Grammar: first steps › Lesson 6
Pointing with これ・それ・あれ
Words for pointing at things depend on the distance from the speaker.
Key points
Three distances
これ is near the speaker, それ is near the listener, and あれ is far from both. どれ means "which one?" when choosing among several.
Place words follow the same pattern
For places, use ここ, そこ, あそこ and どこ. They follow the same four-way pattern: near, near you, far, and the question word.
Examples
- これは本です。Kore wa hon desu.This is a book.
- それは何ですか。Sore wa nan desu ka.What is that?
- あれは駅です。Are wa eki desu.That over there is a station.
- どれですか。Dore desu ka.Which one is it?
A small tip
何 can be read なに or なん. In 何ですか it is read なん: "nan desu ka".
Check yourself
1. Which word points at something near the speaker?
これ is near the speaker.
2. Which word points at something far from both people?
あれ is far away.
3. What does どこ ask about?
どこ asks about a place.
This lesson was checked on 2026.11.08. Translations are a learning guide.
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