to

to

To is used in several different ways as a preposition. Its usual pronunciation is /tə/. However, when it is followed by a word beginning with a vowel sound, it is pronounced /tu/ and when it comes at the end of a clause, it is pronounced /tuː/.

destination

You use to when you mention the place where someone goes.

I'm going with her .

The children have gone to school.

I made my way back .

Don't use ‘to’ in front of here or there. Don't say, for example, ‘We go to there every year’. Say ‘We go there every year’.

Before I came here, there were a few offers from other clubs.

His mother was from New Orleans and he went every summer.

Also, don't use ‘to’ in front of home.

I want to go home.

I'll pick the parcels up on my way .

direction

You can use to to show the place that a person is intending to arrive at.

We're sailing to Europe.

We used to go through Yugoslavia on our way .

However, don't use ‘to’ to show the general direction in which someone or something is moving. Don't say, for example, ‘The boat was drifting to the shore’. You say ‘The boat was drifting towards the shore’.

He saw his mother running towards him.

We turned to fly back .

Toward is sometimes used instead of towards.

They walked along the pathway toward the house.

You also say that someone looks towards or toward something.

She glanced .

He stood looking toward the back of the restaurant.

position

You can use to to show the position of something. For example, if something is to your left, it is nearer your left side than your right side.

My father was in the middle, with me carrying the umbrella.

To the west lies Gloucester.

You can also use to to show where something is tied or attached, or what it is touching.

I locked my bike .

He clutched the parcel .

time

To is sometimes used with a similar meaning to ‘until’.

Breakfast was from 9 .

Only ten shopping days to Christmas.

indirect objects

You put to in front of the indirect object of some verbs when the indirect object comes after the direct object.

He showed the letter .