Your goal
Distinguish the book near you, the bag near the listener and the umbrella away from both people. Learn the names first, then identify the speaker.
Before you start
In 이름이 뭐예요?, 뭐예요? asks for identifying information. Now ask for an object’s name rather than a person’s name.
- 책
- book
- 가방
- bag
- 휴대전화
- mobile phone
- 우산
- umbrella
- 연필
- pencil
Explore the situation
Near the speaker
Near the listener
Away from both
Yuna speaks and Min-su listens in this scene. Left or right on the screen alone does not determine the expression.
Learn the expressions
- 이것
- this thing, near the speaker
- 그것
- in these scenes: that thing near the listener
- 저것
- that thing over there, away from both people
| Expression | Meaning and use |
|---|---|
| 이것은 뭐예요? | Ask what the object near me is |
| 그것은 가방이에요. | Identify the bag near the listener |
| 저것은 우산이에요. | Identify the umbrella away from both |
Read the conversation
A book near the speaker
이것은 뭐예요?
Show meaning
What is this near me?
책이에요.
Show meaning
It is a book.
An umbrella farther away
저것은 뭐예요?
Show meaning
What is that over there?
우산이에요.
Show meaning
It is an umbrella.
Build a sentence
First connect the pointing word with the object name. Later, the speaker will change too.
Sentence-piece practice
1. Point to a book near you.
Sentence pieces
- 책
- 저것은
- 이에요.
- 이것은
2. Ask what the bag near the listener is.
Sentence pieces
- 뭐예요?
- 저것은
- 그것은
Practice
Choose the Korean expression that fits the situation.
1. 유나 is speaking. The 책 is near the speaker. Which question asks what it is?
- 이것은 뭐예요?
- 그것은 뭐예요?
- 저것은 뭐예요?
2. 유나 is speaking. The 가방 is near the listener. Which question asks what it is?
- 그것은 뭐예요?
- 저것은 뭐예요?
- 이것은 뭐예요?
3. 민수 is speaking. The 우산 is away from both people. Which question asks what it is?
- 저것은 뭐예요?
- 이것은 뭐예요?
- 그것은 뭐예요?
4. 민수 is speaking. The 책 is near the listener. Which question asks what it is?
- 이것은 뭐예요?
- 그것은 뭐예요?
- 저것은 뭐예요?
Try a new situation
The indicated speaker asks and the other person answers. Write a question and a short answer about the highlighted item, such as 이것은 뭐예요? 책이에요. When the speaker changes, the reference for 이것 and 그것 changes too. The short answer 책이에요 avoids repeating the pointing word.
Tasks
Try the tasks first, then compare with the answers and examples in step 10.
1. Write a pointing question and an identifying answer for 책.
Near the speaker
Near the listener
Away from both
Show a hint
Check the speaker, then the distance, then the item name.
2. Write a pointing question and an identifying answer for 가방.
Near the speaker
Near the listener
Away from both
Show a hint
Check the speaker, then the distance, then the item name.
3. Write a pointing question and an identifying answer for 우산.
Near the speaker
Near the listener
Away from both
Show a hint
Check the speaker, then the distance, then the item name.
4. Write a pointing question and an identifying answer for 연필.
Near the speaker
Near the listener
Away from both
Show a hint
Check the speaker, then the distance, then the item name.
5. Write a pointing question and an identifying answer for 휴대전화.
Near the speaker
Near the listener
Away from both
Show a hint
Check the speaker, then the distance, then the item name.
Check your learning
Try without the example. Check both the information and the expression.
1. 미나 is speaking. The 휴대전화 is near the speaker. Which question asks what it is?
- 그것은 뭐예요?
- 저것은 뭐예요?
- 이것은 뭐예요?
2. 준 is speaking. The 연필 is away from both people. Which question asks what it is?
- 저것은 뭐예요?
- 이것은 뭐예요?
- 그것은 뭐예요?
3. 이것은 뭐예요? The indicated item is a book. Choose an answer.
- 책이에요.
- 가방이에요.
- 우산이에요.
4. An umbrella is far from both people. Choose the matching statement.
- 이것은 우산이에요.
- 그것은 가방이에요.
- 저것은 우산이에요.
5. Which correctly identifies a mobile phone?
- 휴대전화에 있어요.
- 휴대전화예요.
- 휴대전화이에요.
6. A book is beside Yuna. Min-su calls it 그것. Which form does Yuna use when she speaks?
- 이것
- 그것
- 저것
Reflect on your reading
Tick only what you actually checked. Feedback from another person is optional and is not required to finish the lesson.
Answers and explanations
Show answers and explanations
Practice questions
1. 유나 is speaking. The 책 is near the speaker. Which question asks what it is?
Answer: 이것은 뭐예요?
The item is near the speaker, so use 이것.
