We can use これ, それ and あれ to talk about things without naming them.
これ is used to refer to things close to the speaker. それ is used to refer to things close to the listener. あれ is used to refer to things that are neither close to the speaker nor to the listener.
| English | Japanese |
|---|---|
| This is a book. | これ は 本 です。kore wa hon desu. |
| That is a dog. | それ は 犬 です。sore wa inu desu. |
| That (over there) is a mountain. | あれ は 山 です。are wa yama desu. |
| This is a river. | これ は 川 です。kore wa kawa desu. |
| That is a cow. | それ は 牛 です。sore wa ushi desu. |
