指示词表达某物与说话者之间的关系，可以表达实际上或心理上的远或近。当谈到某些事物时，近指地点指示词（如 here）常用来指目前的事物，而远指地点指示词（如 there）常用来指过去的事物。
| 距离说话者近 | 距离说话者远 | |
|---|---|---|
| 副词 | here | there |
| 与单数名词和不可数名词连用的指示词 | this | that |
| 与复数可数名词连用的指示词 | these | those |
指示词的用法
举例
| 距离说话者近 | 距离说话者远 |
|---|---|
| is this john's house? | is that john's house over there? |
| this is a nice surprise! | that must have been a nice surprise for you. |
| these apples are mine. | those apples are yours. |
| what are you up to these days? | those days are long gone. |
| this time i won't be late. | we really surprised you that time. |
| this sugar is for my crepes. | you can use that sugar for your cake. |
在句中的位置
指示词可以放在名词前，或是放在修饰名词的形容词前。
举例
- this blue car needs to be washed next.
- those people were here first.
- that metal rod should work.
- these oranges are delicious.
如果在语境中已经确知名词为何，就可以直接在数字前加指示词。
举例
- i'd like to try on that one.
- this one is broken.
- i'll take these three.
- those two are not as pretty as these two.
如果已经确知指示词修饰的名词为何，则可以单独使用，省略名词。
举例
- i'll never forget this.
- that has nothing to do with me.
- i didn't ask for these.
- those aren't mine.