to */*/*/

strong UK [tuː] / US [tu] weak UK [tə, tʊ] / US [tə] adverb, preposition

Summary:

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.

The system is easy to understand.

I didn't know what to say.

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

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 saying 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 saying 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 towards someone/something used for saying 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 left and then to the right before crossing the road.

face to face/back to back (= facing each otherfacing away from each other):

They stood face to face, glaring at each other.

5) used for saying where someone/something is used for saying 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 saying 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 saying 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 saying which person or organization someone does a particular job for

She is personal assistant to the Managing Director.

8) when something is connected or fastened used for saying 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 saying what condition or state someone or something is in after a change

He saw that the lights had changed to green.

The building has been restored to its former glory.

Charlotte was often reduced to tears by his angry outbursts.

b) used for saying what stage of development is reached

When will all this suffering come to an end?

an event that brought matters to crisis point

The animals are slaughtered before they grow to maturity.

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 Oxford?

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

11) until

a) until a particular time or date

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

from ... to:

The shop stays open from 7 am to 9 pm.

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

b) used for saying 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 saying someone's opinion used for saying whose opinion, attitude, or knowledge is being referred to

To most of us, work is an unpleasant necessity.

it seems/looks to someone:

It seems to me that there has been a lack of discipline.

to my mind/to my way of thinking (= in my opinion):

a taxation policy which is, to my mind, unfair

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 saying 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

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

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

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

There are 10,000 square centimetres to a square metre.

The exchange rate is 108 Japanese yen to the US 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

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

a toy suitable for children aged three to five

from ... to:

the numbers from one to ten

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.

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 per cent 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 saying 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 saying 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, 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 reckoned at 20 to 1.

See:

to and fro