to
preposition
ukstrong/tuː/weak/tʊ/weak/tu/weak/tə/usstrong/tuː/weak/tə/weak/t̬ə/weak/tu/topreposition(INFINITIVE)
A1
used before averbto show that it is in theinfinitive
(用于动词前,表示不定式)A1
used after someverbs,especiallywhen theactiondescribedin theinfinitivewillhappenlater:
(用于某些动词后,尤其是不定式所描述的动作将会随后发生时)Sheagreedtohelp.她答应帮忙。
I'll have totellhim.我得告诉他。
Sadly, she didn'tlivetoseehergrandchildren.令人伤心的是,她没有活到孙辈出生的那一天。
A1
used after manyverbsofagreeing,needing, andwanting:
(用于许多表示赞成、需要和想要的动词后)I need toeatsomething first.我首先得吃点东西。
I'dlovetolivein New York.我想要住在纽约。
Thatchildought to be inbed.那个孩子应该上床睡觉。
A2
usedinsteadofrepeatingaverbclause:
(用于代替动词分句,以免重复)"Are you goingtonight?" "I'mcertainlyhopingto."“你今晚要走吗?”“我当然希望走。”
A1
used inphraseswhere there arereportedordersandrequests:
(用于表示间接命令、要求的短语中)He told me towait.他叫我等。
Did anyoneaskDaniel toreservetheroom?有人要丹尼尔订房间了吗?
A1
used after someadjectives:
(用于某些形容词后)It's notlikelytohappen.这事不大可能发生。
Threemonthsistoolongtowait.等3个月太久了。
She's notstrongenoughto gohikingupmountains.她身体不够壮,登不上山。
used after somenouns:
(用于某些名词后)He has thisenviableabilitytoignoreeverything that'sunpleasantinlife.他有这种令人羡慕的本事,能够不去理睬生活中的种种不快。
This will be my secondattemptto makeflakypastry.这将是我第二次尝试制作薄馅饼皮。
Aclausecontainingto +infinitivecan be used as thesubjectof asentence:
(含有带 to 的不定式的分句可用作句子主语)To gooverseasonyourown is verybrave.只身去国外,真勇敢。
Myplanwas to get it allarrangedbefore I told anyone.我的计划是先把一切都安排好再告诉别人。
A1
used afterquestionwords:
(用于疑问词后)I don'tknowwhat to do.我不知道该怎么办。
Can youtellme how to get there?你能告诉我怎样去那儿吗?
A2
used with aninfinitivetoexpressuse orpurpose:
(与不定式连用,表示用途或目的)I'm going there toseemysister.我要去那儿看望我的姐姐。
Thistoolis used to makeholesinleather.这个工具是用来在皮革上打眼的。
To make thiscake, you'll need twoeggs, 175gramsofsugar, and 175gramsofflour.做这个蛋糕,你需要两个鸡蛋、175克糖和175克面粉。
Heworksto getpaid, not because heenjoysit.他工作是为了挣钱,而不是因为喜欢工作。
You canintroduceaclausewith a phrasecontainingto +infinitive:
(含有带 to 的不定式的短语可引出分句)To behonest(=speakinghonestly), Becky, I like thegreyshirtbetter.说实话,贝姬,我更喜欢那件灰色的衬衫。
Totellyou thetruth, I never reallylikedthe man.坦率地跟你说,我从未真正地喜欢过这个男人。
A1
used with aninfinitiveafter 'there is' or 'there are' and anoun:
(与不定式连用,用于 there be + 名词这种结构后)There's anawfullot ofworkto be done.有许许多多的工作要做。
to be going on withUK
To be going on withmeansinordertocontinuewith thepresentactivityorsituation:
为了继续做下去Do we have enoughpaintto be going on with, or should I get some more while I'm out?继续下去我们的油漆够用吗,我是不是该外出时再买一些?
- Thismeatisdifficulttochew.
- On ahotdayit'slovelytohearthechinkoficein aglass.
- I'dprefernot toworkbut I don't have muchchoice.
