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gerund or infinitive after “to”

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Here’s another post in the test your English series. This one focuses on the use of the gerund or infinitive after the word to.

Look at the sentences below. Would you use go or going to complete each one?

1. No, you didn’t wake me up. I am used to _____ to bed late. Don’t worry.

2. I attempted to _____ from my existing diet to one containing no carbs and nearly died.

3. I need to find something (or someone!) that will help me stay committed to _____ to the gym.

4. I like Starbucks, but I wouldn’t like to limit myself to _____ there only.

5. A certain celebrity, who shall remain nameless, recently admitted to _____ under the knife. Who could it be?

6. I am so looking forward to _____ on vacation.

7. Quote of the day: “In order to _____ up, one must go down, first.” Yeah, whatever.

8. I was offered an initial short-term contract with a view to _____ permanent.

9. When I was younger, I didn’t object to _____ to church. Now I kind of wish I had.

10. I am slowly getting accustomed to _____ to work on foot. It will take a little getting used, though.

11. My father’s company came dangerously close to _____ out of business.

Ready for the answers?

1. No, you didn’t wake me up. I am used to going to bed late. Don’t worry.

2. I attempted to go from my existing diet to one containing no carbs and nearly died.

3. I need to find something (or someone!) that will help me stay committed to going to the gym.

4. I like Starbucks, but I wouldn’t like to limit myself to going there only.

5. A certain celebrity, who shall remain nameless, recently admitted to going under the knife. Who could it be?

6. I am so looking forward to going on vacation.

7. Quote of the day: “In order to go up, one must go down, first.” Yeah, whatever.

8. I was offered an initial short-term contract with a view to going permanent.

9. When I was younger, I didn’t object to going to church. Now I kind of wish I had.

10. I am slowly getting accustomed to going to work on foot. It will take a little getting used, though.

11. My father’s company came dangerously close to going out of business.

To is a preposition is all the sentences above, except 2 and 7. Now, the twenty-million-dollar question is:

How can we tell whether to is a preposition or part of the infinitive? Here’s a simple rule of thumb:

If you can put a noun (or a noun phrase) after to, it’s a preposition. Look:

I’m looking forward to going on vacation / I’m looking forward to my next vacation.
I object to being treated like that. / I object to that sort of treatment.
I should try to limit myself to ten cigarettes a day. / I should try to limit myself to smoking ten cigarettes a day.
The company is committed to the environment. / The company is committed to protecting the environment.

To make a long story short: the use of the gerund or infinitive depends on whether or not to is a preposition and you can find that out by trying to use a noun in the sentence.

Thanks for reading.

If you enjoyed this post, try this one.


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