A0 · ゼロポイント チャプター 3

Where Things Are

5 トータルルール
60 例文
5 分
このチャプターのルール クイック練習

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of locating and identifying objects in your daily life.

  • Identify objects near and far using demonstratives.
  • Ask simple questions to learn the names of items.
  • Describe the precise location of objects using prepositions.
Point, ask, and locate your world with confidence.

学べること

Welcome! This chapter will help you talk about everything around you. We'll learn to point out things using 'this' and 'that,' and show exactly where they are with 'in,' 'on,' and 'at.' Get ready to describe your world in simple English!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Use 'this' and 'that' to point out objects in your immediate surroundings.

チャプターガイド

Overview

Learning to talk about the things around you is one of the most exciting first steps in English! This guide will help you begin to describe your everyday world, whether you're pointing out a cup, asking about a book, or telling someone where your keys are. Mastering these simple building blocks allows you to communicate basic needs and observations, making your first interactions in English much clearer and more confident.
It’s all about understanding where things are and how to refer to them directly. This fundamental knowledge is key for any absolute beginner aiming to learn English A0 grammar and will be useful in countless daily situations, from finding items to understanding directions. You’ll quickly be able to express yourself more effectively, turning simple observations into basic English sentences.
This chapter lays the foundation for all future descriptive language.

How This Grammar Works

Let's explore how we point to and describe objects in English. First, when you want to show someone an object, you use 'this' for one thing that is close to you, and 'these' for many things that are close to you. If the object is far away, you use 'that' for one thing and 'those' for many things.
For example, if a pen is in your hand, you say,
This is a pen.
If a book is across the room, you say,
That is a book.
When you want to ask about something, you often start with
What is this?
for one close object, or
What are these?
for many close objects. Similarly, you'd ask
What is that?
or
What are those?
for things far away. Notice how we use 'is' for one thing (singular) and 'are' for many things (plural).
We also use 'here' to talk about a location close to you, and 'there' for a location far from you. For instance,
My bag is here
or
The car is there.
To show ownership, we use 'my' for things belonging to you and 'your' for things belonging to the person you are talking to. These words must always be followed by a noun. For example,
My book is red
or
Your phone is new.
Finally, to specify where things are, we use prepositions:
* 'In': for something inside an enclosed space (e.g.,
in the box,
in the room
).
* 'On': for something resting on a surface (e.g.,
on the table,
on the wall
).
* 'At': for a specific point or general location (e.g.,
at the door,
at home,
at the park
). Understanding these basic rules will unlock your ability to describe the world around you in simple English.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1Mixing up 'is' and 'are' with singular/plural:
* ✗ These is my keys.
* ✓ These are my keys. (Use 'are' for plural 'these'.)
* ✗ Those are my book.
* ✓ That is my book. (Use 'is' for singular 'that'.)
  1. 1Incorrect preposition for location:
* ✗ The apple is on the box. (If it's *inside* the box)
* ✓ The apple is in the box.
* ✗ My phone is in the table. (If it's *on top of* the table)
* ✓ My phone is on the table.
  1. 1Using 'my' or 'your' without a noun:
* ✗ That is my. (What is yours?)
* ✓ That is my book.
* ✗ Where is your? (Your what?)
* ✓ Where is your jacket?

Real Conversations

Conversation 1: Pointing and Asking

A

A

What is this? (A points to a pen on the table, close to A)
B

B

This is a pen.
A

A

And what is that? (A points to a bag across the room)
B

B

That is my bag.

Conversation 2: Location and Possession

A

A

Excuse me, where is my phone?
B

B

Is it on the chair?
A

A

No, it’s not on the chair. Oh, it’s in my pocket! Thank you.

Conversation 3: Close and Far

A

A

Look! This is a nice picture. (Holding the picture)
B

B

Yes, it is! And that is a big tree there. (Pointing out the window)

Quick FAQ

Q: When do I use 'this' versus 'that' in English?

Use 'this' for a single object close to you (like in your hand). Use 'that' for a single object that is farther away from you (like across the room).

Q: What's the main difference between 'in', 'on', and 'at' for beginners?

'In' means something is inside a space (like in a box). 'On' means something is on a surface (like on a table). 'At' means a specific point or general location (like at home or at the bus stop).

Q: Can I say My is good instead of
My life is good
?

No, 'my' always needs a noun right after it. You must say

My life is good
or
My car is fast.
It tells you *whose* noun it is.

Q: How do I ask about a location in English?

You can ask

Where is it?
for a single item, or
Where are they?
for multiple items. Then you can use 'here' or 'there' in your answer, or a preposition like 'in', 'on', or 'at'.

Cultural Context

These simple grammar patterns are the backbone of everyday conversation in English. Native speakers use 'this', 'that', 'in', 'on', and 'at' constantly and naturally. They are not formal or informal; they are simply how you describe the basic existence and location of objects.
Mastering them will make your English sound more natural and your meaning clearer to native speakers from the very beginning.

重要な例文 (8)

1

Is **this** your coffee?

¿Es este tu café?

This & That: 物を指し示す
2

**That** building is very tall.

Ese edificio es muy alto.

This & That: 物を指し示す
3

What is this? It's a book.

