英语中常见的指示代词虽然只有this, that, these, those这四个，但由于命题者在设题往往将它们与其他的知识点结合起来进行考查，所以这个看似容易的考点也往往令同学们很头痛。本文为大家归纳了备考指示代词的五个注意点，希望对大家的学习和备考有所有帮助。

一、注意区分指示代词与形式主语（宾语）
对于选项中既有指示代词也有形式主语或形式宾语的考题，同学们可以这样考虑：若要选形式主语或形式宾语，那么一定能从句中找到真正的主语（如动名词、不定式、从句等），否则就考虑选用指示代词。请看下面两道高考题：
1. ______ felt funny watching myself on TV. (2007全国II)
A. One B. This C. It D. That
此题答案选C。it为形式主语，句子真正的主语是watching myself on TV。
2. He didn't make ______ clear when and where the meeting would be held. (2007天津卷)
A. this B. that C. it D. these
此题答案选C。it为形式宾语，句子真正的宾语是when and where the meeting would be held。

二、注意区分指示代词与关系代词
对于选项中既有指示代词又有关系代词的考题，同学们可以这样考虑：若两个句子间有连词（尤其是并列连词and或but）连接，则应考试用指示代词，否则就应考虑使用关系代词。请看以下高考题：
1. He is always really rude, ______ is why people tend to avoid him.
A. that B. it C. this D. which
此题容易误选 A，因为 that's why...是一个常用结构，同学们极易受此影响而选错，当然若此句的空格前有连词 and 或其前的逗号改为分号，则完全可选that（分别构成并列句或两个独立的简单句）。此题的最佳答案是 D，句子后半部为一个非限制性定语从句，which 指 He is always really rude. 另外请比较以下两题（注意连词的有无）：
2. Tom's mother always told him not to smoke again, but _____ didn't help.
A. he B. it C. which D. as
此题答案要选B，it指前面提到的情况。由于句中用了并列连词 but，所以不能选C。

三、注意those who的用法
those who中的who为关系代词，用以引导定语从句，其意为“……的那些人”。如：
Those who do not wish to go need not go. 不愿去的人不需要去。
We kept seats for those who might arrive late. 我们给可能来晚的人留了座位。
Let us spend a few moments in silence so that we remember those who died to preserve our freedom. 让我们默哀片刻，以缅怀那些为维护我们的自由而牺牲了的人们。
At the beginning the whole party kept together but by the end of the day those who were less fit had fallen behind. 起初全体人员都在一起，但到了晚间身体不够强壮的人就落后了。

四、注意that which的用法
that which中的which为关系代词，用以引导定语从句，其意为“……的事或物”，这是一种比较正式的用法，它通常可以用what代之。如：
That which (=What) many people say is not always true. 很多人说的话并不表示一定是真的。
That which (=What) I say and do is my own affair. 我说什么做什么是我自己的事。
They say the only real knowledge is that which can be measured. 据说唯一真实的知识是可以检验的知识。
The picture tries to convey an attitude towards life.
It happens in life that...
Such a situation seems fairly common in our society

五、注意that的替代词用法
指示代词that有时可用作替代词，用来代表前已提过的事物，以避免重复，如：
A grandparent's job is easier than that of a parent. 祖父母的任务比父母的任务要轻松一些。
A dog's intelligence is much greater than that of a cat. 狗的智慧比猫的高得多。
The dialect in one town may he quite different from that of the next town. 一个城镇的方言可能与另一个城镇很不相同。
The weather of Beijing is just as cold as that of Lanzhou, but colder than that of Shanghai. 北京的气候和兰州一样冷，但比上海冷。

六、注意that, this用作副词
指示代词有时可用作副词，其用法与so相似。如：
It isn't all that cold. 还没冷到那种程度。
It's about this high. 约摸这样高。
Is it this hot every day? 每天都这样热吗?
I didn't think it would be this easy. 我没想到会这样容易。
I didn't realize she was that ill. 我没想到她病得那么重。
The book is about this thick. 那本书大约有这么厚。
When you pay that much for a meal you expect the best. 一顿饭花那么多钱是想吃到最好的东西。