So that we can learn when to use certain words in Japanese, nothing better than seeing in practice examples and the “rule” that indicates when to use them.
In this case, we are talking about the demonstrative pronouns this, this and what in Japanese are KORE (これ), SORE (それ) and ARE (あれ) and are the most used words in the Japanese language.
According to brazilian school…
Demonstrative pronouns demonstrate the position of any element in relation to the persons in the discourse, placing them in space, time or in the discourse itself.
Now that we understand a little of what a demonstrative pronoun is, we can learn how to use them in the Japanese language.
Where to use KORE,SORE AND ARE (これ-それ-あれ)?
In the video below we can clearly see how we identify where to use KORE, SORE and ARE:
Summarizing and simplifying:
- KORE (これ) means this and indicates that the object is close to the speaker
- SORE (それ) means that and indicates that the object is close to the listener
- ARE (あれ) means that one and indicates that the object is far from the speaker and listener
For a more in-depth explanation see the article Kosoado and interrogative words on the blog ganbarou ze.
Below, we will see the example sentences cited in the video:
これはペンです。 This is a pen
それはペンです。 This is a pen
あれはペンです。 That is a pen
More examples from the video:
これはわたしのくるまです。This is my car.
それはあなたのけしゴムです。 This is your eraser
あれはマリアのほんです。 That's Maria's book
Formal Questions
これはだれのくるまですか。
whose car is this
A.わたしのです。 (It's mine) or わたしのくるまです。 (This is my car.)
あれはだれのほんですか。
Whose book is this?
A.マリアのです。 (It's Maria's.) or マリアのほんです。 (It's Maria's book.)
in the course of NHK we can also see a brief explanation of the pronouns and I also take this opportunity to indicate the blog Ze winked! – Japanese grammar.
Hope you enjoyed it and don't forget to leave your comment!