Basic Nihonggo
Module 3:
Basic Nihonngo
Week 5 Module 3: Demonstrative Pronouns
For the student:
This module contains activities that you are tasked to accomplish on an agreed schedule between you
and your teacher. Complete the activities with diligence and submit them on time. The tasks given are
self-directed and is designed to be answered independently and collaboratively, you will be asked to
have a quiz notebook to write down all your answers for easy monitoring and recording of your grades.
In addition, you will be asked to submit your quiz notebook after finishing the module.
What I Need to Know
This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you get acquainted with
Japanese language. The scope of this module permits it to be used in many different learning
situations. The language used recognizes the diverse vocabulary level of students. The lessons are
arranged to follow the standard sequence of the course.
After going through this module, you are expected to:
1. Learn Demonstrative pronouns in Japanese.
2. Ask and answer question using demonstrative pronouns.
3. Translate simple Japanese sentences using Japanese demonstrative pronouns.
What I Know
Can anyone tell me the English translation of this “Kore wa nan desu ka”
Lesson
3 Demonstrative pronouns
Let’s watch and listen how demonstrative pronouns are use in Japanese through this video.
( attached in the files https://youtu.be/01zhaJd6FBE)
Kore wa nan desu ka- what is this?
Lets learn the Japanese translation of the following vocabulary words for us to understand and be able
to use them in sentences.
Vocabulary
Kore This (thing here)
Sore That (thing near you)
Are That (thing over there)
Kono This – here
Sono That - near you
Ano That - over there
Things
Hon Book
Jisho Dictionary
Zasshi Magazine
Shinbun Newspaper
Noto Notebook
Techo Pocket notebook
Meishi Business card
Kado Card
Terehon kado Telephone Card
Enpitsu Pencil
Borupen Ballpoint pen
Pen Pen
Kagi Key
Tokei Watch
Kasa Umbrella
Kaban Bag
Terebi Television
Rajio Radio
Kamera Camera
Kompyuta Computer
Isu Chair
Eigo English
Nan What
So, so desu ka So, is that so?
Iie, Chigaimasu No, it isn’t. you are wrong
Honno Kimochi desu Its nothing
Dozo Please, here it is
No On, possession, about
Watashi no My mine
Dare no Whose
Anata no You, yours
Anna no Anna’s
Desu ka=?
Grammar Explanation
1. Kore/sore/are are demonstratives that work as nouns. “Kore” refers to a thing near the
speaker. “Sore” refers to a thing near the listener. “Are” refers to a thing far from the
speaker and the listener.
2. Kono/sono/ ano modify nouns. “Kono” refers to a thing or a person near the speaker.
Sono refers to a thing or a person near the listener. “Ano” refers to a thing or a person
far from both the speaker and the listener.
3. So desu/ so ja arimasen – the word “so” is often used to answer a question requiring an
affirmative or negative answer. Hai “ so desu” is the affirmative answer and” iie, so ja
arimasen” is the negative answer.
Translation
Sentence Pattern. Using the vocabulary given above translate the following in English.
1. Kore wa jissho desu.
2. Kore wa watshi no kompyuta desu. no- possession and=to
3. Sore wa Anna no kasa desu.
4. Kono kasa wa watashi no desu.
5. Sono kaban wa dare no desu ka. Whose
6. Are wa kaban desu ka.
Hai so desu. Iie, so ja arimasen. _______( Thing) desu.
Is that a bag over there? Yes it is. No its not.
Kono kaban wa sensei no desu ka. hai so desu. Iie so ja arimasen.
Person – hito fish-sakana
Kore wa dare no (thing ) desu ka. No – possession , about
Kore wa sensei no kami desu.
Sore wa anata no (thing ) desu ka.
Are wa (name )Justine san no kami desu ka.
Possible
answers- hai so desu. Iie so ja arimasen. Ryan san no desu.
This -Kono tokei wa dare no desu ka. Whose watch is this?
Kono tokei wa watashi no desu. / kono tokei wa Anna san no desu.
That - sono (thing/ person)wa isha san desu ka. hai so desu. /Iie so ja arimasen.
Na-su(nurse) desu.
That over there- Ano kaban wa anata no desu ka. hai so desu. /Iie so ja arimasen
Ryan san no desu.
