When to 'use' to?

Question

Hello all!I've been wondering the word 'to'. I mean when do we use it?We generally use it with words like;Talk, go, come etc.( There are lots of to list, for sure)Why do we say 'talk to me', and don't say ' tell TO me'?Thanks.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Hi Nugso;

The word "to" can be used in several ways.
1) It is a preposition for adverbial phrases. This indicates a direction of travel, or the destination of your travel. Use this form with verbs of travel: go, run, walk, ride, drive, come, fly, sail, etc.
to + noun phrase
I went to school.

2) It is a particle used for the infinitive.
to + verb
I wanted to ask a question.

3) It indicates the indirect object, or the second object of a verb. These are special verbs which can have two objects. They are called ditransitive verbs:
Generally is is: to + noun (receiver)
I gave a watch to Aunt Mary.
He gave a bone to his dog.

You are asking for more information about these ditransitive verbs. Some verbs use the indirect object with to / for, some use the indirect object without to / for, and some have both forms. (This is called "dative alternation.")
There is no fixed rule. You just have to learn the patterns (a dictionary will give examples.)
Here are some examples:

ask - ask me a question (not to me)
assign - assign the students some homework; assign some homework to the students
bring - bring me some cheese / bring some cheese to me
cook - cook dinner for mother.

Here are some more ditransitive verbs. Note that talk is not on the list because it does not normally take a direct object.

award
bake
bet
build
buy
call
catch
cause
charge
cost
deal
deliver
design
do
draw
drop
earn
email
fax
feed
find
forgive
get
give
grant
guarantee
hand
hunt
keep
leave
lend
lose
make
name
offer
order
overpay
owe
pass
pay
permit
play
prescribe
profit
promise
purchase
quote
read
save
sell
send
serve
set
show
supply
take
teach
tell
throw
wish
write

When to 'use' to?

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