Integrating これ, それ, and あれ
“Complete possession is proved only by giving. All you are unable to give possesses you.” - Andre Gide
You’ve learned これ, それ, and あれ for a reason. We’re just going to take what you’ve already learned and add これ, それ, and あれ right on to them. Here’s the part you know:
わたし の えんぴつ です。
It is my pencil.
ひとみさん の くるま です。
It is Hitomi’s car.
Now, just add これ, それ, or あれ to the sentence. It will make the sentence a bit longer and filled with more information.
これ は ＋ わたし の えんぴつ です。
This is + (it is) my pencil
これ は わたし の えんぴつ です。
This is my pencil
それ は ＋ ひとみさん の くるま です。
That is + (it is) Hitomi’s car.
それ は ひとみさん の くるま です。
That is Hitomi’s car.
And, of course, we can practice this with different tenses as well.
これ は わたし の えんぴつ じゃありません。
This is not my pencil
それ は ひとみさん の くるま じゃありませんでした。
That was not Hitomi’s car.
あれ は わたしたち の じてんしゃ でした。
That over there was our bicycle.
Really, it’s just as simple as taking what you know (これ, それ, あれ) and adding what you just learned (〜の) and putting them together. Keep these sentences in mind, and make sure you understand them when you read them, then move onto the next page.