This, That, and That Over There
これ, それ, and あれ point at things without naming them. Which one you use depends on how far the thing is from you and the person you're talking to. Our lesson on talking about yourself introduces これ/それ/あれ in context with の and だ.
Distance Chart
| Word | Distance | English |
|---|---|---|
| これ | Near the speaker | this (one) |
| それ | Near the listener | that (one) |
| あれ | Far from both | that (one) over there |
| どれ | Question | which (one)? |
Think of it as three zones: こ (my space), そ (your space), あ (neither of us).
これ, それ, あれ Are Standalone
These words replace the noun entirely. You don't attach a noun after them:
- これは何？ (What's this?)
- それはりんごです。 (That's an apple.)
If you want to say "this apple" or "that book," use この・その・あの instead.
どれ (Which One?)
どれ asks "which one?" When it's the subject, use が:
- どれがいいですか。 (Which one is good?)