こんな・そんな・あんな
this kind of, that kind of
こんな / そんな / あんな + Noun
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こんな, そんな, あんな (and どんな) describe the kind of thing, with the usual こ・そ・あ・ど split. They always come right before a noun:
- こんな本: a book like this
- そんな事: that sort of thing (that you mentioned)
- あんな人: a person like that (over there, or that we both know)
そんな is often used to push back: そんなことはありません, "that's not true at all", literally "there's no such thing".
あんな can carry surprise or criticism: あんな所にはもう行きたくない, "I never want to go to a place like that again".
The matching adverbs are こう, そう, ああ and どう: こうやって, "like this".
Examples
こんなかばんがほしいです。
I want a bag like this.
いいえ、そんなことはありません。
No, that's not the case at all.
あんな人は初めて見ました。
I've never seen anyone like that.
こんな時間にどこへ行くの？
Where are you going at this hour?
私もそんな服がほしいな。
I'd like clothes like that too.