Thanks for that link Neil, I’d quite forgotten when I’d learned this (or not learned as was the case) and I think I understand now the basic difference:

これは is used when you only want to identify a noun/object as in これ　は　えんぴつ　です。- This is a pencil.

この is used when you are describing that noun/object with an accompanying adjective　この　えんぴつ　べんり　です.  – This is a convenient pencil.

In English これは and この both essentially mean ‘this’ but in Japanese they have a distinction depending on whether you’re describing the noun/object or not, a distinction that just isn’t there in English. I’m guessing a Japanese person would probably understand you if you said これ　は　えんぴつ　べんり　です it probably just sounds off to them. I think that’s the gist of it; if I’m wrong I’d sure like to know.

• This reply was modified 11 years, 12 months ago by  Mononoke.