GRAMMAR EXPLANATION

1. これ／それ／あれ

これ, それand あれ　are demonstrative nouns.

これ　– refers to thing near the speaker.

それ　– refers a thing near the listener.

あれ　– refers to a thing far from the speaker and the listener.

EX.

これは　消(け)しゴム　です。This is an eraser.

それは　きょうかしょです。That is a textbook.

あれは　えんぴつ　です。That over there is a pencil.

これ／それ／あれ は  なん  です   か。

The interrogative なに or なん corresponds to “what” in English. The demonstrativepronoun will change depending on the location of the noun with regards to the speaker and listener.

EX.

1. これは　なん　ですか。

What is this?

それ　は　腕時計(うでどけい)　です。                        

That is a wristwatch.

2.これは　カメラ　です。

This is a camera.

3. それは　なん　ですか。                                  

What is that?

…これ　は　本(ほん)　 です。

This is a book.

1. 4.それは　けいたいでんわ　です。
2. That is a mobile phone.

5. あれは　なん　ですか。                                               

What is that (over there)?

…あれは　ボールペン　です。

That is a ballpen (over there).

1. 6. あれは　じしょです。
2. That is a dictionary (over there).

kono/sono/ano + Noun

“この／その／あの”(kono/sono/ano) are demonstrative words used when referring to a particular noun. In English, they are “this”, “that”, and “that…over there”.

When the object is close to the speaker, “このN” is used. When the object is close to the listener and far from the speaker, “そのN” is used. When the object is far from both persons, “あのN” is used

1. この　本(ほん)は　わたしの　です。

This book is mine.

2. そのくつは　ミラさん　の　です。

That is Mira’s shoes.

3. あの　方(かた)は　宮本(みやもと)さん　です。

That man is Mr. Miyamoto.

3. これ、それ、あれ、は　にほんご　で　なん　です　か

The particle で is attached after the language to indicate what the language was used.

1. これは　（シャープナー）英語(えいご)で　なん　ですか。

What is this in English?

…それ　は　英語(えいご)　で　“sharpener” です。

That is a sharpener in English.

2.“Good morning” は　日本語(にほんご)で　なん です か。

What is “good morning” in Japanese?

… “Good morning”　は　日本語(にほんご) で　“おはようございます”　です。

It is “ohayou gozaimasu” in Japanese.

4. どれ／どの　N

The interrogative どれ is used to ask the listener to choose or designate one from more than two things concretely shown, named or demonstrated.

1. 日本語(にほんご)の　教科書(きょうかしょ)　は　どれですか。

Which one is the Japanese textbook?

…日本語(にほんご)の　教科書(きょうかしょ)　は　これです。

This one is the Japanese textbook.

N₁ か, 　N₂ か 　どれ　にしますか

This pattern is used to make a decision from a certain choices of nouns. The particle に is attached to a chosen noun followed by the verb.

2. アイスクリーム　か　ケーキか、 どれに　しますか。

Which would you choose, ice cream or cake?

アイスクリーム　に　します。

I choose ice cream./ I prefer ice cream.

…ケーキ　に　します.

I choose cake./ I prefer cake.

…りょうほう　に　します。

I choose both.　／　I prefer both.

When you point out or modifying an object and want to ask something, you use “どの”(dono).  “どの + a noun” is the correct usage.

どれ　cannot modify a noun directly.

3. 山田(やまだ)さん　は　どの　人(ひと)ですか。

Which is Mr. Yamada?

…あの背(せ)が高(たか)い　ひとです。

That tall  man

.

5. そうです／－ね／－よ

The word そう is often used to answer a question requiring an affirmative or negative answer. The expression　はい、そうですcan be use.

1. それは　ノート　ですか。

Is that a notebook?

…はい、　そう　です。

Yes, it is.

But そうです is not usually used when answering a question in the negative form. It is more common to say “ちがいます” or “No, it isn’t”, followed by the correct answer.

2. それは　ボールペン　ですか。

Is that a ballpen

…いいえ、ちがいます。それは　えんぴつ　です。

No,　it isn’t.　That is a pencil.

3. それは　辞書(じしょ)ですか。

Is that a dictionary?

…いいえ、ちがいます。

No. It isn’t.

The particle ね on the other hand is attached to the end of a　sentence and is used to elicit agreement from the listener,  check that the listener understood, or emphasize something to the listener.　It is used commonly in conversation.

1.  A: 毎晩(まいばん)、11時(じ)まで　日本語(にほんご)を　べんきょうします。

I study Japanese until 11 pm  every     night.

B:　…それは　たいへんです　ね。

That’s tough, isn’t it?

2. キムさんは　韓国人(かんこくじん)　ですね。

Miss Kim is Korean,  isn’t she?

The particle よ is placed at the end of a sentence. It is used to emphasize information which the listener does not know, or to show that the speaker is giving his or her judgment or views assertively. It is used commonly in conversation.

1. この電車(でんしゃ) は金山(かなやま)へ行(い)きますか。

Does this train go to Kanayama?

…いいえ、行(い)きません。

No, it doesn’t.

次(つぎ)の電車(でんしゃ)　ですよ。

You need the next train.

2. この　パン　は　おいしい  ですよ。

This bread is delicious, you know.

6. いくら　ですか

The interrogative いくら is used to ask the price of a certain noun. The monetary units like ～円(えん) for Japanese Yen, ～ドル for Dollar and ～ペソ for Peso are examples of suffixes used to indicate the price.

1. A:  それ　は　いくら　ですか。

How much is that?

B:   これ　は　5746　円(えん)です。

This is 5,746 yen.

A:   じゃ、それ　を　ください。

I’ll take that one, please.

Or  それ　を　おねがいします。