LinguaOne system, two shapes
Everything in this unit runs on a single grid. Three distances – mine, yours, neither – plus a question word, in two shapes: the short one that stands for a noun and the long one that stands in front of one. Get that grid right and half of everyday Japanese pointing is done, because the same three distances will return for places, for directions and, much later, for things you are both merely thinking about.
| Distance | Stands alone | Before a noun | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| near me | これ | この | このじしょ |
| near you | それ | その | そのみせ |
| away from both | あれ | あの | あのたてもの |
| which one | どれ | どの | どのかた |
The shopping conversation this makes possible
With the pointing words, の and です you can already buy something. Point and say これをください; ask それはいくらですか; confirm with そうですか; close with ありがとうございます. Nothing in that exchange needs a verb you have not met, and it is the same exchange in a bakery, a bookshop and a station kiosk.
すみません、これはいくらですかExcuse me, how much is this?
では、これをくださいWell then, I will take this one.
Words in this lesson
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| これ | this one | これはなんのほんですか What kind of book is this? |
| それ | that one near you | それはいくらですか How much is that? |
| あれ | that one over there | あれもいいですね That one is nice too, isn't it? |
| この | this (before a noun) | このかばんはあたらしいです This bag is new. |
| その | that (near you, before a noun) | そのペンをかしてください Please lend me that pen. |
| あの | that (over there, before a noun) | あのひとはともだちです That person over there is a friend of mine. |
| じしょ | dictionary | そのじしょはわたしのです That dictionary is mine. |
| みせ | shop | そのみせはしずかです That shop is quiet. |
| たてもの | building | あのたてものはがっこうです That building over there is a school. |
| かた | person (polite) | どのかたがせんせいですか Which of these is the teacher? |
Exercises
This lesson has 10 exercises in the app:
- multiple choice: 3
- match the pairs: 1
- fill the gap: 2
- build the sentence: 2
- translate the sentence: 1
- listen and type: 1
Try the first one
Which of these can be followed directly by a noun?
The answer, the other exercises, the audio and your progress are in the app – free at A0 and A1.