he pointed at the shoe rack vs he pointed to the shoe rack

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'He pointed at the shoe rack' implies that he physically indicated the direction of the shoe rack with his finger. 'He pointed to the shoe rack' suggests that he directed attention or focus towards the shoe rack.

Last updated: March 23, 2024 • 805 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"he pointed at the shoe rack"

This phrase is used when describing someone physically indicating the direction of something with their finger.

Examples:

He pointed at the map to show me where we were.
She pointed at the painting on the wall.
The teacher pointed at the correct answer on the board.

Show examples from the web [+]

There were tickets in the shoe rack
Then it was the incident at the shoe store.
You know, like at the shoe store.
Eavigny at the shoe store... was looking for someone.
I just figure while Maura's looking at the forensics, it wouldn't hurt to take another look at the shoe leather.
You'll split 'em between up here and down at the shoe store.
So I found a great hiding place at the shoe store. It's not quitting.
Walter, you can stop at the shoe stores and start looking into the shoe buddies.
He pointed at somebody taking a basket out of a van.
In the back, behind the shoe rack, is a compartment.
The lady at the shoe counter will tell you the same.
Around 140 workers at the shoe factory 'Pinfel - Indústria de Calçado, Lda.' in Felgueiras, northern Portugal, where there have been problems with the late payment of wages, are faced with the threatened closure of the undertaking.
He pointed at your picture and said, "That's my girl Mary."
And when somebody dared to disobey he pointed at him, and he had to come up to him, and he bashed him with the staff, and that was it.
One day, he pointed at his watch and told me, ...he would remember me forever for that very minute
We were going to get a shoe rack like that for OUR hallway.
I didn't them in her shoe rack, but I need you to look everywhere.
At the end of it, he pointed at the horizon and said, "Faya."
And he pointed at the screen, he said, "He's in that firefight."
He pointed at three grains of rice at the bottom of my bowl, and he said, "Clean."

Alternatives:

he gestured towards the shoe rack
he indicated the shoe rack with his finger
he directed his finger at the shoe rack
he motioned at the shoe rack
he signaled towards the shoe rack

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"he pointed to the shoe rack"

This phrase is used when describing someone directing attention or focus towards something.

Examples:

He pointed to the book he wanted to read.
She pointed to the menu to show me her choice.
The guide pointed to the mountain peak in the distance.

Show examples from the web [+]

There were tickets in the shoe rack
Matched his DNA to the shoe inserts.
Leo, I went to the shoe shop.
In the back, behind the shoe rack, is a compartment.
And then he pointed to me right in open court.
I meant I was the first one to the shoe, You sack-in-the-box - Now hand it over.
I meant I was the first one to the shoe, you sack-in-the-box- now hand it over.
'Brake lining' means the friction material component with the shape and final dimension to be fixed on to the shoe or backplate.
He pointed to his mother's abusive boyfriend as a suspect... domestic violence...
If he pointed to the right, you died.
That picture he pointed to - it was the sacrifice!
And he pointed to the busloads of tourists that would show up everyday, with cameras ready usually.
I asked him where my money was, and he pointed to the dresser.
Indeed he pointed to rather earlier dubious US foreign policy decisions which in effect allowed Al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein to thrive.
He pointed to the Parliament's Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought and its opposition to the death penalty.
He pointed to Wednesday morning's' trialogue' agreement to release a €100m tranche of aid as an example.
He pointed to these changes and to the growing strength of two new economic superpowers, India and China.
Still doesn't get us to the shoe.
And who gave the most to the Shoe Defense Fund this year?
In 1452 the court regulated prices and weights for various traders, including the cordwainers, and Northampton itself has served as a home to the shoe industry for all that time.

Alternatives:

he indicated the location of the shoe rack
he directed attention towards the shoe rack
he gestured in the direction of the shoe rack
he motioned towards the shoe rack
he signaled to the shoe rack

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he pointed at the shoe rack vs he pointed to the shoe rack