to 不能省略,to ... exent 是固定搭配,意思是“到…程度”“在…程度上”。又如:
To a certain extent, we are all responsible for this tragic situation. 我们都在一定程度上对这悲惨的局面负有责任。
He had changed to such an extent (= so much)that I no longer recognized him. 他变得我简直认不出了。
To some extent what she argues is true. 她的论证在某种程度上是符合事实的。
The pollution of the forest has seriously affected plant life and, to a lesser extent, wildlife. 森林污染严重影响了植物的生存,其次也对野生动物造成了影响。