指示代詞是用來指代或標記人或事物的代詞，表示“這個/些”“那個/些”。常用的指示代詞有this，that， these， those。this，that指代單數; these. those指代複數。
指示代詞的用法
- 指示代詞his， these往往指在時間或空間上較近的人或物; that, those則指在時間或空間上較遠的人或物。
This picture was painted by Robert and that one by Bnuc.
這幅畫是羅伯特畫的，那幅是布魯斯畫的。(this近指，that遠指)
I love these books but I don’t like those (ones).
我喜歡這些書，但不喜歡那些。( these近指，those遠指)
- 打電話時, this指自己, that指別人。
Hello! This is Alan, Who is that speaking?
喂! 我是艾倫。您是哪位?
- 剛提到過的或已經完成的事情用that，即將發生或將要提到的事情用this。
Little George broke the vase, but he didn't admit it.
That was very annoying.
小喬治打碎了花瓶，但他自己還不承認。
那真是太讓人惱火了。
Now. listen to this.
現在，聽聽這個。
This is going to surprise you.
這事會讓你吃一驚的。
- that既可以指代不可數名詞，也可指代可數名詞的單數。指代可數名詞單數時等同於 the one; those只能指代可數名詞複數，此時等同於the ones。
Life today is much better than that in the old days.
現在的生活比過去的生活好多了。(that指代life)
This computer works faster than that(=the one) you just bough.
這臺計算機比你剛買的那臺運行速度快。(that指代computer)
The elimate of China is quite similar to that of the USA.國的氣候和美國的氣候很相似。( that指代 the climate)
The days in summer are longer than those (= the ones) In winte.
夏天的白天比冬天的白天長。(those指代 the days)
- those作定語從句的先行詞
在those who/which…或those people who…， those things which/that.向型中，who/ which引導的定語從句說明those的範圍，此時those不可換為 these。
Those who violate the traffic rules should be punishedseriously.違反交通規則的人應當受到嚴。
（6）this，that構成的習慣用語
this /that morning今天/那天早上
this/ that afternoon今天/那天下午
this/ that evening今天/那天晚上
this/ that week本/那周
this/ that month這/那個月
this/ that spring今/那年春天
these days 如今
these years這些年
those days那些日子
those years那些歲月
