To

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Revision as of 15:23, 11 April 2020 by Sashi (talk | contribs) (Combines with "in" and "on")
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Preposition

Destination marker

If there is one sign that symbolizes the word "to" it is an arrow. ( )

  • I'm going to the store
  • Give it to your brother.
  • Happy birthday to you!
  • She's going to China. -- Je vais en Chine (f.) // au Japon. (m.)
  • Welcome to France. -- Bienvenue en France (f.) // au Japon. (m.)

The most famous line from Shakespeare's Hamlet can also be understood in this light:

  • To be or not to be: that is the question?

For Hamlet at this moment of the play, "being" is a still a destination, or an objective that is not fully realized.

Directional marker: towards

  • toward, towards = vers, en direction de
    • He was moving towards the door. He obviously wanted to leave.
    • The two countries were headed towards war.
    • "Chesapeake Energy (NYSE:CHK) is likely headed towards bankruptcy. Don’t be fooled about this. CHK stock will then be worthless if that occurs." §§

Combines with "in" and "on"

  • into: (inchoative1 particle: marks a beginning) (marque le point où un "intérieur" commence à être franchi)
    • come into / go into / run into (STH) (car accident) / run into (SO) (croiser qqn)
    • turn into, change into = (se) transformer en
    • change into warmer clothes = aller mettre, aller enfiler
    • look into, delve into = étudier de plus près
    • talk so into so = convaincre qqn de faire qqch.

1 Cf. Aktionsart


  • onto:
    • The destination physically supports (or holds up) the "subject" of the sentence, keeps it from falling.
      • Should we move the computer onto the desk?
      • There's no way you're going to be able to put the iPad onto your unlimited plan with verzion.
  • be on to:
    • vient du sens continuatif de on, notion de découverte d'une bonne piste...
      • I think you're on to something here.

Infinitivals

Combines with any number of verbs to introduce a complement or a predicate :

  • She wants [to get some new shoes].
  • "When purchasing life insurance, there are a few specific questions that you're not going [to want [to forget [to ask __???____ ]]]]."
  • They don't know how [to operate the machine yet]. They need [to be trained].


phonetic reduction

There are two principle verbs where the [t] loses its "obstruent" nature in rapid speech. (It loses it's "T-ness" if you like):

  • want to    →    wanna'
  • going to    →    gonna'

modality of "to"

Modality#Modality_of_to