- It'simpossibletoparkin thecitycentre.
- There was aclapofthunderand then itstartedtopourwithrain.
Until a particular moment
- before
- date
- day
- far
- hitherto
- in
- inside
- interim
- meanwhile
- now
- pending
- thus
- till
- time
- to dateidiom
- until
- up to(doing) somethingidiom
- wait till/until...idiom
topreposition(SHOWING DIRECTION)
A1
in thedirectionof:
朝,向,往,对着We're going totownon thebus,okay?我们坐公共汽车去城里,好吗?
We went to Prague lastyear.我们去年去了布拉格。
Iaskedsomeone the way to thetowncentre.我向人问了去市中心的路。
You canwalkfromhere to theschoolin under tenminutes.你可以从这儿走到学校,用不了10分钟。
IaskedKirsten and Kai todinner(=invitedthem to come andeatdinnerwith me)nextweek.我邀请了柯尔斯滕和卡伊下星期来吃饭。
Wereceivedanotherinvitationto aweddingthismorning.今天上午我们又收到了一份参加婚礼的请柬。
I had my back to them, so I couldn'tseewhat they were doing.我背对着他们,所以看不见他们在做什么。
Shewalkedoverto thewindow.她走到窗边来。
He wentupto acompletestrangerandstartedtalking.他走到一个完全陌生的人跟前,开始和对方交谈起来。
UKYou've gotyoursweateronbacktofront(= with the back of thesweateron thechest).你的毛衣前后穿反了。
- She goes to herdoctorforregularcheck-ups.
- She gave acheesygrinto thecameras.
- Takeyourpurchasesto thesalesdesk, and theassistantwillwrapthem for you.
- When weretire, we're going tomoveto awarmerclimate.
- We're going to theairportbycoach.
Describing movement towards
- -wards
- -ways
- at
- convergent
- earthward
- facing
- for
- forward
- forwards
- hither
- inwards
- on
- oncoming
- onward
- onwards
- thither
- up
- ward
- way
- wise
topreposition(RECEIVING)
A2
used forshowingwhoreceivessomething or whoexperiencesanaction:
(表示动作的对象)对,给Ilentmybiketo mybrother.我把自行车借给了我哥哥。
I told that to Alex and he justlaughed.我把那件事告诉了阿历克斯,他笑了。
Who's theletteraddressedto?这封信是寄给谁的?
A2
With manyverbsthat have twoobjects, 'to' can be used before theindirectobject:
(与许多可接双宾语的动词连用,用于间接宾语前)Give me thatgun./Give thatgunto me.给我那把枪/把那把枪给我。
- Who should I make out thischequeto ?
- When you'vefinishedyourworksheets,clipthem together andhandthem in to me.
- He's agreatcomfortto hismother.
- Has thenewsbeencommunicatedto thestaffyet?
- If theservicewas sobadwhy didn't youcomplainto themanager?
topreposition(UNTIL)
B1
until aparticulartime,state, orlevelisreached:
距;到;至It's only twoweekstoChristmas.离圣诞节只有两星期了。
Unemployment hasrisentoalmosteight million.失业人数已经上升到了差不多800万。
Hedrankhimself todeath.他酗酒而死。
Shenursedme back tohealth.她护理我直到康复。
A1
used when saying thetime, tomeanbefore thestatedhour:
(表示时间)在…之前;距;差It's twenty to six.差20分到6点。
- Cheaprateforoverseasphonecallsis from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.
- TheSpanishCivil Warlastedfrom 1936 to 1939.
- Mydaughtercriedherself tosleepabout it for about aweek.
- Mollystudiedmusictograde7, Ithinkit was.
- Thewholecoursewas adisasterfromstarttofinish.
Until a particular moment
- before
- date
- day
- far
- hitherto
- in
- inside
- interim
- meanwhile
- now
- pending
- thus
- till
- time
- to dateidiom
- until
- up to(doing) somethingidiom
- wait till/until...idiom
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Days & times of day
topreposition(EXTREME)
used tosuggestanextremestate:
(表示极端的状态)Look atyourshirt- it'storntoshreds!看看你的衬衫——都成碎片了!
