to */*/*/

weak [tə, tʊ] , strong [tuː]

grammar word summary: To can be: ■ used before the basic form of a verb to form the infinitive: I want to go home. ■ a preposition: We drove to Newport.

1) part of an infinitive used before a verb for forming an infinitive, often when you are stating the purpose of an action, or used without the following verb instead of an infinitive

I hope to see you next week.[/ex]

The system is very easy to understand.[/ex]

Nobody came to help me.[/ex]

You don't need to come if you don't want to.[/ex]

2) going somewhere used for saying the place or event where someone or something goes

She rushed to the phone.[/ex]

There are daily flights to Boston.[/ex]

the road to the farm[/ex]

Robert hates going to parties.[/ex]

3) for showing who is affected by an action used for saying who or what is told, given, or shown something, or is treated or affected in a particular way

Prizes were presented to the winners.[/ex]

I have already explained to everyone what the problem is.[/ex]

They were very kind to my mother when she was ill.[/ex]

Look what you've done to my new carpet![/ex]

cruelty to animals[/ex]

4) in a particular direction used for saying in which direction someone or something is, is pointing, or is looking

She pointed to a notice on the wall.[/ex]

Henry was standing with his back to me.[/ex]

There was a large bookcase to the left of the fireplace.[/ex]

a large township just to the south of Johannesburg[/ex]

5) in a particular relationship with sb/sth used for explaining a relationship between people or things

a political party with ties to a terrorist group[/ex]

She is personal assistant to the Managing Director.[/ex]

6) when sth is connected or fastened used for stating where something is fastened or where a connection is

The carpet had been nailed to the floor.[/ex]

Your computer is connected to the main network.[/ex]

7) when sth changes or develops used for saying what stage of development or change is reached

When will all this suffering come to an end?[/ex]

an event that brought matters to crisis point[/ex]

8) as far as as far as a particular point or limit

The cancer had spread to his lungs.[/ex]

How far is it from here to Oxford?[/ex]

9) until until a particular time or event

Only another 18 days to the final exam![/ex]

The shop stays open from 7 am to 9 pm.[/ex]

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

I'll meet you at quarter to six (= 5.45).[/ex]

11) for stating sb's opinion used for saying whose opinion, attitude, or knowledge is being referred to

To most of us, work is an unpleasant necessity.[/ex]

It seems to me that there has been a lack of discipline.[/ex]

12) for showing how numbers are related used for showing the relationship between two numbers or amounts

You get about ten of these apples to the kilo.[/ex]

13) for giving a score used for saying what the score is in a game

Our team won by five goals to three.[/ex]

14) for showing a possible range used for showing one of the ends of a possible range

Only about 20 to 25 per cent of the population voted for the government.[/ex]

the numbers from one to ten[/ex]

15) needed for sth used for showing that something is an important or necessary part of something else

the answer to an important question[/ex]

the keys to my desk[/ex]

16) causing a particular reaction used for saying what your reaction is when something happens

To her surprise, she saw that he was crying.[/ex]

•

(all) to yourself — not shared with anyone else[/ex]

You have the house to yourself until five o'clock.[/ex]

(all) to yourself — not sharing something with anyone else[/ex]

My parents were away, so I had the house to myself.[/ex]

to and fro — in one direction and then back again (= backwards and forwards)[/ex]