to
gb/tə/ us/tə/
A1
English
-ni, -ba/-be, -hoz/-hez/-höz, -ra/-re, -nak/-nek, -val/-vel, -ig, múlva, előtt, háromnegyed, [A]:[B] arányban, [A] az [B]-hez
A1
1
-ni
A1
Usage pattern:
to + [base verb]
I need to call you later.
Később fel kell hívnom téged.
They decided to stay home.
Úgy döntöttek, hogy otthon maradnak.
It’s hard to focus when you’re tired.
Learner examples
I want to learn English.
Szeretnék angolul tanulni.
We need to go now.
Most mennünk kell.
Common mistake:
Leaving out to after verbs like want/need/plan, or adding to after modal verbs (e.g., *can to go). Also confusing to with too/two in spelling.
Meaning
marks the infinitive verb form
Collocations
want to
|need to
|like to
|try to
|plan to
|decide to
|to be
|to do
|to get
|to make
Themes
grammar
Definition
Use to before a verb: to go, to eat, to study.
Used before the base form of a verb to form the infinitive.
A1
2
Usage pattern:
[go/come/travel/drive] to [place]
We went to the museum on Saturday.
Szombaton elmentünk a múzeumba.
Can you take this box to the car?
El tudnád vinni ezt a dobozt az autóhoz?
She ran to the door.
Learner examples
I go to school by bus.
Busszal járok iskolába.
Please come to my house.
Kérlek, gyere el hozzám.
Common mistake:
Using to with home incorrectly (*go to home); usually say go home (no to).
Meaning
toward a place or destination
Collocations
go to school
|go to work
|come to me
|drive to the airport
|walk to the station
|move to a new city
|return to
|head to
|get to
|take [something] to [place]
Synonyms
toward (Often emphasizes direction rather than arrival.)
Antonyms
from (Marks the starting point rather than the destination.)
Themes
travel
|daily_life
Definition
Use to for where someone or something goes.
Used to show movement in the direction of a place or point, often with the idea of reaching it.
A1
3
Usage pattern:
[give/send/show/say] [something] to [someone]
I sent the photos to my mom.
Elküldtem a fotókat anyukámnak.
Please explain the rules to me again.
Kérlek, magyarázd el nekem még egyszer a szabályokat.
He apologized to his teacher.
Learner examples
I gave the key to Sara.
Odaadtam a kulcsot Sarának.
She talked to her friend.
Beszélt a barátjával.
Common mistake:
Mixing up to and for (give it to her = she receives it; do it for her = it helps her).
Meaning
toward a person as receiver
Collocations
talk to
|speak to
|listen to
|say to
|explain to
|give to
|send to
|write to
|show to
|lend to
Themes
communication
|social
Definition
Use to for the person who gets something or who you speak to.
Used to show who receives something, or who an action, message, or feeling is directed at.
A2
4
Usage pattern:
from [start] to [end] | [start] to [end]
The shop is open from 10 to 6.
Az üzlet 10-től 6-ig van nyitva.
The temperature dropped from 12 to 3 degrees.
A hőmérséklet 12 fokról 3 fokra csökkent.
Read pages 15 to 30 before class.
Learner examples
I work from 9 to 5.
9-től 5-ig dolgozom.
The numbers go from 1 to 10.
A számsor 1-től 10-ig tart.
Common mistake:
Using until when a start point is given (from Monday to Friday, not *from Monday until Friday in many contexts).
Meaning
marks the end of a range
Collocations
from A to B
|from Monday to Friday
|from 9 to 5
|from 0 to 10
|from start to finish
|range from ... to ...
|up to (maximum)
|open 10 to 6
|ages 18 to 25
|pages 10 to 20
Synonyms
until (Common when only an end time is mentioned (wait until Friday).)
Antonyms
from (Marks the beginning of the range.)
Themes
time
|numbers
Definition
Use to for the ending point in a range.
Used to show the end point of a range, distance, period, or set of numbers.
A2
5
Usage pattern:
[minutes] to [hour]
It’s ten to five—let’s leave now.
Tíz perc múlva öt, induljunk most.
At a quarter to eight, the meeting started.
A megbeszélés háromnegyed nyolckor kezdődött.
The train arrives at five to noon.
Learner examples
It is five to six.
Öt perc múlva hat.
It is a quarter to three.
Háromnegyed három van.
Common mistake:
Confusing to and past (ten to five is 4:50; ten past five is 5:10).
Meaning
minutes before a stated hour
Collocations
five to
|ten to
|a quarter to
|twenty to
|three minutes to
Themes
time
|daily_life
Definition
Ten to five = 4:50.
Used when telling time to show how many minutes it is before the next hour.
B1
6
-ra/-re
A2
Usage pattern:
[noun] to [noun/pronoun]
We need a solution to this problem.
Megoldást kell találnunk erre a problémára.
Her reaction to the news surprised me.
Meglepett a hírre adott reakciója.
The storm caused damage to the roof.
Learner examples
I don’t know the answer to this question.
Nem tudom a választ erre a kérdésre.
This is the key to the door.
Ez a kulcs az ajtóhoz.
Common mistake:
Overusing of instead of to after certain nouns (solution to a problem, not *solution of a problem).
Meaning
in relation or response to
Collocations
solution to
|answer to
|reaction to
|response to
|access to
|damage to
|risk to
|threat to
|key to
|reference to
Synonyms
regarding (Works mainly with topics (regarding the plan), not with many fixed noun patterns (solution to).)
