When Not to Use the Word 'To'

 

This is Everyday Grammar.

On many of our programs, we talk about the dos of the English language – how and when to use grammatical¹ forms. But on today's program, we will tell you about some don'ts – in this case, when not to use something: the word "to."

The word "to" can act as a preposition², part of a phrasal verb³, or part of an infinitive⁴ verb, depending on how it is used.

‘Go' and place adverbs

Let's begin by discussing when to avoid use of "to" after the verb "go."

You have probably heard native English speakers say things like, "I'm going to work" or "I'm going to school." But why don't they say, "I'm going to home"?

English learners are generally taught to use "to" when talking about going to a place. Well, that applies most of the time. However, some words present exceptions⁶.

The word "home" is one of them. Let me explain why.

"Home" seems like a clear noun⁷, right? However, we often use it as an adverb. In fact, this is key to knowing which words do not come with the preposition "to."

Listen to how this speaker uses "home" in a question:

Are you going home? I need a ride to 16th Street.

Here, "home" is an adverb, not a noun. Notice that the verb is "go." After this verb and before some place adverbs, we do not use the preposition "to."

Now, let's talk about other adverbs that follow this "rule."

The words "downstairs" and "upstairs" are place adverbs that describe levels inside a home or building. Listen to how this speaker uses one of them with the verb "go":

Let's go downstairs. I want to show you my art collection.

Make sense so far? Great!

Other place adverbs that follow this same rule include "there" and "somewhere." A common mistake of English learners is to say something like, "I'm going to there." People will still understand your meaning. But it's good to know the right way, which the following two speakers use. Have a listen:

It's my birthday! I want to go somewhere special.

How about the local vineyard? Renee is going there for her birthday next week.

There are a few more place adverbs that are not preceded⁹ by the preposition "to" when used with the verb "go." They include "inside" "outside" "underground" "abroad" and "downtown."

It's also worth noting that this applies to a few verbs⁵ other than "go." For example, with the verb "run," I would say, "I have to run downtown" rather than "I have to run to downtown."

The verb ‘arrive'

The verb "arrive" is another that never gets the preposition "to" after it. In other words, avoid say something like, "We arrived to the airport at 5:00" or responding¹⁰, "OK great. What time will you arrive to Washington¹¹, D.C.?"

Listen to these speakers correct those two examples:

We arrived at the airport at 5:00.

OK great. What time will you arrive in Washington, D.C.?

Note however that the phrasal verb "get to" is much more common than "arrive." So, you might hear native English speakers say this instead:

We got to the airport at 5:00.

OK great. What time will get to Washington, D.C.?

Even with the verb "get to," we sometimes take out "to," such as when using the place adverbs we have been discussing. In other words, saying, "I got downtown at noon" is right, while saying "I got to downtown at noon" is not.

The verbs ‘prevent' and ‘stop'

The next verbs are "stop" and "prevent." These verbs mean the same thing, but "stop" sounds more natural in everyday speaking and writing.

Avoid using "to" after these verbs. The usual sentence structure¹² is to follow them with an object, then the preposition "from" and then a gerund. That's a lot easier than it sounds! Here is proof¹³:

The password prevents people from stealing your information.

The password stops people from stealing your information.

The object here is "people," followed by the preposition "from" and the gerund "stealing."

Causative verbs

And finally, we move to causative verbs.

You may remember earlier programs that discussed causatives such as "let" and "make." There are more than 10 causative verbs in English. Most are followed by an infinitive verb. However, a few are only followed by the base form of verbs. "Let" and "make" are examples of this.

Listen to this speaker use "let" and pay attention for what verb comes after:

Our friend let us take some veggies from his garden.

She used the base form of the verb "take." Notice that she did not say, "Our friend let us to take some veggies from his garden."

What can you do?

So, what can you do with this information?

Well, first, remember that using "to" in the wrong places usually will not stop others from understanding you.

