This and that

Japanese has a larger collection of demonstratives (like this and that) than English does. They are referred to as 'ko-so-a-do' words.

Ko words indicate that the object in question is close to the speaker, or close to both the speaker and listener.

So words indicate that the object is close to the listener, but not the speaker.

A words indicate that the object is not near either the speaker or the listener.

Do words are question words.

kono kami - this paper (by me)

sono kami - that paper (by you)

ano kami - that paper (by neither of us)

dono kami - which paper

kore - this (by me)

sore - that (by you)

are - that (by neither of us)

dore - which

この　その　あの　and　どの　must be used immediately preceding a noun, while これ　それ　あれ　and どれ　can only be used by themselves (without a noun).

For example:

この　えいが　お　みました　か？

Kono eiga o mimashita ka?

Did you see this movie?

それ　わ　ぎゅうにゅう　か？

Sore wa gyuunyuu ka?

Is that cow's milk?