Choose a demonstrative that fits the sentence structure. これ can stand alone as a noun phrase; この must modify a following noun.
Check what follows the blank
これは本です identifies this thing as a book. この本は新しいです comments on this book. In the second sentence, この belongs with 本. You cannot normally replace it with これ and leave これ本 as the same noun phrase.
The same distinction applies to それ／その and あれ／あの. In a simple physical pointing exercise, こ points near the speaker, そ near the listener, and あ away from both. In conversation, demonstratives can also refer back to ideas or shared information, so physical distance is not their only use.
Keep the task concrete
The questions below describe where the object is and whether a noun follows. They do not assume that every English “this” becomes これ. Translate the whole phrase, including the noun it modifies.
Examples to read before you practise
Japanese | Reading / English |
|---|---|
これは私の本です。 | This is my book. |
この本は新しいです。 | This book is new. |
そのかばんはだれのですか。 | Whose bag is that near you? |
Try six questions
Try these self-check questions from memory, then compare your answers with the explanations. For automatic checking and saved progress, open the related practice after this article.
Point near yourself: （ ）は私の本です。 No noun immediately follows the blank.
Point near yourself: （ ）本は新しいです。
Point to the listener’s bag: （ ）かばん
Point to a distant object away from both people: （ ）は何ですか。
Point to a distant building: （ ）建物
それ + 本 → replace それ with the correct modifier
Answer key and explanations
これ — これ stands alone as a noun phrase.
この — この modifies 本.
その — その modifies a noun near the listener in this scene.
あれ — あれ stands alone for the distant object.
あの — あの modifies 建物.
その — Use その before the noun.
Keep learning
Related lessons
Try what you have just read
Recognise the pattern, write an answer from memory, then use it in a short reading. Your existing progress carries over.
Open the three-step lessonSources
Related Grammar
Kore, Sore, Are, and Dore: Point to Things
これ, それ, and あれ stand in for a thing. They do not need a following noun. Practise with 10 explained questions.
Kono, Sono, Ano, and Dono: Point with a Noun
この, その, and あの must accompany a noun: この本, その店, あの人. They help specify which book, shop, or person you mean. Practise with 10 explained questions.
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