- 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 infinitiveI 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 goesShe 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 wayPrizes 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 lookingShe 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 thingsa 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 isThe 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 reachedWhen 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 limitThe cancer had spread to his lungs.[/ex]How far is it from here to Oxford?[/ex]9) until until a particular time or eventOnly 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 hourI'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 toTo 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 amountsYou get about ten of these apples to the kilo.[/ex]13) for giving a score used for saying what the score is in a gameOur team won by five goals to three.[/ex]14) for showing a possible range used for showing one of the ends of a possible rangeOnly 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 elsethe 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 happensTo 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]
Dictionary for writing and speaking English. 2014.