hanamaru
Point to a thing near the listener
Use その right before a noun to point at a thing near the listener (that ... by you).
JLPTN5
その + nounsono + [noun]
that [noun] (near you)
Example Sentences
That cat is brown
そのかわはその川はthat riverひろい広いwide
The river is wide
その is the medial member of the こ・そ・あ・ど series and must come directly before the noun it describes; it can never stand alone. Reach for it when the thing is closer to the listener than to you, or when it was just mentioned by the other person. Compare この (near me) and あの (away from both of us).
Tips and Common Traps
Hana· Key point
その is great in conversation — if someone mentions something, you can respond with そのXは... (that X you mentioned...) to pick up the thread naturally.