これ／それ／あれ

Meaning

これ、それ、and あれ are demonstrative pronouns used to point to specific things without directly preceding a noun. Use これ for things close to the speaker, それ for things close to the listener, and あれ for things far from both. Unlike この、その、and あの, these pronouns stand alone and cannot be followed by a noun.

Formation

Examples

1. これは だれの みずですか
   Whose water is this?

2. あれは ジュースです。
   That is juice.

3. それは わたしの しごとでは ありません。
   That is not my work.

Summary

• これ = close to speaker; それ = close to listener; あれ = far from both
• These pronouns stand alone and cannot directly precede nouns
• Use どれ (which one?) when asking questions about multiple objects