この (kono), その (sono), and あの (ano) are words used to point at things or identify things.

In the case of これ (kore), それ (sore), and あれ (are), the noun is already built in each word.

However, in the case of この, その, and あの, each of these words has to be followed by a noun. It may be easier to consider この, その, and あの as the equivalent of “the” in English. “The” for identifying things has to be followed by a noun.

In English, there is only one “the” to point at a thing/person near the speaker, near the listener, and away from both the listener and the speaker.

However, there are three types of “the”‘ in Japanese. Pay special attention to how これ/この, それ/その, and あれ/あの are used in each pair of the sentences below.

	これは500円です。
	Kore wa 500 en desu.
	This (near me) is 500 yen.

	このりんごは500円です。
	Kono ringo wa 500 en desu.
	The apple (near me) is 500 yen.

*これりんご   (kore ringo; this apple near me) is an incorrect expression.

	それは500円です。
	Sore wa 500 en desu.
	That (near you) is 500 yen.

	そのりんごは500円です。
	Sono ringo wa 500 en desu.
	The apple (near you) is 500 yen.

*それりんご (sore ringo; that apple near you) is an incorrect expression.

	あれは500円です。
	Are wa 500 en desu.
	That (over there) is 500 yen.

	あのりんごは500円です。
	Ano ringo wa 500 en desu.
	The apple (over there) is 500 yen.

*あれりんご   (are ringo; that apple over there) is an incorrect expression.