Kosoado words
これ, それ, あれ and どれ, and the rest of the family (ここ, この, こんな, こちら): this, that, that over there and which.
Learn
Kosoado words, explained point by point
Everything the GCSE specification expects you to be able to do, and how to actually do it - the same lesson a signed-in student studies from.
Know the four families of こそあど words
These words come in sets that start with the same kana. こ words point to something near you, the speaker, and そ words to something near the person you are talking to. あ words point to something far from you both, and ど words ask which. Learn one set and the pattern gives you the rest.
Use これ, それ, あれ and どれ for things
These stand on their own, in place of a noun: これは 何ですか。 それは 私の かさです。 あれは 山田さんの 家です。 どれ asks which one: どれが いいですか。
Use この, その, あの and どの before a noun
These never stand alone, because a noun always follows: この ペン, その 本, あの 人, どの みせ. So this is これ on its own but この before a noun: これは 本です, but この 本は 大きいです.
Use ここ, そこ, あそこ and どこ for places
ここ is here, そこ is there (near you), あそこ is over there and どこ is where: トイレは どこですか。 あそこです。 Notice that the あ word is あそこ, not あこ.
Use こちら, そちら, あちら and どちら to be polite
This set means this way, that way and which way, and it is a polite way to point to a place or a person. こちら introduces someone: こちらは 田中さんです。 どちら also asks which of two: どちらが いいですか。
Use こんな, そんな, あんな and どんな for a kind of thing
These go before a noun and mean this kind of, that kind of and what kind of: どんな おんがくが すきですか。 あんな 家に すみたいです。 means I'd like to live in a house like that.
Use そ words for what was just said, and あ words for what you both know
そ words often point back to what the other person has just said: それは いいですね。 (That's good.) あ words point to something you both know from before: あの えいがは おもしろかったです。 (That film we saw was fun.)
Kosoado words key terms
The words the specification and the mark schemes use, each defined the way an examiner wants it.
- こ words
- Words for things near the speaker: これ, この, ここ, こちら, こんな.
- そ words
- Words for things near the listener, or just mentioned: それ, その, そこ.
- あ words
- Words for things far from both of you: あれ, あの, あそこ.
- ど words
- The question words of the family: どれ, どの, どこ, どちら, どんな.
- これ and この
- This. これ stands alone, while この needs a noun after it.
- ここ
- Here. With そこ, あそこ and どこ, it talks about places.
- こちら
- This way, or a polite this person or this place: こちらは 山本さんです.
- どんな
- What kind of, before a noun: どんな 人ですか.
Common mistakes in Kosoado words
The slips that cost marks year after year, and what to do instead.
Using この on its own, as in このは 私のです.
この always needs a noun after it. On its own, use これ: これは 私のです.
Putting これ straight before a noun, as in これ 本は 高いです.
Before a noun, use この: この 本は 高いです.
Using あれ for something the other person is holding.
Something near the listener takes a そ word: それは 何ですか. Keep あ words for things far from you both.
Writing あこ for over there.
The place word in the あ set is あそこ: ここ, そこ, あそこ, どこ.
Using どれ to choose between two things.
For a choice of two, use どちら: どちらが いいですか. どれ is for three or more.
Practice
Try a Kosoado words question
A GCSE-style original question from this topic. Have a go before you open the working - deciding on an answer first is what makes the working stick.
In a shop you point at a T-shirt hanging high up at the back, far from you and the shop assistant. Which word completes your request? すみません、 ___ Tシャツを 見せて ください。
- この
- その
- あの
- あれ
Show the answer and the working
Answer: あの
The T-shirt is far from you both and a noun follows, so あの: あの Tシャツ, that T-shirt over there.
- The T-shirt is far from you and the assistant.
- A noun, Tシャツ, follows the gap.
- Far from both, before a noun: あの.