[Grammar] an use of "to"

[for learning]

Hello!

I would like to understand better the use of "to" in the second part of the next sentence:

"I will go to the supermarket" (whether they want me to or not).


I can´t imagine any examples of this kind right now, as I don´t understand its grammatical reason. Could you, please, provide me with some examples or cases where I could use "to" in a similar way?. I think "to", here, is substituting the verb "to go". Is it that we can say either "want me to..." or "want me to go..." interchangeably, being the first case just a way to shorten the phrase, to simplify it?.

Thank you so much in advance.

 

[IHIVG]

Yes, it's just a way of making the sentence more concise without sacrificing the meaning.
I will go to the supermarket whether they want me to [go there] or not.

I think no one would ever say: 'I will go to the supermarket whether they want me to go to the supermarket or not.'

Another examples:
It was hard, but I kept on; I had to.[I had to keep on going]
He made the problem worse, but I don't think he meant to. [I don't think he meant to make the problem worse]

 

[for learning]

Yes, it's just a way of making the sentence more concise without sacrificing the meaning.
I will go to the supermarket whether they want me to [go there] or not.

I think no one would ever say: 'I will go to the supermarket whether they want me to go to the supermarket or not.'

Another examples:
It was hard, but I kept on; I had to.[I had to keep on going]
He made the problem worse, but I don't think he meant to. [I don't think he meant to make the problem worse]

Thank you very much Ihivg!. I hope I´ ll see every example as clearly as these ones.

 

[Raymott]

"a use" not "an use".

/a yoos/

 

[for learning]

"a use" not "an use".

/a yoos/

Hello!

Thank you for your note Raymott. I thought we should say "an" when the following word started with a vowel. Could you tell, please, me why is not so in this case?.:-o
Regards.

 

[euncu]

Hello!

I thought we should say "an" when the following word started with a vowel.

It's about how it is said not how it is written.

An hour not a hour (hour = ˈaʊə)
A university not an university (university = juːnɪˈvɜːsɪti)

 

[IHIVG]

It's about how it is said not how it is written.

An hour not a hour (hour = ˈaʊə)
A university not an university (university = juːnɪˈvɜːsɪti)

Yes, but it doesn't answer the original question.

The rule is that the 'an' is used before the words starting with vowel.
So the person who would want to follow the rule will write "an use".
I know it's all about euphony and you don't usually think before choosing an article; you just know what sounds write or wrong. But how would you explain that it's "a university", "a use" but it's "an umpire" "an umbrella"?
Maybe there's a certain explanation to it which someone will come up with.

P.S. I just realized that every word that I can think of starting with the[ju:] sound as opposite to the [^] like in 'umbrella' always takes 'a' as an article. Maybe this explains it. Exception.

 

[for learning]

It's about how it is said not how it is written.

An hour not a hour (hour = ˈaʊə)
A university not an university (university = juːnɪˈvɜːsɪti)

Excuse me, I don´t understand it yet. All I have done in this thread has been writing.

Do you mean , I have to write: "a use" and " a university"?:roll:

Thank you anyway.

EDIT: I have just read your thread Ihivg. Thank you, too. I understand what you say about the sound when speaking. But, I stilll think I have to write " an university" and " an use".;-) Am I wrong?.
Thanks.

 

[euncu]

But how would you explain that it's "a university", "a use" but it's "an umpire" "an umbrella"?

umpire ---> ˈʌmpaɪə
umbrella ---> ʌmˈbrelə

This is how I explain.

 

[euncu]

But, I stilll think I have to write " an university" and " an use".;-) Am I wrong?.

No, you don't have to, and, yes, you are wrong.

 

[IHIVG]

umpire ---> ˈʌmpaɪə
umbrella ---> ʌmˈbrelə

This is how I explain.

Sorry, but I can't see what you I've written there for some reason. The vowels in your transcriptions are small squares for me.

 

[euncu]

Sorry, but I can't see what you I've written there for some reason. The vowels in your transcriptions are small squares for me.

If you have a software like PhoTransEdit, you can type those words in there.
Or you may check online dictionaries that use IPA symbols.

 

[IHIVG]

But, I stilll think I have to write " an university" and " an use".;-) Am I wrong?.

Yes, you're wrong. It's definitely 'a use' as well as 'a university'.
I'm pretty sure EVERY word that starts with the [ju:] sound (don't confuse it with the LETTER "u"), should take an "a": utility, usurper, uterus, etc.

 

[mmasny]

P.S. I just realized that every word that I can think of starting with the[ju:] sound as opposite to the [^] like in 'umbrella' always takes 'a' as an article. Maybe this explains it. Exception.

This certainly explains it! It is not an exception. /j/ is a consonantal sound.

 

[IHIVG]

This certainly explains it! It is not an exception. /j/ is a consonantal sound.

This is a revelation. I never thought that the sound that clearly sounds like a vowel is actually considered to be a consonant.
But yes, you're right, I just checked the Wikipedia:

There are approximants which behave like consonants in forming onsets, but are articulated very much like vowels, as the y in English yes [ˈjɛs].

Mystery solved!

 

[for learning]

To me this thread has been a revelation, too.;-)
Maybe I was taught that "rule" and I have forgotten it.

Thanks again.

 

[euncu]

Maybe I was taught that "rule" and I have forgotten it.

I believe that most teachers (non-native speakers, of course) are not aware of this rule. This is probably why you don't remember.