to/and

Question

1. What's the difference between saying:

I'm sure your girlfriend tells you about it. And

I'm sure your girlfriend's told you about it.

Are they similar in meaning?

2. I want to go out to have fun and eat good food. And

I want to go out and have fun and eat good food.

Are both similar in meaning? What's the difference between using to and and?

Thanks!

KrisBlueNZ · Accepted Answer

1. "I'm sure your girlfriend tells you about it."
2. "I'm sure your girlfriend's told you about it." = "I'm sure your girlfriend has told you about it."

"Your girlfriend tells you about something" implies an ongoing or regular communication. For example, your girlfriend could tell you about her problems at her job; every time she has a problem at work, she tells you about it.
"Your girlfriend has told you about something" does not imply ongoing communication. It implies a matter that the girlfriend has told you about in the past. It doesn't necessarily mean that she continues to tell you about it as the matter (whatever it is) progresses, if it does; also, the matter may be completely in the past.

3. "I want to go out to have fun and eat good food."
4. "I want to go out and have fun and eat good food."

"... go out to have fun" means that you're going out for the purpose of having fun. Having fun is the reason that you're going out.
"... go out and have fun and eat good food" puts those three actions (go out, have fun, eat good food) at the same level; none of them is the specific reason or purpose of the other actions. Although it may be necessary to go out, in order to have fun and eat good food, going out is just listed as another one of the three things that you want to do.

PreciousJones · Answer

KrisBlueNZ1. "I'm sure your girlfriend tells you about it."2. "I'm sure your girlfriend's told you about it." = "I'm sure your girlfriend has told you about it.""Your girlfriend tells you about something" implies an ongoing or regular communication. For example, your girlfriend could tell you about her problems at her job; every time she has a problem at work, she tells you about it."Your girlfriend has told you about something" does not imply ongoing communication. It implies a matter that the girlfriend has told you about in the past. It doesn't necessarily mean that she continues to tell you about it as the matter (whatever it is) progresses, if it does; also, the matter may be completely in the past.3. "I want to go out to have fun and eat good food."4. "I want to go out and have fun and eat good food.""... go out to have fun" means that you're going out for the purpose of having fun. Having fun is the reason that you're going out."... go out and have fun and eat good food" puts those three actions (go out, have fun, eat good food) at the same level; none of them is the specific reason or purpose of the other actions. Although it may be necessary to go out, in order to have fun and eat good food, going out is just listed as another one of the three things that you want to do.

Thank you so much for the detailed explanation! I've got a good understanding of the phrases now.

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