She wasthrilledtobits.她激动得不行。
I wasboredtotears.我感到无聊极了。
topreposition(CONNECTION)
B1
inconnectionwith:
与…相关What wastheirresponsetoyourquery?他们对你的询问作何反应?
She was someanto me.她对我很粗暴。
There's afunnysideto everything.任何事物都有其滑稽的一面。
B1
used to say where something isfastenedorconnected:
(用于表示被系住或连接的地方)Thepaperwasstuckto thewallwithtape.纸张被用胶带贴在了墙上。
Afastrailserviceconnectsus to thecity.快速铁路把我们和城市连接了起来。
- She has norightfulclaimto thetitle.
- Like so many men, he hasproblemscommittinghimself to arelationship.
- She isknownchieflyfor hercommitmenttonucleardisarmament.
- The public'sresponseto thecrisisappealwasgenerousandcompassionate.
- Theyplannedto put up astatueto thepresident.
topreposition(FUTURE)
used before aninfinitive, usually with 'be', toindicateafutureaction:
(用于不定式前,通常和 be 连用,构成将来时)Thegovernmentannouncedtoday that it is tocutfundingfor theartsfor nextyear.今天政府宣布明年要削减对艺术的资助。
See also
to-be
mainlyUK
used in thispatternto say what someone should do or to give anorder:
(表示命令或指出某人应该做什么)You're not to(= you must not)biteyournailslike that.你不准那样咬指甲。
Newspapers often useto +infinitivewithout 'be' intheirheadlines(=titlesofarticles)whenreportingplannedfutureevents:
(报纸标题中常用 to + 不定式这种结构,前面不加 be,表示未来计划中的事)Russia tosendtroopsin.俄罗斯即将派兵。
- We are toleavetomorrowatdawn.
- You are to go toyourroomimmediately.
- If he is topasstheexam, he must do morework.
- Troops are to take over theroleof thefirebrigade.
- He said we were not toleavetheroom.
Linguistics: verb forms, tenses & types of verbs
- accusative
- art
- bare infinitive
- bent
- continuous
- infinitive
- non-progressive
- passive
- passivization
- pluperfect
- present
- present participle
- progressive
- subjunctive
- the active voice
- the first person
- the future perfect
- the past continuous
- the past tense
- the present continuous
topreposition(CAUSING)
C2
causingaparticularfeelingin aparticularperson:
令(某人)感到…That's when Ifoundout, to myamazement, that she was coming here.令我惊讶的是,那时候我得知她正要到这里来。
- Totheirgreatsurprise, they allpassedtheexam.
- Ilearned, to myannoyance, that he had alreadyleft.
- To mycompletehorror, thecarturnedrightover.
- To mydespair, Isawthat thewaterwasrising.
Causing things to happen
- -induced
- activate
- activation
- actuation
- agent
- attribute
- attributesomethingtosomeone
- implementation
- in
- inaugurate
- inauguration
- pioneer
- reactivate
- realization
- realize
- reattribute
- reawaken
- render
- spark
- spell
topreposition(CONSIDERED BY)
consideredby:
对…而言;在…看来Irealizeit maysoundstrangeto you.我意识到对你而言这听上去可能很奇怪。
Imean, £50 is nothing to him(= he would notconsiderit alargeamount).我的意思是,50英镑对他而言算不了什么。
informal"Ihearyou've been going out with Ella." "Yeah, so?What's itto you?"(= It should notinterestyou, and you have norighttoaskabout it.)“我听说你在和艾拉谈恋爱。”“哟,这和你有什么关系?”
- Ourhousemustseemluxuriousto them.
- Loyalty doesn'tmeananything to them.
- Itseemedoddto me that they didn'twantto come to London.
- Ourcustomsprobablyseemfunnyto them.
topreposition(SERVING)
B1
serving:
为…效力,为…服务As apersonaltrainerto therichandfamous, heearnsover a milliondollarsayear.他做富人和名流的私人教练一年挣100多万美元。
- He wasfootmanto theking.