Next, avoid trying to memorize what you learned¹⁴ today. Instead, pay attention for the place adverbs and verbs wherever English is being used. Then, ask yourself if the word "to" is present.

I'm Alice Bryant.

Words in This Story

phrasal verb – n. a group of words that functions as a verb and is made up of a verb and a preposition, an adverb, or both

infinitive verb – n. the basic form of a verb with the word "to"

key – n. something that is necessary in order to do or achieve something

vineyard – n. a field where grapes are grown

precede⁸ – v. to happen, go or come before something

gerund – n. a noun ending in -ing

password – n. a secret series¹⁵ of numbers or letters that allows you to use a computer system

causative – adj. making something happen or exist : causing something

1 grammatical   

adj.语法的，符合语法规则的

参考例句：

• His composition is excellent except for some grammatical mistakes.他的作文写得很好，只有几处语法错误。
• He can barely form a grammatical sentence.他几乎造不出合乎语法的句子。

2 preposition   

n.介词

参考例句：

• You should cancel this preposition in the sentence.你应该删去句子中的这个介词。
• We use different preposition to talk about time,days,months and seasons.我们用不动的介词来谈论时间，日，月和季节等。

3 verb   

n.[语]动词

参考例句：

• The sentence is formed from a verb and two nouns.这句子由一个动词和两个名词构成。
• These are the finite forms of a verb.这些是一个动词的限定形式。

4 infinitive   

n.不定词；adj.不定词的

参考例句：

• The use of the split infinitive is now generally acceptable.分裂不定式的用法现在已被广泛接受。
• Modal verbs generally take the bare infinitive.情态动词通常用不带to的不定式。

5 verbs   

动词

参考例句：

• I have to swot up on phrasal verbs for a test tomorrow. 我不得不为明天的测验努力温习短语动词。
• Verbs that do not take object are called intransitive verbs. 不带宾语的动词称为不及物动词。

6 exceptions   

例外( exception的名词复数 )； 不包括在内的人（或物）； 规则的例外； 例外的事物

参考例句：

• Most children like sweets, but there are some exceptions. 大多数孩子喜欢吃糖果，但也有一些例外。
• Such exceptions do not invalidate the rule. 这些例外并不证明此规则无效。

7 noun   

n.名词

参考例句：

• What kind of noun is this?这是哪类名词？
• This word is a collective noun.这个词是个集体名词。

8 precede   

v.在...之前，优于，较...优先

参考例句：

• Agricultural development simply must precede economic development.农业的发展必须在整个经济发展中处于领先地位。
• Attributive adjectives precede the noun.定语形容词位于名词前。

9 preceded   

在…之前发生（或出现），先于( precede的过去式和过去分词 )； 走在…前面

参考例句：

• He preceded his speech with a warning against inattention. 他在开始讲演前告诫大家不得心不在焉。
• He preceded his speech with welcome to the guests. 他在正式讲演前，先对来宾表示欢迎。

10 responding   

回答，回报，响应( respond的现在分词 )； 有反应； 有效果； 有影响

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals. 他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• Responding with a smile, he said, "Well, why don't you?" 他也笑道：“咦，你为什么不说话了？”

11 Washington   

n.华盛顿特区(是美国首都)

参考例句：

• His birthplace is Washington,but he lives in San Francisco.他出生于华盛顿，但住在旧金山。
• They, together with my father,have gone to Washington.他们和我父亲一起去华盛顿了。

12 structure   

n.结构，构造，建筑物；v.构成；

参考例句：

• Doctors study the structure of the human body.医生研究人体构造。
• A flower has quite a complicated structure.一朵花的结构相当复杂。

13 proof   

adj.防...的，耐...的，能防护；n.校样，证据，证明；vt.检验，给...做防护措施

参考例句：

• He is living proof of the wonders of modern medicine.他是当代医学奇迹的活证明。
• The proof was fished up from some old papers.校样在旧文件中被找到了。

14 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

15 series   

n.连续；系列

参考例句：

• The students have put forward a series of questions.学生们提出了一系列问题。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。