said Edwared to a chorus of groans

[Tara2]

this definition '"to" means that two things happen at the same time.' comes from the dictionary for the sentence below.
"I've got an idea," said Edward to a chorus of groans.

How should I recognize that "to" means "simultaneity of two things"? in the following sentence "to" is like the above but it doesn't mean "simultaneity of two things".
"He said to me"

 

[Tarheel]

It doesn't mean the two things happened at the same time. Edward said, "I have an idea." The response was a chorus of groans. The one thing happened soon after the other thing. They were not simultaneous.

 

[bhaisahab]

The two uses of 'to' are very different. 'a chorus of groans' is an action, something that occurs. 'me' denotes a person.

 

[Tarheel]

You need to capitalize the word that begins a sentence. "He said to me" is not a sentence.

 

[Tara2]

The two uses of 'to' are very different. 'a chorus of groans' is an action, something that occurs. 'me' denotes a person.

How is 'a chorus of groans' an action? Isn't it a group of people that they are signing?

 

[Tara2]

Because in "He said to me" 'said' is past tense, the moment of speaking is present tense. Simultaneity is impossible in this case.

Strictly speaking, the two events in the first case are not simultaneous either. The groans have to follow the statement, at least to tenths of a second.

How should I know when it is simultaneous? I always become confused and can't recognize simultaneous?

 

[Tarheel]

Two things are simultaneous when they happen at the same time. Example: I was walking up a hill when an airplane flew overhead. My walking up the hill and the airplane flying overhead were simultaneous events. Confusion ended!

 

[Tara2]

Two things are simultaneous when they happen at the same time. Example: I was walking up a hill when an airplane flew overhead. My walking up the hill and the airplane flying overhead were simultaneous events. Confusion ended!

I know what simultaneous means but I don't understand what RobertJ and bhsahab said

 

[jutfrank]

How is 'a chorus of groans' an action? Isn't it a group of people that they are signing?

No, it's not the group of people. It's their sighing, which is a reaction to what was said.

 

[Tara2]

No, it's not the group of people. It's their sighing, which is a reaction to what was said.

How should I know "to" means simultaneous ? this is another sentence that the word after "to" is a noun but "to" still means simultaneous.
"There's nothing to it."

 

[Tarheel]

How should I know "to" means simultaneous? This is another sentence that the word after "to" is a noun but "to" still means simultaneous.
"There's nothing to it."

No. The word "to" doesn't mean "simultaneous" there or anywhere else.

 

[Tara2]

No. The word "to" doesn't mean "simultaneous" there or anywhere else.

Yes. In this "There's nothing to it."", it doesn't mean two things happen the same time, but in the sentences below, they do.

Romeo left the stage, to enthusiastic applause.
Amy woke up to the sound of her doorbell ringing.
'I've got an idea,' said Edward to a chorus of groans.

 

[Tara2]

. The groans have to follow the statement, at least to tenths of a second.

Which role of 'to' is used with respect to the usageof "to" here : https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/to

 

[jutfrank]

Which role of 'to' is used with respect to the usageof "to" here : https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/to

I think this one's the closest:

• preposition (UNTIL): until a particular time, state, or level is reached