“To” is the preposition

we love! Sylwia Ploskonka

Irene Torregrosa

Carmen Alexe

Carole Poncin

“TO” SYNTAX

Preposition expresses a relation in space

between two or more entities or a relation in

time between events.

Preposition TO: in the direction of place or

time.

She ran to the bus stop.

It s five to three.

“TO” PREPOSITION

Two types of preposition “To”:

SIMPLE: To : I prefer painting to drawing

COMPLEX : thanks to, up to, near to, due to, owing to

There are points of similarity between prepositions and

other word classes and constructions in English grammar

TO is not only a preposition-the reason we love it

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES

Connector reference: WITH REGARD TO (formal)

WITH REFERENCE TO (formal)

preposition - Noun Nucleus: With regard to your proposal, I

haven`t decided myself whether to come or not

preposition- Gerund Nucleus: With regard to celebrating your

birthday, I think I know the perfect place!

“TO” SYNTAX AND SEMANTICS

A:PREPOSITION

B: 1)INFINITIVE MARKER

2)SUBSTITUTE FOR THE INFINITIV

C:ADVERB CLAUSE LINKER

General syntactical patterns:

I TO + Noun/ Gerund; Noun+ TO (infinitive)

II Adjective+ TO

III TO+ Verb/ Verb+ TO//TO

IV TO-Adverb

TO- Polysemy, Set Phrases & Idioms

GENERAL USES: PREPOSITION

DUE TO and OWING TO

Due/owing to the bad weather(,) the match

was cancelled.

We have had to postpone the meeting (,)

due/ owing to the Chairwoman s illness.

GENERAL USES:PREPOSITION

MOVEMENT OR DIRECTION

He gets to the market by bike.

I go to Canada to see him whenever I can.

THROW TO AND SHOUT TO

Please do not throw food to the animals.

Could you shout to Phil and tell him it s

breakfast time?

OTHER USES “TO” PREPOSITION

AFTER EXPRESSIONS

He went to school in Bristol

He went to work with my brother yesterday

UNTIL/TILL AND TO (expressing time)

I usually work from nine to five

It’s a quarter to three

IN EXCLAMATIONS

And then to be let down like that!

GENERAL USES “TO”PREPOSITION

OMISSION OF TO (IO)

I gave the book to Tom = I gave Tom the book

This construction with:

(in a will) (= hand) (instrument/

piece of

music)

(= narrate,

inform)

Bring Lend Pay Promise

Give Offer play Sell

Hand pass Send

Leave Show

Sing

Take

tell

GENERAL USES: PREPOSITION

VERBS OF COMMUNICATION

(OMISSION OF TO)

1) Ask, encourage, invite, recommend, advise

They advised him to wait.

2) Complain, describe, explain, say, speak,

suggest, talk.

He spoke English (to them).

“TO” OTHER FUNCTIONS:

1)“TO” Infinitive marker

a)To- base form of the verb: to read, to give, to do etc.

To read (subject) good books is important

b) Verb+ TO (infinitive): like to, begin to, attempt to, fail to, continue to,

agree to, have to etc.

Prices have continued to rise

A veterinary surgeon attempted to revive the elephant

c) Verb+ To+ Verb-ing: be used to, applied to, be close to, take to, look

forward to etc.

I’m looking forward to hearing from you

2)“TO” substitute for the infinitive

Don’t go if you don`t want to.

“TO” ADVERB

According to: To my way of thinking you are wrong

I played the game according to the rules

ADVERB CLAUSE LINKER

Infinitive clause of purpose: clause+ TO infinitive ( Stative Verbs)

TO: We went on to the roof to watch the fireworks

I sat down to rest

In order to (more formal): We got up early in order to have time

to pack

So as to: I moved to a new flat so as to be near my work

POLYSEMY SET PHRASES

TO

PHRASAL VERBS IDIOMS

GENERAL USES

POLYSEMY “TO”PREPOSITION

MOVEMENT OR DIRECTION

Destination: He wrote a letter to his beloved

Towards: He walk slowly to the door

As far as: There isn t much distance from

here to London

Located at(position): The door is to the left of the

window

POLYSEMY “TO”PREPOSITION

Against: He stood with his back to the wall

About, concerning: What do you say to that?

Up to (adverb): To this day I still don’t know what he

meant

POLYSEMY “TO”PREPOSITION

In dedications, greetings: Greetings to all our

friends!; Welcome to you all!

In ratios, proportions: The football team won by

four goals to two

In comparisons: You think superior to the others

SET PHRASES WITH “TO”

To and fro = backwards and forwards

The lion in the cage moved to and fro.

Face to face /cheek to cheek

Shall we do the interview over the phone, or

face to face?

Couples were dancing cheek to cheek.

SET PHRASES WITH “TO”

Ten to one /a hundred to one

There is a million to one chance you will

win the lottery.

Back to front

I think you have got that sweater on back

to front.

IDIOMS WITH “TO”

All roads lead to Rome.

If the mountain won’t come to Mohammed,

then Mohammed must go to the mountain.

Armed to the teeth