Shortened Statements with the Word 'To'

 

Imagine you hear Americans discussing plans, activities or events.

You will likely hear statements such as "I would like to," "I want to," or "I'll try to."

We will explore the grammar behind such statements in today's Everyday Grammar.

In this report, you will learn about shortened² statements that use the word to.

Let's begin with a few important terms and ideas.

Phrases and clauses⁴

A phrase is a small group of words that work together to form a basic idea. Phrases typically make up a part of a clause³. Clauses are groups of words that have a subject and a predicate – the part of the sentence that says something about the subject.

In everyday speaking and writing, English speakers often shorten¹ phrases that repeat information. These shortened forms often come after certain verbs.

What are infinitive⁵ phrases?

The term infinitive refers to the word to plus a verb, as in to go or to see.

Infinitive phrases are groups of words that have an infinitive as well other words, as in to come to an event.

English 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.

Imagine you hear two people discussing an event.

You don't have to come to the event.

Well, I would like to.

The 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:

You don't have to come to the event. Well, I would like to come to the event.

Shortened forms and certain verbs

English 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:

Will you finish the project today?

Yes, I'll try to.

If the worker's statement were not shortened, it would have been this:

Will you finish the project today?

Yes, I'll try to finish the project today.

Closing thoughts

We began this report with a question about statements such as "I would like to" or "I want to" or "I'll try to."

While 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.

Also, 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.

The 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.

Words in This Story

grammar – n. the system or structure of a language

certain – adj. used to refer to something or someone that is not named specifically

phrasal 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

1 shorten   

vt.弄短，缩小，减少

参考例句：

• Minor accidents can shorten the life of a car.小事故会缩短汽车寿命。
• My dress is too long I must shorten it.我的连衣裙太长了，我得把它截短些。

2 shortened   

v.弄短，缩短( shorten的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She shortened the skirt by an inch. 她把裙子缩短了一英寸。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Vacations have lengthened and the work week has shortened. 假期延长，工作周就缩短了。 来自辞典例句

3 clause   

n.（正式文件或法律文件的）条款，从句，分句

参考例句：

• The sentence consists of a main clause and a subordinate clause.这句中有一个主句和一个从句。
• What clause do you require in the contract?你要求在合同中订上什么条款？

4 clauses   

从句( clause的名词复数 )； （法律文件等的）条款

参考例句：

• Relative pronouns and adverbs introduce attributive clauses. 关系代词和关系副词引导定语从句。
• Please underline the noun clauses in the passage. 请用线画出短文中的名词性从句。

5 infinitive   

n.不定词；adj.不定词的

参考例句：

• The use of the split infinitive is now generally acceptable.分裂不定式的用法现在已被广泛接受。
• Modal verbs generally take the bare infinitive.情态动词通常用不带to的不定式。