What is the difference between その and あの?

Question

Superficially, I get the sense that あの is for something far away from both speaker and listener, and その is for something closer to the listener than speaker. However, I seem to get in trouble when dealing with time and past events, so I'm wondering if someone can provide a more thorough explanation of the difference?

Answer 1

あの日 in that date　あの時 at that time　　　

we use あのwith 日(certain date)　あのwith時(certain period of time)indicates past events of time you want to describe.

その日 (in that certain date ) その時 (at that certain period of time) indicates past events of time you want to describe but also we can use その日　その時 as a future event of expression as well. this case that you can use その日　その時 in past and future expression.

あの猫(cat) means that cat is far away from where we are　　その猫(cat) means that that cat is closer from where we are.