Themes
communication
|work
|daily_life
Definition
Use to to show how one thing is connected to another.
Used to show a connection, relationship, effect, or response between things or people.
B1
7
Usage pattern:
[number] to [number]
They won the game 3 to 1.
3–1-re nyerték meg a mérkőzést.
The vote was 62 to 38 in favor of the proposal.
A szavazás 62:38 arányban a javaslat javára dőlt el.
The ratio of sugar to flour matters in this recipe.
Learner examples
The score was 2 to 0.
Az állás 2–0 volt.
Mix water to rice in a 2 to 1 ratio.
A vizet és a rizst 2:1 arányban keverd össze.
Common mistake:
Confusing a ratio (three to one) with subtraction or with percentages.
Meaning
expresses a ratio or comparison
Collocations
two to one
|three to one
|odds of ... to ...
|a ratio of ... to ...
|won ... to ...
|lost ... to ...
Themes
numbers
|sports
Definition
Three to one = 3:1.
Used to express a numerical ratio or comparison between two amounts.
B2
8
Usage pattern:
[verb] to + [result/state]
Bring the soup to a boil, then lower the heat.
Forrald fel a levest, majd vedd lejjebb a hőfokot.
The bus came to a stop outside the station.
A busz megállt az állomás előtt.
They cut the paper to the right size.
Learner examples
The car came to a stop.
Az autó megállt.
Bring the water to a boil.
Forrald fel a vizet.
Common mistake:
Using into in fixed patterns where English prefers to (come to a stop, not *come into a stop).
Meaning
reaching a particular final state
Collocations
come to a stop
|bring to a close
|bring to a boil
|reduce to
|cut to size
|drive to distraction
|tear to pieces
|beat to death
|polish to a shine
|work to completion
Themes
daily_life
|cooking
Definition
Use to to show the final result (to a stop, to a boil).
Used to show a state or condition that is reached as the result of an action or change.
Grammar
Dictionary form
to
IPA
GB/tə/
US/tə/
Syllables & stress
to (1 syllable)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: to
- Plural: tos
Expressions
to and fro
1/tə ˈænd fɹˈoʊ/
idiom
back and forth
To and fro means “back and forth.”
Examples
- People were rushing to and fro in the station.
- The boat rocked to and fro on the water.
- After days of emails back and forth—messages to and fro—we finally agreed.
to be fair
1/tə bˈi fˈɛɹ/
fixed phrase
said to acknowledge another side
Use this before a balanced or kind comment.
Examples
- To be fair, he did warn us it might take longer.
- She was upset, but to be fair, we were late.
- To be fair, the instructions weren’t very clear.
Learner examples
- To be fair, it is not easy.
to be honest
1/tə bˈi ˈɑnɪst/
fixed phrase
Introducing a truthful statement
Used before saying what you really think or feel.
Examples
- To be honest, I don't like this movie much.
- To be honest, I was surprised by the result.
to be honest
1/tə bˈi ˈɑnɪst/
fixed phrase
said to be frank
Use this to say your true opinion.
Examples
- To be honest, I don’t really like this movie.
- I’m tired, to be honest.
- To be honest, I forgot about the meeting.
Learner examples
- To be honest, I am nervous.
to be honest
2/tə bˈi ˈɑnɪst/
fixed phrase
introducing a frank statement
used before you say something that is true, especially if it may be surprising, very direct, or not polite.
Examples
- To be honest, I don't really like this restaurant.
- It wasn't a great game, to be honest.
- To be honest, I was scared when the plane started to shake.
to be honest
3/tə bˈi ˈɑnɪst/
fixed phrase
introducing a truthful statement
Used before saying something that is true, even if it may be surprising or not what someone wants to hear.
Examples
- To be honest, I didn’t enjoy the party.
- I was a bit nervous, to be honest.
to date
1/tə dˈeɪt/
fixed phrase
until now
To date means “until now.”
Examples
- To date, we’ve had no complaints.
- This is her best performance to date.
- No one has solved the issue to date.
Learner examples
- To date, I have visited three countries.
to go
1/tə ɡˈoʊ/
fixed phrase
for takeout; not eaten here
If you order coffee to go, you take it with you.
Examples
- Can I get a latte to go, please?
- We ordered two burgers to go.
- This place does breakfast to go.
Learner examples
- I want a coffee to go.
- We got pizza to go.
to the best of my knowledge
1/tə ðə bˈɛst əv mˈaɪ nˈɑlɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
as far as I know
Used to say that you think something is true based on what you know, but you are not completely sure.
Examples
- To the best of my knowledge, the meeting starts at 3 p.m.
- To the best of my knowledge, she still lives in New York.
to the best of my knowledge
1/tə ðə bˈɛst əv mˈaɪ nˈɑlɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
formal
as far as I know
Use this to say something is true based on what you know.
Examples
- To the best of my knowledge, the files were sent yesterday.
- To the best of my knowledge, no one has reported a problem.
- To the best of my knowledge, he isn’t working there anymore.
to the point
1/tə ðə pˈɔɪnt/
fixed phrase
direct and relevant
If you are to the point, you speak directly.
Examples
- Please keep your answer to the point.
- Her emails are always brief and to the point.
- He got straight to the point and asked for help.
Learner examples
- Please be to the point.
up to
1/ˈʌp tə/
fixed phrase
someone’s responsibility or decision
If it’s up to you, you decide.
Examples
- It’s up to you whether we leave now or later.
- It’s up to the manager to approve the budget.
- The final decision is up to them.
Learner examples
- It is up to you.