Shortened Statements with the Word 'To'
2021-08-20
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1Imagine you hear Americans discussing plans, activities or events.
2You will likely hear statements such as "I would like to," "I want to," or "I'll try to."
3We will explore the grammar behind such statements in today's Everyday Grammar.
4In this report, you will learn about shortened statements that use the word to.
5Let's begin with a few important terms and ideas.
6A phrase is a small group of words that work together to form a basic idea.
7Phrases typically make up a part of a clause.
8Clauses are groups of words that have a subject and a predicate - the part of the sentence that says something about the subject.
9In everyday speaking and writing, English speakers often shorten phrases that repeat information.
10These shortened forms often come after certain verbs.
11The term infinitive refers to the word to plus a verb, as in to go or to see.
12Infinitive phrases are groups of words that have an infinitive as well other words, as in to come to an event.
13English speakers often shorten such phrases - particularly if they repeat information that has already been stated.
14The shortened form is the word to. Let's explore an example.
15Imagine you hear two people discussing an event.
16You don't have to come to the event.
17Well, I would like to.
18The infinitive phrase is to come to the event.
19In the second statement, the word to is an example of a shortened form.
20It takes the place of a larger group of words.
21If the second speaker had said the entire sentence, it would have been this:
22You don't have to come to the event. Well, I would like to come to the event.
23English speakers often shorten infinitive phrases after certain common verbs or verb forms, including would like, want, and try.
24Imagine you hear a boss asking a worker about a project.
25It might sound like this:
26Will you finish the project today?
27Yes, I'll try to.
28If the worker's statement were not shortened, it would have been this:
29Will you finish the project today?
30Yes, I'll try to finish the project today.
31We began this report with a question about statements such as "I would like to" or "I want to" or "I'll try to."
32While the examples in this report used the pronoun I, please note that English speakers use shortened forms with other pronouns - we, she, he, they, and so on.
33Also, please note that the word to has many other uses and meanings in English.
34It can be used to shorten a phrase, as described today, but it can have other uses - as part of a phrasal verb, for example.
35The next time you listen to English speakers, pay careful attention to the word to.
36Make note of how speakers use it to shorten phrases.
37Try to shorten infinitive phrases in your own speaking or writing.
38Over time, you will begin to shorten phrases much like an American.
39I'm John Russell.
1Imagine you hear Americans discussing plans, activities or events. 2You will likely hear statements such as "I would like to," "I want to," or "I'll try to." 3We will explore the grammar behind such statements in today's Everyday Grammar. 4In this report, you will learn about shortened statements that use the word to. 5Let's begin with a few important terms and ideas. 6Phrases and clauses 7A phrase is a small group of words that work together to form a basic idea. Phrases typically make up a part of a clause. Clauses are groups of words that have a subject and a predicate - the part of the sentence that says something about the subject. 8In everyday speaking and writing, English speakers often shorten phrases that repeat information. These shortened forms often come after certain verbs. 9What are infinitive phrases? 10The term infinitive refers to the word to plus a verb, as in to go or to see. 11Infinitive phrases are groups of words that have an infinitive as well other words, as in to come to an event. 12English speakers often shorten such phrases - particularly if they repeat information that has already been stated. The shortened form is the word to. Let's explore an example. 13Imagine you hear two people discussing an event. 14You don't have to come to the event. 15Well, I would like to. 16The infinitive phrase is to come to the event. In the second statement, the word to is an example of a shortened form. It takes the place of a larger group of words. If the second speaker had said the entire sentence, it would have been this: 17You don't have to come to the event. Well, I would like to come to the event. 18Shortened forms and certain verbs 19English speakers often shorten infinitive phrases after certain common verbs or verb forms, including would like, want, and try. Imagine you hear a boss asking a worker about a project. It might sound like this: 20Will you finish the project today? 21Yes, I'll try to. 22If the worker's statement were not shortened, it would have been this: 23Will you finish the project today? 24Yes, I'll try to finish the project today. 25Closing thoughts 26We began this report with a question about statements such as "I would like to" or "I want to" or "I'll try to." 27While the examples in this report used the pronoun I, please note that English speakers use shortened forms with other pronouns - we, she, he, they, and so on. 28Also, please note that the word to has many other uses and meanings in English. It can be used to shorten a phrase, as described today, but it can have other uses - as part of a phrasal verb, for example. 29The next time you listen to English speakers, pay careful attention to the word to. Make note of how speakers use it to shorten phrases. Try to shorten infinitive phrases in your own speaking or writing. Over time, you will begin to shorten phrases much like an American. 30I'm John Russell. 31John Russell wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor. 32_____________________________________________________________ 33Words in This Story 34grammar - n. the system or structure of a language 35certain - adj. used to refer to something or someone that is not named specifically 36phrasal verb - n. grammar: a group of words that functions as a verb and is made up of a verb and a preposition, an adverb, or both