Jules san no desu.
Person- hito isha san- doctor
Fish - sakana
Try translating the following sentences in Japanese using the given vocabulary words.
1. Is this a Japanese book? Yes, it is. Desu ka=?
2. Is this your computer? No it’s not. It is teachers.
3. What is that? This is a calculator.
4. Is this an “8” or a “6”? It’s a “6”. Or=ka kore wa hachi desu ka roku desu ka. Roku desu.
5. Is this your watch? No, its Mr. Tanaka’s watch. Yours= Anata no
Iie, Tanaka san no desu.
1. Ano hito wa dare desu ka.
2. Sono hon wa anata no desu ka.
3. Iie, so ja arimasen. Sensei no desu.
4. Are wa dare no kutsu desu ka.
5. Kono kasa wa anata no desu ka.
Mizu o kudasai.
Okane tiodai. Okane nai.
6 =roku 7=nana 8=hachi 9= kyu 10=ju
Tanaka no- Mister Tanaka’s book.
That person= ano hito no sakana
Are wa tokei desu.
Kore wa dare no mizu desu ka.
Sore wa sensei no mizu desu.
Ano mizu wa sensei no desu.
Kore wa dare no cerufon desu ka.
Fish- sakana
Fish of Kyla =Kyla no sakana
Practice
Listen to the conversation then read with a partner observing the correct intonation.(recorded
conversation in the files)
Using Kono, Sono, Ano & Dono
‘kono’, ‘sono’, ‘ano’ and ‘dono’ are called pre-nominals and connect directly to a noun without
any particles between the two. In the first box below with blue text, notice that ‘kono’ is
followed by ‘shougakkusei’ directly. This isn’t so with ‘kore’ which we will look at next.
Look at These Examples…
Other Meanings of Kono, Sono, Ano & Dono
Kono means this thing very near you.
Sono means that thing somewhat near you or something just mentioned or know about.
Ano means that thing way over there or something we both know about.
Dono means which thing of 3 or more.
Using Kono, Sono, Ano & Dono in a Sentence
Here is the sentence order and English equivalents. Note that both Japanese nouns and
adjectives can follow the ‘kono’ & noun combinations.
Ai no koto -love life dress- kimono, duresu
Arimasen/Nai- nothing ex. Okane nai. Okane chodai. Food-
tabemono
Imasen/Inai- not present , not here Inay wa inai. Drinks-
nomimono
Mother-inay
Tomodachi-friend kodomo-child, girl,boy akachan-newborn
Interesting-omoshiroi
And Finally "Dore"
There is one rule to remember with using it. "Dore" is followed by the particle "ga" What’s
"ga"? Glad you asked. Unlike, "wa" which establishes a loose connection with the subject, "ga"
establishes a very tight and exhaustive connection with the subject of the sentence.
So you shouldn’t say ‘Dore wa suki desu ka? to mean "which of these 3 things do you like?"
Instead, use "ga" in place of "wa"
Dame- no good, broken oishii-delicious -many
Bread Pan-green biscuit pan- bread wakarimasu ka- do you understand?
Oboete imasu ka- do you remember?
Let's Try to Translate the Following:
1. This movie is boring.
2. This is a boring movie.
3. Is that (way over there) the bus stop? Michi-way bus stop-noriba
4. This grade school student is Kumiko.
5. Which magazine (of 3 or more) is interesting?
6. Which performance (of 3 or more) is interesting?
7. That college (slightly removed from you) is new.
8. Is that (slightly removed from us) the train station?
9. That (way over there) is a junior high school.
10. This room is hot.
Assessment
Choose the letter of the correct answer.
Activity: Translate the next conversation with a partner, practice reading then recite
Yamada san: Hai. Donata/ dare desu ka.
Santosu san : 408 no Santosu desu. Maru=zero
Santosu san: Konnichiwa. Santosu desu.
Korekara ose wa ni narimasu.
Dozo yoroshiku onegai shimasu.
Yamada san: Kochira koso. Yoroshiku.
Santosu san: Ano. Kore, honno kimochi desu.
Yamada san : A, domo arigato gozaimasu. Nan desu ka.
Santosu san: Kohii desu. Dozo.
Yamada san: Domo arigato gozaimasu