これは何ですか？ 本です。

これは何ですか？ — 物について尋ねる
4

What's that? It's a bird!

あれは何？ 鳥だよ！

これは何ですか？ — 物について尋ねる
5

My phone is `in` my bag.

Mi teléfono está en mi bolso.

In, On, At: 物がどこにあるか
6

The book is `on` the table.

El libro está en la mesa.

In, On, At: 物がどこにあるか
7

The book is here on my desk.

本はここに、私の机の上にあります。

ここ＆あそこ：簡単な場所
8

My friend lives there, near the park.

私の友達はあそこ、公園の近くに住んでいます。

ここ＆あそこ：簡単な場所

ヒントとコツ (4)

💡

The Touch Test

If you can reach out and touch it, use 'this'. If you have to point your arm, use 'that'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: This & That: 物を指し示す
💡

短縮形を使ってみよう！

ネイティブは会話でよく "What's this?« や »What's that?« と短縮して言います。これだけでぐっと自然な響きになりますよ！ »What's this?"
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: これは何ですか？ — 物について尋ねる
💡

必ず名詞の前に置こう

my や your は、必ず説明したい名詞のすぐ前に置きます。my phone や your hat のように使い、後ろに来ることはありません。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: My & Your — 簡単な所有格
💡

The 'Walk' Rule

If you can walk onto a vehicle, use 'on' (bus, train). If you have to duck or sit immediately, use 'in' (car, taxi).
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: In, On, At: 物がどこにあるか

重要な語彙 (5)

book a written work pen an instrument for writing table a piece of furniture bag a container for carrying things phone a device for calling

Real-World Preview

search

Finding Your Keys

Review Summary

  • This/That + is + [noun]
  • What + is + this/that?
  • My/Your + [noun]
  • [Noun] + is + in/on/at + [place]
  • It is + here/there

よくある間違い

You cannot use 'this' for something far away ('there'). Use 'that' for distance.

Wrong: This is my book there.
正解: That is my book there.

We use 'on' for surfaces and 'in' for containers. A table is a surface.

Wrong: Where is the pen in the table?
正解: Where is the pen on the table?

Use 'my' before a noun, not 'mine'. 'Mine' is used alone.

Wrong: What is that? That is mine book.
正解: What is that? That is my book.

Next Steps

You've done an amazing job! Keep looking around and naming your world in English. See you in the next chapter!

Label your furniture with sticky notes using 'This is my...' phrases.

Continue to: Expressing Actions & Needs

クイック練習 (10)

Which is correct for transport?

I am ___ a taxi.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: in
A taxi is a small, private vehicle.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: In, On, At: 物がどこにあるか

Choose the correct address preposition.

Meet me ___ 42 Wallaby Way.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: at
Specific house numbers use 'at'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: In, On, At: 物がどこにあるか

Choose the correct response for a phone call.

Hello? ___ is David.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: This
We use 'This is...' to identify ourselves on the phone.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: This & That: 物を指し示す

間違いを見つけて直そう

Find and fix the mistake:

Is this you're phone?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Is this your phone?
"you're« は »you are« の短縮形です。ここでは「あなたのスマホ」という所有を表す »your" が正解です。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: My & Your — 簡単な所有格

文章の中の間違いを見つけて直しましょう。

Find and fix the mistake:

What that is? It's a cat.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: What is that? It's a cat.
疑問文では「疑問詞 (What) + 動詞 (is) + 主語 (that)」の語順になります。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: これは何ですか？ — 物について尋ねる

空欄を埋めて、正しい質問を完成させましょう。

What ___ this?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is
単数形の this や that を使った質問では、必ず動詞の is を使います。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: これは何ですか？ — 物について尋ねる

正しい文章はどれ？

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Where are my keys?
keys は複数形なので、動詞は is ではなく are を使います。 my は正しく使われていますね。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: My & Your — 簡単な所有格

Find the mistake in the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

She is waiting on the bus stop.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: on
It should be 'at the bus stop' because it is a specific point.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: In, On, At: 物がどこにあるか

Fill in the blank.

I saw the news ___ the internet.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: on
Digital media uses 'on'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: In, On, At: 物がどこにあるか

Fill in the blank with in, on, or at.

The keys are ___ the table.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: on
A table is a surface, so we use 'on'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: In, On, At: 物がどこにあるか

Score: /10

よくある質問 (6)

Use this to point something out for the first time. Use it to refer to it again later. Example: 'This is my car. It is fast.'
Yes, but only for introductions or identification. 'This is my brother.' You wouldn't say 'This is tall' to describe him; you'd say 'He is tall.'
一番シンプルなのは What is this? や What is that? と聞くことですね。どこでも通じるので、難しく考えなくて大丈夫ですよ！
基本的には、すでに話題に出たものに対して使います。全く新しい物について聞くなら What is this? の方が自然ですね。
my は話し手（私）に属するもの、your は聞き手（あなた）に属するものを示します。どちらも「所有格形容詞」と呼ばれます。
いいえ、変わりません！ my book（単数）でも my books（複数）でも同じです。英語はここがシンプルで嬉しいですね。
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Describing People & Things
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Expressing Actions & Needs
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