cat over there is still small.

Watch out

Do not use この by itself for “this”: use これ when no noun follows. Distance is a useful starting point, but shared context can change the perspective.

Try it yourself

1. The object is near the speaker. Choose the demonstrative. 話はなす人ひとの近ちかく：＿＿本ほんは私わたしのです。（この／その／あの）

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   この

   この — When speaker and listener are apart, この names something near the speaker, その near the listener, and あの far from both. どの asks which one.

2. The object is near the listener. Choose the demonstrative. 聞きく人ひとの近ちかく：＿＿ペンは青あおいです。（この／その／あの）

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   その

   その — When speaker and listener are apart, この names something near the speaker, その near the listener, and あの far from both. どの asks which one.

3. The object is far from both people. Choose the demonstrative. 二人ふたりから遠とおく：＿＿店みせは新あたらしいです。（この／その／あの）

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   あの

   あの — When speaker and listener are apart, この names something near the speaker, その near the listener, and あの far from both. どの asks which one.

Use it today

Cover the examples. Make two new sentences using the pattern, then check them against the table.