- 그것은 뭐예요? — In this scene, 그것 points to an object near the listener.
- 저것은 뭐예요? — 저것 points to an object away from both people.
2. 유나 is speaking. The 가방 is near the listener. Which question asks what it is?
Answer: 그것은 뭐예요?
The item is near the listener, so use 그것.
- 저것은 뭐예요? — 저것 points to an object away from both people.
- 이것은 뭐예요? — 이것 points to an object near the speaker.
3. 민수 is speaking. The 우산 is away from both people. Which question asks what it is?
Answer: 저것은 뭐예요?
The item is away from both people, so use 저것.
- 이것은 뭐예요? — 이것 points to an object near the speaker.
- 그것은 뭐예요? — In this scene, 그것 points to an object near the listener.
4. 민수 is speaking. The 책 is near the listener. Which question asks what it is?
Answer: 그것은 뭐예요?
The item is near the listener, so use 그것.
- 이것은 뭐예요? — 이것 points to an object near the speaker.
- 저것은 뭐예요? — 저것 points to an object away from both people.
Learning check
1. 미나 is speaking. The 휴대전화 is near the speaker. Which question asks what it is?
Answer: 이것은 뭐예요?
The item is near the speaker, so use 이것.
- 그것은 뭐예요? — In this scene, 그것 points to an object near the listener.
- 저것은 뭐예요? — 저것 points to an object away from both people.
2. 준 is speaking. The 연필 is away from both people. Which question asks what it is?
Answer: 저것은 뭐예요?
The item is away from both people, so use 저것.
- 이것은 뭐예요? — 이것 points to an object near the speaker.
- 그것은 뭐예요? — In this scene, 그것 points to an object near the listener.
3. 이것은 뭐예요? The indicated item is a book. Choose an answer.
Answer: 책이에요.
The question asks for the item’s name, and it is a book.
- 가방이에요. — “가방이에요.” does not match the information or the requested expression here. The question asks for the item’s name, and it is a book.
- 우산이에요. — “우산이에요.” does not match the information or the requested expression here. The question asks for the item’s name, and it is a book.
4. An umbrella is far from both people. Choose the matching statement.
Answer: 저것은 우산이에요.
The distance calls for 저것 and the item is 우산.
- 이것은 우산이에요. — “이것은 우산이에요.” does not match the information or the requested expression here. The distance calls for 저것 and the item is 우산.
- 그것은 가방이에요. — “그것은 가방이에요.” does not match the information or the requested expression here. The distance calls for 저것 and the item is 우산.
5. Which correctly identifies a mobile phone?
Answer: 휴대전화예요.
휴대전화 ends without a final consonant, so attach 예요.
- 휴대전화에 있어요. — The answer should identify the item; 에 있어요 is a location pattern.
- 휴대전화이에요. — There is no final consonant, so use 예요, not 이에요.
6. A book is beside Yuna. Min-su calls it 그것. Which form does Yuna use when she speaks?
Answer: 이것
When Yuna becomes the speaker, the book is near the speaker.
- 그것 — “그것” does not match the information or the requested expression here. When Yuna becomes the speaker, the book is near the speaker.
- 저것 — “저것” does not match the information or the requested expression here. When Yuna becomes the speaker, the book is near the speaker.
Example answers
Written responses are examples. Other wording can also meet the same conditions.
1. Write a pointing question and an identifying answer for 책.
이것은 뭐예요? 책이에요.
이것은 뭐예요? 그것은 책이에요.
유나 is speaking. The target is near the speaker.
2. Write a pointing question and an identifying answer for 가방.
그것은 뭐예요? 가방이에요.
그것은 뭐예요? 이것은 가방이에요.
유나 is speaking. The target is near the listener.
3. Write a pointing question and an identifying answer for 우산.
저것은 뭐예요? 우산이에요.
저것은 뭐예요? 저것은 우산이에요.
유나 is speaking. The target is away from both people.
4. Write a pointing question and an identifying answer for 연필.
이것은 뭐예요? 연필이에요.
이것은 뭐예요? 그것은 연필이에요.
유나 is speaking. The target is near the speaker.
5. Write a pointing question and an identifying answer for 휴대전화.
이것은 뭐예요? 휴대전화예요.
이것은 뭐예요? 그것은 휴대전화예요.
민수 is speaking. The target is near the speaker.
Sentence-piece practice
1. Point to a book near you.
이것은 책이에요.
이것 identifies the book near the speaker.
2. Ask what the bag near the listener is.
그것은 뭐예요?
Use 그것은 for the object near the listener.
Review and continue
Come back to these
Recall without the example
Swap speakers and choose 이것 or 그것 again.
Change one detail
Change an item, person or place and make the sentence again.
Review what felt difficult
I confuse the distance words.Identify the speaker first. →Completion and independent use are different checks. Start your review with a difficult expression.