point at/to

当以人或物为目标,以手或棍子等指向某人或某物时,既可以使用 point at,也可以使用 point to。故上面的 pointed at 与 pointed to 是可以互换的(参见 shout):

1. He pointed at the door. 他指着门。

2. She pointed to the window. 她指着窗户。

3. The teacher is pointing at you. 老师在指着你。

但是，point at 与 point to 有以下几个区别：

A. 当非善意地、甚至敌意地用手指指某人时，只能用 point at:

1. It's rude to point at people. 用手指指人是很粗鲁的。

2. Stop pointing at me. 不要指着我。

3. You mustn't point at people like that. 你绝不可以这样用手指人。

B. 当用语言指出某事时,亦可用 point to:

... the Minister pointed to the sharp decrease in road deaths. ……部长指出交通死亡事故锐减。

C. 当表示指针指向和建筑物的朝向时,要用 point to:

1. A compass needle always points to/towards the north. 指南针总是指向北。