to
to
toin preposition and adverb uses
pronunciation note: Usually pronounced (tə ) before a consonant and (tu ) before a vowel, but pronounced (tuː ) when you are emphasizing it.In addition to the uses shown below, to is used in phrasal verbs such as 'see to' and 'come to'. It is also used with some verbs that have two objects in order to introduce the second object.
1. preposition
You use to when indicating the place that someone or something visits, moves towards, or points at.
Two friends and I drove to Florida during college spring break.
Ramsay made a second visit to Italy.
...a five-day road and rail journey to Peking.
She went to the window and looked out.
He pointed to a chair, signalling for her to sit.
2. preposition
3. preposition
4. preposition
5. preposition
When you give something to someone, they receive it.
He picked up the knife and gave it to me.
Firms should be allowed to offer jobs to the long-term unemployed at a lower wage.
6. preposition
7. preposition
He is a witty man, and an inspiration to all of us.
Marriage is not the answer to everything.
She was very sympathetic to the problems of adult students.
8. preposition
I'm going to have to explain to them that I can't pay them.
9. preposition
You use to when indicating someone's reaction to something or their feelings about a situation or event. For example, if you say that something happens to someone's surprise you mean that they are surprised when it happens.
To his surprise, the bedroom door was locked.
He survived, to the amazement of surgeons.
10. preposition
You use to when indicating the person whose opinion you are stating.
It was clear to me that he respected his boss.
Everyone seemed to her to be amazingly kind.
11. preposition
You use to when indicating what something or someone is becoming, or the state or situation that they are progressing towards.
The shouts changed to screams of terror.
...an old ranch house that has been converted to a nature centre.
...a return to active politics.
Charles has been promoted to general sales and marketing manager.
12. preposition
To can be used as a way of introducing the person or organization you are employed by, when you perform some service for them.
Rickman worked as a dresser to Nigel Hawthorne.
He was an official interpreter to the government of Nepal.
13. preposition
Every vehicle was banned from coming into Mexico City one day a week from Monday to Friday.
From 1977 to 1985 the United States gross national product grew 21 percent.
The annual rate of inflation in Britain has risen to its highest level for eight years.
14. preposition
15. preposition
16.
17. See also to-ing and fro-ing
18. preposition
You use to when you are stating a time which is less than thirty minutes before an hour. For example, if it is 'five to eight', it is five minutes before eight o'clock.
At twenty to six I was waiting by the entrance to the station.
At exactly five minutes to nine, Ann left her car and entered the building.
19. preposition
20. preposition
You use to when indicating that two things happen at the same time. For example, if something is done to music, it is done at the same time as music is being played.
Romeo left the stage, to enthusiastic applause.
Amy woke up to the sound of her doorbell ringing.
'I've got an idea,' said Edward to a chorus of groans.
22. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
23. See also according to
toin used before the base form of a verb
pronunciation note: Pronounced (tə ) before a consonant and (tu ) before a vowel.
1. [to inf]
You use to before the base form of a verb to form the to-infinitive. You use the to-infinitive after certain verbs, nouns, and adjectives, and after words such as 'how', 'which', and 'where'.
The management wanted to know what I was doing there.
She told ministers of her decision to resign.
Trish was the first to see him.
Nuclear plants are expensive to build, though cheap to operate.
Darling! It's lovely to see you.
She did not take the judge's advice about how to do her job.
The Foreign Minister is to visit China.
The youngest child, John, was to die at the age of fourteen.
2. [to inf]
...using the experience of big companies to help small businesses.
He was doing this to make me more relaxed.
He is leaving tomorrow to play his first match.
...programs set up to save animals.
To help provide essential nourishment, we've put together these nutritious drinks.
3. order1
4. [to inf]
You use to before the base form of a verb when you are commenting on a statement that you are making, for example when saying that you are being honest or brief, or that you are summing up or giving an example.
I'm disappointed, to be honest.
Well, to sum up, what is the message that you are trying to get across?
5. [to inf]
You use to before the base form of a verb in exclamations when you are emphasizing a very strong emotion, such as a desire or wish, or a regret or disappointment.
[emphasis]Oh, to think of his poor wife, standing there helpless.
But then to be let down like that, oh it's so unfair!
6. [to inf]
You use to before the base form of a verb when indicating what situation follows a particular action.
He made his way to the kitchen to find Francis cooking.
From the garden you walk down to discover a large and beautiful lake.
He awoke to find Charlie standing near the bed.
