The use of "to"

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OK I'm a member now

1. Australia's Neil Robertson became the first player from outside the British Isles since 1980 to win the world snooker championship.

2. He is one of just five players to have claimed both the World and UK Championship in the same calendar year. (Plus, If this "to" refers to "who", why don't we say "players having claimed", because it's a past action. what'S the difference between "to have" and "having")

3. He was to remain at the top of the rankings for two years.

4. John Higgins beat Shaun Murphy 18-9 to become the oldest winner of the Betfred.com World Championship for 24 years.

5. He wins the world title to beat his opponent 18-9.

Sorry for the long question but I've been suffering from these "to"s for years. I'm afraid all of those are far from my apprehending skills. I'd appreciate it, if someone could explain the meanings in those sentences. maybe giving examples how to write those sentences in different ways. I think all uses are apart from each other. if two of them are same, please explain only one of them.

Many thanks...

Avangi · Accepted Answer

There are two types here: first to win, and in order to X.

In the first type, the infinitive/verbal "to win" modifies the verb complement.

He is one to do X.
"One" is the complement of the being verb, "is." What is he? He is one.
"To" is the infinitive marker. "To do X" tells us more about "one." He is one what?
(Of course "first" also tells us more about "one.")

In the second type, "in order to" is sort of a fixed expression. Someone will come up with a name for it.
I eat in order to survive. It describes the purpose of the action, or the result of it.
We'd say "in order to survive" is "adverbial," because it tells us about the verb (the action).

There are other uses of "to," completely unrelated to these.
I go to church. "To" is a preposition here. to the woods to the store

Welcome to English Forums, Johner. Thanks for joining us. [<:o)]

Best wishes, - A.

Dimsumexpress · Answer

Hi Johner,
This is my humble two cents.
What you have are examples of "simple infinitive" and "perfect infinitve" which are use to convey completely different meanings.

johner2. He is one of just five players to have claimed both the World and UK Championship in the same calendar year

"To have claimed" is a perfect infinitve construction which conveyed successes accomplished. The same effect could be achieved by using a simple "relative clause" (who have claimed...)

johner5. He wins the world title to beat his opponent 18-9.

"To beat" is a simple infintive usage to convey the act, like:
I was too tired to cook last night, so I called for pizza.
They want to go finshing.
I decide to quit

All of the above are acts intended by the subjects to achieve.

Avangi · Answer

Sorry, Johner, your example 3. "He was to remain" is of the first type I described, but the infinitive/verbal doesn't modify the verb complement - it is the verb complement.

He is what? He is to remain. (This can actually stand alone as a sentence.)

He is last to go. He is to go. (Hmmm. Do you see the difference?)

Johner · Answer

thanks guys I'm still a little confused but that's ok. I guess I need time to understand all of the uses. And It's getting more complicated when it depends on past and present tenses. challenging one...

Happy for joining you.

All the best..

Dimsumexpress · Answer

AvangiHe is last to go. He is to go.

Hi Avangi,
I see them differntly.

He is last to (verb)= descriptive (last to..)
He is to (verb) = Personally, the "to " construct carries either a directive, anticipative or,mandative undertone.

e.g. Everyone is to turn off the cellphonr during the conference.
50 % of the marriages in the US is expeceted to end up in divoice.

Avangi · Answer

I understand what you're saying, dimsumexpress. People are still busily refining and categorizing. It's sort of a cottage industry. There's really no limit to how far you can go.

Do you see "to" as a preposition in your example, and the verb as finite?

Avangi · Answer

johner time to understand all of the uses. And It's getting more complicated

These are only a couple!
Sorry. When someone first joins, we sometimes have to guess about where they're "at."

We could write a book about the uses of "to."

As you can see, controversy abounds.

Good to have you aboard. [Y]

Avangi · Answer

dimsumexpress He is to (verb) = Personally, the "to " construct carries either a directive, anticipative or,mandative undertone.

This seems like a broad category.

3. He was to remain at the top of the rankings for two years.

I suppose you'd consider this "anticipative."

I don't deny that this makes sense. I just don't see what it has to do with grammar. Maybe I'm just too old.

I think it comes under the heading of "vocabulary."

Johner · Answer

avagi, thanks for the replies. I just can't relate all those uses of "to" with my native language, completely strange to me. I guess I can only use its "in order to" form (like I want to go) which you mentioned on your post. and of course I have to know how touse "that form" in order to communicate in english

However;

2. He is one of just five players to have claimed both the World and UK Championship in the same calendar year.

3. He was to remain at the top of the rankings for two years.

5. He wins the world title to beat his opponent 18-9.

these forms can be seen only in articles I suppose. not about spoken english, right? on the other hand they're kind of in every single article. Unfortunately I have no idea about what meaning they contribute to the sentences. So it's being boring at times.

For example number 2 : if it has the same meaning as he is one of five players who have claimed... then why bother? does it look cooler when they use "to" instead of "who"

especially number 5 : I don't have any clue. He beat his opponent to win the title. makes more sense to me. because in this case it'd have the meaning of "in order to". how would he win in order to beat someone?? and again I have no idea how to express that ~~number 5~~ sentence in other words.. I'd exactly like to learn it.

many thanks...

Avangi · Answer

I think you have the picture. These poor devils have to write news copy by connecting a bunch of unrelated boring facts. They try to use a variety of connecting expressions. Hopefully, you'll gradually become accustomed to how they work. They can't just say "Sam did this and Bob did that and Bill did something else."

Verbals make good modifiers in sports scripts because they bring action and life to the story. It's more exciting to do something than to be something. He did X in order to do Y.
We have other verbals in addition to the infinitive, such as the "-ing form of the verb" or present participle. He managed to kick seven goals, breaking a league record. .

5. He wins the world title to beat his opponent 18-9.

I see what you mean, but I think the answer lies in the facts rather than the grammar.

(Sorry, can't clear the damned formatting)

Is it possible that in winning the title he beat his "opponent" in a different sort of contest? Otherwise, you're right. It makes no sense.
This formatting is driving me nutz. Gotta quit. Later!

<The formatting has been cleared starting with the word 'Sorry'. -- Yankee>

The use of "to"

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