We have learned that これ, それ and あれ are respectively used to speak about things that are close to the speaker, close to the listener, or close to neither of them. この, その and あの have the same function. The difference is that whereas the first three words replace the noun, the latter three words are used in front of a noun.
| English | Japanese |
|---|---|
| This meat is delicious! | この 肉 は おいしい です！kono niku wa oishii desu! |
| That food is mine. | その 食べ物 は 私 の です。sono tabemono wa watashi no desu. |
| Who is that person (over there)? | あの 人 は どなた です か？ano hito wa donata desu ka? |
| Which apple is yours? | どの りんご が あなた の です か？dono ringo ga anata no desu ka? |
Note that with the question word どの, we have to use が instead of は.
The word どなた is used to say who in a very polite way. In a later lesson you will learn a more common way to say who in Japanese.
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