to

to [ weak tə, strong tu ] function word ***

To can be used in the following ways:

before the basic form of a verb to form the infinitive:

I want to go home.

It's nice to see you again.

as a preposition (followed by a noun):

We drove to Newport.

as an adverb (without a following noun):

I pulled the door to.

1. ) used as part of an infinitive

a ) used for forming an infinitive that is the subject, object, or complement of a verb, or is the COMPLEMENT of an adjective, noun, or pronoun:

I hope to see you next week.

Hattersley's decision to retire from politics was not completely unexpected.

The system is very easy to understand.

I didn't know what to say.

b ) used for showing the purpose of an action:

Nobody came to help me.

I am writing to thank you for your generous gift.

To call security, just press this button here.

in order to do something: I gave English lessons in order to earn some extra money.

c ) used instead of an infinitive in order to avoid repeating the verb:

You don't need to come if you don't want to.

2. ) going somewhere

a ) used for stating the place where someone or something goes:

She rushed to the phone.

There are daily flights to Boston.

the road to the farm

b ) used for showing that someone goes somewhere for a particular event or activity:

Robert hates going to parties.

She's invited me to her wedding.

3. ) when you tell, give, or show someone something used for stating who is told, given, or shown something:

Prizes were presented to the winners.

I have already explained to everyone what the problem is.

the President's speech to Congress

4. ) facing or pointing toward someone/something used for stating in which direction someone or something is facing or pointing:

Henry was standing with his back to me.

She pointed to a notice on the wall.

She looked to the right and then to the left before crossing the road.

face to face/back to back (=facing each other/facing away from each other): They stood face to face, glaring at each other.

5. ) used for saying where someone/something is used for stating where someone or something is in relation to the position of another person or thing:

There was a large bookcase to the left of the fireplace.

John was sitting a few yards away to my right.

a large township just to the south of Johannesburg

6. ) when someone is affected by something

a ) used for stating who or what is treated in a particular way:

They were very kind to my mother when she was ill.

cruelty to animals

Look what you've done to my new carpet!

b ) used for stating who or what is affected by a situation:

industries that are harmful to the environment

I wonder what happened to the Knox family?

7. ) in a particular relationship with someone/something

a ) used for explaining a relationship between people or things:

Linda has been a good friend to my mother for many years.

a political party with ties to a terrorist group

related/married to: She was married to an American lawyer.

Are you, by any chance, related to William Morton?

b ) used for stating which person or organization someone does a particular job for:

She is personal assistant to the CEO.

8. ) when something is connected or fastened used for stating where something is fastened or where a connection is:

The carpet had been nailed to the floor.

Your computer is connected to the main network.

9. ) when something changes or develops

a ) used for stating what stage of development is reached:

The animals are slaughtered before they grow to maturity.

an event that brought matters to crisis point

When will all this suffering come to an end?

b ) used for stating what condition or state someone or something is in after a change:

Charlotte was often reduced to tears by his angry outbursts.

The building has been restored to its former glory.

He saw that the lights had changed to green.

10. ) as far as a limit as far as a particular point or limit:

The cancer had spread to his lungs.

How far is it from here to Salem?

I'm afraid my budget doesn't stretch to luxuries like champagne.

11. ) until

1

a ) until a particular time or date:

To the end of her life, she was a tireless campaigner for peace.

from...to: The store stays open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m..

The siege of Monrovia lasted from October 1992 to February 1993.

1

b ) used for stating how much time passes before a particular date, time, or event:

Sales increased during the 13 weeks to September 30th.

Only another 18 days to the final exam!

12. ) before the hour used when telling the time, for saying how many minutes it is before the hour:

It's twenty-five to twelve.

I'll meet you at quarter to six.

13. ) used for stating someone's opinion used for stating whose opinion, attitude, or knowledge is being referred to:

To most of us, work is an unpleasant necessity.

to my mind/to my way of thinking (=in my opinion): a taxation policy that is, to my mind, unfair

it seems/looks to someone: It seems to me that there has been a lack of discipline.

to someone's knowledge (=according to what someone knows): To my knowledge, no one knew what Melissa was planning.

14. ) causing a particular reaction used for stating what your reaction is when something happens:

to someone's surprise/delight/horror etc.: To her surprise, she saw that he was crying.

15. ) used for showing how numbers are related

1

a ) used for showing the relationship between two numbers or amounts:

The new model will get 60 miles to the gallon in town.

1

b ) used for showing that a number of smaller units is equal to a larger unit:

There are 10,000 square centimeters to a square meter.

The exchange rate is 108 Japanese yen to the U.S. dollar.

16. ) used for giving the score in a game used for saying what the score is in a game:

Our team won by five goals to three.

17. ) closed or almost closed if you push or pull a door to, you close it or almost close it:

The door swung to behind her as she went out.

18. ) used for showing a possible range

1

a ) used when showing the whole range of numbers between and including the two that you mention:

from...to: the numbers from one to ten

a toy suitable for children aged three to five

1

b ) used when showing how large a range of people or things is:

from...to: I've written articles about everything from sexual morality to gardening.

1

c ) used when you say that a number is within a particular range because you are not sure of the exact number:

Only about 20 to 25 percent of the population voted for this government.

19. ) needed for something used for showing that something is an important or necessary part of something else:

the answer to an important question

the keys to my desk

20. ) while there is a sound used for stating the particular sound that can be heard at the same time that something happens:

I awoke to the sound of birds singing.

21. ) touching something used for stating what something else is touching or pressing against:

Clasping the child to her breast, she began to weep.

He put a finger to his lips.

(all) to yourself

if you have someone or something to yourself, you do not have to share them with anyone else:

My parents were away, and so I had the house to myself.

ten to one/a hundred to one etc.

used for saying how likely it is that something will happen:

It's ten to one that the murderer will never be caught.

The odds against him winning are estimated at 20 to 1.

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