The word TO...

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Hello there.I am currently teaching Spanish students English and my more advanced students all seem to have the same problem.  The use of the word "To" or when to exclude it.  I have researched the word as best I can on the internet but there seems to be a lack of information on it.  There doesn´t seem to be a set structure that I can find and I am struggling to give my students an explanation other than a list of uses from a dictionary as long as my arm.  Can anyone help?  My students and I would appreciate it greatly.Thank you for your time.Flame.

Dokterjokkebrok · Accepted Answer

Could you give an example your students are having trouble with?

- DJB -

Cool Breeze · Answer

may help you.

CB

Josemm92 · Answer

Hi! I'm spanish and I had the same problem more or less one year ago, and as you can see now, I have resolved it, but it was practising a lot of english.

I think that the root of the problem is the infinitive english verbal form, which when it's spelled "alone", has "to" before of it. I mean that when I was learning english verbs on the school, they was writen as the verb "to be", the verb "to have", so forth. Then when your students need use this form is when the problem arrives because they confuse the simple infinitive form with its usage in the phrases.

I think you meant that they say "I want to dance" instead of "I want dance", isn't it?

So just explain them that it is wrong, moreover you could tell them that "to" sometimes has a similar meaning to the word "toward", it really may be helpful for them. Finally explain them also that the word "to" is almost the same as the word "a" in spanish, for example: "I'm going to the beach" = "Voy a la playa", "From north to south" = "De norte a sur", I think that with a couple of examples like these they will improve a lot, because in my opinion the best is comparing with the native language.

I hope that this will be useful for you, greetings =)

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymousmy more advanced students all seem to have the same problem. The use of the word "To" or when to exclude it.

Are you referring to the use of "to" (or not) before a verb in its base form? If so, it depends on what precedes the verb.

If a noun or indefinite pronoun precedes, you will need "to":

a movie to watch, the man to beat, a story to remember

something to do, nothing to say

Embedded (indirect) questions are sometimes abbreviated to just an interrogative word and the infinitive with to:

(I don't know) where to put it.

(I don't know) whether to stay.

(I don't know) how to say it.

If a modal verb (will, would, shall, should, can, could, may, might, must) (or one of their negations) precedes, you do not use "to":

I will go with you. / You should read this book. / It may be cold tomorrow. / She couldn't have known.

If do, does, or did (or one of their negations) precedes, you do not use "to":

He did go. / I do like it. / That doesn't make sense.

The same applies when these are inverted to make questions:

Will you go with me? / Should I read this book? / Wouldn't they have known?

Did he go? / Do you like it? / Doesn't that make sense?

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You cannot use the infinitive with or without to after a preposition. You need an -ing form in that case:

before leaving (not before to go or before go)

instead of going (not instead of to go or instead of go)

by walking slowly (not by to walk slowly or by walk slowly)

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There are a few catenative structures that don't use "to": those with let, the causatives make and have, and verbs of perception, chiefly see and hear.

Don't let it fall. (not Don't let it to fall.)

I'll make them study. (not I'll make them to study.)

We should have them bring it here. (not We should have them to bring it here.)

We saw them leave the building. (not We saw them to leave the building.)

I heard him sing. (not I heard him to sing.)

help may use or not use "to": I helped them to carry the bags. / I helped them carry the bags. Both acceptable.

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Almost all other verbs and expressions that can form catenative structures either take to with the base form or they take the -ing form. Some take both. Some take a past participle construction. Students have to learn the characteristics of each verb separately. There are lists on-line. Google "catenative" if this topic interests you.

I want to go. / I hope to go. / I prefer to go.

I anticipate going. / I avoid going. / I remember going.

CJ

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