- He wasdoctorto thepoor.
- She wasmaidto arichfamilyin London.
topreposition(AGAINST)
against or very near:
靠着;顶着;非常接近Stand back to back.背靠背站着。
They weredancingcheektocheek.他们在跳贴面舞。
- Theirfaceswerenosetonose,scowlingat each other.
- Thechildrenstoodback to back toseewho wastallest.
- He wasstanding,handtomouthinhorror.
Through, across, opposite and against
- across
- across countryidiom
- against
- agin
- along
- catty-corner
- country
- cross
- front
- give
- kitty-corner
- on
- opposite
- other
- over
- overland
- thru
- trans
topreposition(BELONGING)
matchingorbelongingto:
与…相配;属于Mydadgave me thekeysto hiscar.爸爸把他的车钥匙给了我。
I'velostthetrousersto thisjacket.我把和这件夹克相配的裤子弄丢了。
having as acharacteristicfeature:
有…的特征She has ameansideto her.她性格中有刻薄的一面。
There is a verymoraltoneto thisbook.这本书很有道德教育的意味。
- Is there acoverto thisbook?
- There is asoftersideto hernature.
- I gave her thepasswordto mycomputer.
topreposition(SHOWING POSITION)
B1
used to show thepositionof something or someone incomparisonwith something or someoneelse:
(表示相对位置)John'sstandingto theleftof Adrian in thephoto.照片中约翰站在阿德里安的左边。
TheYorkshireDales are twentymilesto thenorthof thecity.约克郡山谷位于这个城市以北20英里处。
Next to and beside
- abreast
- adjacency
- adjacent
- adjoining
- against
- along
- atsomeone'selbowidiom
- beside
- bordering
- contiguity
- contiguous
- neighbour
- next
- next door
- next door but oneidiom
- non-contiguous
- on
- shoulder
- shoulder to shoulderidiom
- side
topreposition(IN HONOUR OF)
inhonourormemoryof:
为向…表示敬意;为了纪念Iproposedatoastto thebrideand thegroom.我提议为新娘新郎干杯。
Therecordisdedicatedto hermother, whodiedrecently.这张唱片是献给她不久前去世的母亲的。
- Thebookisdedicatedto herson.
- I'd like todedicatethemovieto thememoryof myfather.
topreposition(FOR EACH)
for each:
每How manydollarsare there to thepound?1英镑等于多少美元?
Thiscardoes about 40milesto thegallon.这辆车每加仑汽油可行驶大约40英里。
When we goswimmingtogether I do sixlengthsto her twelve.如果我们一起去游泳,她每游12个来回而我只能游6个。
Compare
per
- How manyeurosare there to thepound?
- There are threechildrento eachteacher.
Linguistics: both, all, each & every
- A, a
- all
- all roundphrase
- any
- apiece
- both
- each
- either
- every
- every minuteidiom
- pan
- per
- pop
- strength
- the
- throw
- whole
topreposition(BETWEEN)
B2
used inphrasesthat show arange:
(用于短语中,表示范围)There wereprobably30 to 35(= anumberbetween 30 and 35)peoplethere.那儿可能有30到35个人。
- Thepoliceareexpectingfour to five thousandmarcherstomorrow.
- We haveallowedtwo to fourdrinksperperson.
Range and limits
- all the way toidiom
- ambit
- anywhere
- band
- bound
- compass
- gamut
- glass ceiling
- limit
- limited
- meta
- proviso
- realm
- restricted
- scope
- specialized
- spectrum
- spread
- stretch
- string
topreposition(AT THE SAME TIME AS)
at the sametimeasmusicor othersound:
与(音乐或其他声音)同时,伴随I likeexercisingtomusic.我喜欢跟着音乐做运动。
Heleftthestageto thesoundofbooing.他在一片嘘声中离开了舞台。
topreposition(POSITIVE)
relatingto apositivereactionorresult:
适合,符合;利于When thepastais done toyourliking,drainthewater.把意大利面煮到你认为合适的程度时,倒掉水。
Ithinkbeing at themeetingwould be toyouradvantage.我认为出席会议会对你有利。
topreposition(COMPARED WITH)
B1UK
comparedwith:
与…相比She'searningareasonablewage, butnothingto what she could if she was in theprivatesector.她的收入还可以,但如果她在私营企业工作收入会高得多。
Paulbeatme by threegamesto two(= hewonthree and Iwontwo).保罗以3比2打败了我。
He wasoldenough to be herfather- shelookedabout 30 to his 60.他老得可以当她的爸爸——她看上去约30岁,而他有60岁。
- Iliveto thenorthof Warsaw.
