Ko, so, a, do - こ そ あ ど
こ, そ, あ are used to express closeness of things to the speaker. ど is used if the item is unknown. There are different kinds of ko-so-a-do sets. More details about how
to use some of them below.
1. これ それ あれ どれ
These words can stand alone as a noun.
これ is equivalent of "this" in English and is referred to things close to the speaker.
2. この その あの どのこれ is equivalent of "this" in English and is referred to things close to the speaker.
Example
これはわたしのペンです。 - This is my pen.
それ is equivalent of "that" in English and is referred to things close to the listener.
これはわたしのペンです。 - This is my pen.
Example
それはあなたのペンです。 - That is your pen.
あれ does only exist in Japanese and is used for things that is neither close to the speaker or listener.
それはあなたのペンです。 - That is your pen.
Example
あれはあなたのペンです。 - That is your pen (that one over there).
どれ means which. It is followed by が and not は as the others.
あれはあなたのペンです。 - That is your pen (that one over there).
Example
どれがあなたのペンですか。 - Which one is it?
どれがあなたのペンですか。 - Which one is it?
This group of words must be follow by a noun to make a noun phrase, they can't be used alone.
3. ここ そこ あそこ どこ
Examples
このいすはいくらですか。 - How much is this chair?
そのいすはにせんえんです。 - That chair is 2000 yen.
あのいすはさんぜんえんです。 - That chair (over there) is 3000 yen.
どのつくえがよんせんえんですか。 - Which table is 4000 yen?
このいすはいくらですか。 - How much is this chair?
そのいすはにせんえんです。 - That chair is 2000 yen.
あのいすはさんぜんえんです。 - That chair (over there) is 3000 yen.
どのつくえがよんせんえんですか。 - Which table is 4000 yen?
These are used for places.
ここ - here (close to the speaker)
そこ - there (close to the listener)
あそこ - over there (close to neither the speaker nor the listener)
どこ - where
ここ - here (close to the speaker)
そこ - there (close to the listener)
あそこ - over there (close to neither the speaker nor the listener)
どこ - where
Example
| A: | すみません、ゆうびんきょくはどこですか。 |
| Excuse me, where is the post office? | |
| B: | あそこです。 |
| Over there. |
