指示詞表達某物與說話者之間的關係，可以表達實際上或心理上的遠或近。當談到某些事物時，近指地點指示詞（如 here）常用來指目前的事物，而遠指地點指示詞（如 there）常用來指過去的事物。
| 距離說話者近 | 距離說話者遠 | |
|---|---|---|
| 副詞 | Here | There |
| 與單數名詞和不可數名詞連用的指示詞 | This | That |
| 與複數可數名詞連用的指示詞 | These | Those |
指示詞的用法
舉例
| 距離說話者近 | 距離說話者遠 |
|---|---|
| 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
指示詞可以放在名詞前，或是放在修飾名詞的形容詞前。
舉例
- This blue car needs to be washed next.
- Those people were here first.
- That metal rod should work.
- These oranges are delicious.
如果在語境中已經確知名詞為何，就可以直接在數字前加指示詞。
舉例
- 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.
如果已經確知指示詞修飾的名詞為何，則可以單獨使用，省略名詞。
舉例
- I'll never forget this.
- That has nothing to do with me.
- I didn't ask for these.
- Those aren't mine.