これ - Grammar Discussion

Grammar Points
#1

this

Structure

  • Demonstrative

[near the speaker]

View on Bunpro

#2

I know that this isn’t the correct answer to the sentence “this is the sea” but is the following also a kind of valid translation (since the thing the sentence is talking about is a place):

ここは海です

#3

I think if you were actually standing at/in the sea then yes. But the sentence これは海です is a bit broader, where it could also fit in a scenario where you are pointing at a picture or something.

2 Likes
#4

これはステーキです。これはいいです。
In this sentence, how would i know to replace which kore by “it”. Can I just say いいです?

#5

Edit: lol I misread “steak” as 素敵(すてき)

Ok breaking it down now that I’ve remembered how to read:

これはステーキです = This thing is steak

  • abstract demonstrative, Imagine you were in a room full of Martians teaching them about what a steak is on a big PowerPoint slide

これはいいです = This is good

  • value judgement about some “thing”

If you are trying to say:

“This is a good steak”

  • このステーキはいいです
  • これはいいステーキです

The difference can be thought of as being:

  • This steak is good (leans towards judgment)
  • This (thing) is a good steak (leans towards description)

I hope all that is relatively clear

Now to your question, simply saying いいです in many cases indicates that you are “positively confirming”. This is the same as saying “dope”, “sounds good”, “that’s fine” etc in English.

You are correct that you can drop the これ but In this case what you are trying to get across may not be clear if you do so:

これはステーキ。いいです。

  • “This is steak. Dope.”
  • “This is steak. (It’s) good”

It may not be immediately apparent which one you mean.

It would be clearer to use the other constructions above. Now, this is primarily due to the unique usage of 良い (いい) its much clearer with other adjectives.

これはステーキ。美味しいです！

  • This is steak. (It’s) delicious!