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.