- Iweightenstoneto his eight.
- Shethinksherhouseisgreat, but it's nothing to where Ilive.
Comparing and contrasting
- analogy
- antithesis
- apple
- as againstidiom
- balance
- balancesomethingagainstsomething
- comparative
- competitive
- competitively
- contradistinction
- contrast
- contrastive
- measure
- nonrelative
- perspective
- relative
- relatively
- relativist
- stack
- stack up
Grammar
Noornot?
No and not are the two most common words we use to indicate negation. We use no before a noun phrase:…To
To is a preposition. It is also used as part of the infinitive (the to-infinitive):…Toas a preposition: destination or direction
We can use to as a preposition to indicate a destination or direction:…Toas a preposition: receiver of an action
We use to with verbs such as give, hand, send, write, to indicate the person or thing that receives or experiences the object of the verb:…Toas a preposition: time
We use to in telling the time, when we refer to the number of minutes before the hour:…Toas a preposition: approximate numbers
We can use to when we refer to an approximate number somewhere between a lower number and a higher number:…Toas a preposition: after nouns
A number of nouns are followed by to. These include nouns expressing direction or destination such as door, entrance, road, route, way:…Toas a preposition: after verbs
Some verbs are followed by the preposition to, including be used, get used, listen, look forward, object, reply, respond:…Toas a preposition: after adjectives
Some adjectives connected with people’s behaviour and feelings are followed by to, including cruel, faithful, generous, kind, loyal, nasty:…To: theto-infinitive
We use to before a verb to make the to-infinitive form:…At,inandto(movement)
We use to when we are talking about movement in the direction of a point, place, or position:…Nouns
Nouns are one of the four major word classes, along with verbs, adjectives and adverbs. Nouns are the largest word class.…Not only … but also
We use not only X but also Y in formal contexts:…Types of nouns
A noun refers to a person, animal or thing. Some examples are:…to
adverb
uk/tuː/us/tuː/mainlyUK
into aclosedposition:
关着地I'll justpushthedoorto.我只是要把门推上。
Open and closed
- airtight
- ajar
- barred
- closed
- crack
- gaping
- hermetically sealed
- hour
- latch
- off-hours
- open
- out of hoursidiom
- patency
- sealed
- shut
- unbarricaded
- undone
- watertight
- wide-eyed
Grammar
Noornot?
No and not are the two most common words we use to indicate negation. We use no before a noun phrase:…To
To is a preposition. It is also used as part of the infinitive (the to-infinitive):…Toas a preposition: destination or direction
We can use to as a preposition to indicate a destination or direction:…Toas a preposition: receiver of an action
We use to with verbs such as give, hand, send, write, to indicate the person or thing that receives or experiences the object of the verb:…Toas a preposition: time
We use to in telling the time, when we refer to the number of minutes before the hour:…Toas a preposition: approximate numbers
We can use to when we refer to an approximate number somewhere between a lower number and a higher number:…Toas a preposition: after nouns
A number of nouns are followed by to. These include nouns expressing direction or destination such as door, entrance, road, route, way:…Toas a preposition: after verbs
Some verbs are followed by the preposition to, including be used, get used, listen, look forward, object, reply, respond:…Toas a preposition: after adjectives
Some adjectives connected with people’s behaviour and feelings are followed by to, including cruel, faithful, generous, kind, loyal, nasty:…To: theto-infinitive
We use to before a verb to make the to-infinitive form:…