demonstrative
/dɪˈmɒnstrətɪv/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˈmɑːnstrətɪv/ (ame, ipa) · /di-ˈmän(t)-strə-tiv/ (ame, mw)
demonstrative — 形容詞
- demonstrativepositive
- more demonstrativecomparative
- most demonstrativesuperlative
1. willing to express warm emotions, such as love or excitement, through hugs, kiss
情感外露的
願意公開表現愛意或情感的
willing to express warm emotions, such as love or excitement, through hugs, kisses, or other visible signs, rather than keeping them private.
Theo's grandmother was very demonstrative, hugging him tightly whenever he visited.
Theo 的祖母情感外露，每次他來看她，她都會緊緊抱住他。
be + demonstrative + present participle clause showing the affection
Élise grew up in a demonstrative family where everyone said 'I love you' before bed.
Élise 在一個情感外露的家庭長大，大家睡前都會對彼此說「我愛你」。
noun phrase: a demonstrative family / person
Although Brian loved his children deeply, he was not a demonstrative father.
雖然 Brian 深愛他的孩子們，但他並不是一位情感外露的父親。
Italians are often more demonstrative in public than the British, kissing friends on both cheeks.
義大利人在公開場合通常比英國人情感外露，會在朋友兩頰親吻。
After years apart, Padma became less demonstrative with her sister than before.
分開多年之後，Padma 對姊姊的情感表達不如以往那麼外露。
- affectionate
broader; describes general warmth, not just outward display
- effusive
stronger; suggests overflowing or excessive emotion
- expressive
wider scope; covers expressing any emotion, not only love
- reserved
describes a habit of keeping feelings hidden
- undemonstrative
direct opposite; less common in everyday speech
用法筆記
Subject is almost always a person or a group of people; the object of the affection is introduced with 'with' or 'toward' (e.g. demonstrative with her grandchildren). Often appears in negative or comparative shape ('not very demonstrative', 'more demonstrative than').
常見錯誤
2. in grammar, describing the small set of words — 'this', 'that', 'these', 'those'
指示的
文法上指 this、that 等指示詞的
in grammar, describing the small set of words — 'this', 'that', 'these', 'those' — that a speaker uses to single out which person or object they mean.
Anthony explained that 'these' and 'those' are the plural demonstrative pronouns in English.
Anthony 解釋說，「these」和「those」是英語中的複數指示代名詞。
compound noun: demonstrative pronoun / adjective / determiner
In the sentence 'I want that book', the word 'that' is a demonstrative adjective.
在「I want that book」這個句子裡，that 這個詞是指示形容詞。
metalinguistic frame: 'the word X is a demonstrative Y'
Japanese has three demonstrative forms instead of the two found in English.
日語有三種指示詞，而英語只有兩種。
The teacher asked the class to underline every demonstrative pronoun in the short story.
老師請全班把那篇短篇故事裡每一個指示代名詞畫底線。
文法句型
demonstrative + pronoun/adjective/determiner
用法筆記
Used only as a grammatical term, almost always before another noun ('demonstrative pronoun', 'demonstrative adjective', 'demonstrative determiner'). Distinguish from sense 1 by context: a grammar lesson, textbook, or language-learning discussion versus a description of someone's behavior.
常見錯誤
3. (formal) acting as clear proof or evidence that a particular fact or quality is
足以證明的
能清楚顯示或證明某事的
(formal) acting as clear proof or evidence that a particular fact or quality is true — for example, a smile demonstrative of relief, or test results demonstrative of progress.
The smile on Paloma's face was demonstrative of her relief after the exam.
Paloma 臉上的笑容足以證明她考完試後的放鬆。
pattern: be demonstrative of + noun (= showing / proving)
Christopher's careful notes were demonstrative of how seriously he took the class.
Christopher 仔細的筆記足以證明他多麼認真看待這門課。
pattern: be demonstrative of + how-clause
The new test results are demonstrative of real progress in the patient's recovery.
新的檢驗結果足以證明病人在恢復上的真正進展。
Yael's quick reply to every email was demonstrative of her strong work ethic.
Yael 每封電子郵件都迅速回覆，足以證明她強烈的工作態度。
- indicative
much more common in everyday English with the same 'of + noun' pattern
- illustrative
suggests serving as an example, not necessarily as proof
- telling
informal; emphasises that the evidence is revealing
文法句型
demonstrative of + noun
用法筆記
Almost always used after a linking verb in the pattern 'X is/was demonstrative of Y' and never before a noun. Y is usually an abstract quality, attitude, or process. Belongs to formal writing — academic, medical, or legal reports — and would sound stiff in casual conversation.
常見錯誤
demonstrative — 名詞
1. a grammar term for a word like 'this', 'that', 'these', or 'those' that a speake
指示詞
文法上指 this 那類指出對象的字
a grammar term for a word like 'this', 'that', 'these', or 'those' that a speaker uses to single out which person or thing they mean.
In English, 'this' and 'these' are demonstratives that point to something nearby.
在英語中，「this」和「these」是指示詞，用來指離說話者較近的事物。
common pattern: X and Y are demonstratives that …
The Korean teacher listed four demonstratives on the whiteboard for the new students.
那位韓國老師在白板上為新學生列出四個指示詞。
plural countable noun: demonstratives
Defne asked her professor why some languages use three demonstratives instead of two.
Defne 問教授，為什麼有些語言會用三個指示詞而不是兩個。
Linguists often divide demonstratives into proximal and distal forms.
語言學家通常將指示詞分為近指和遠指兩類。
- demonstrative pronoun
the most common full form used in school grammar
- deictic
broader linguistics term that also covers words like here, there, now
用法筆記
A countable noun, almost always used in the plural in lists or descriptions of a language's grammar. Found in textbooks, linguistics articles, and language-teaching contexts; never used in everyday conversation outside that frame.