Using the preposition TO

Question

Hello, friends.I have two doubs about the preposition TO.Doubt 1:- I am used to driving long distances.- They can go back to being friends.When exactly do we use gerund after the preposition TO? How do we know we have to use infinitive or gerund? What are the rules?Doubt 2:- I don't speack French as well as I want to.- Would you like to dance? / I'd love to.When exactly do we use the preposition TO without a verb? Of course, the verb is implicit, but are there any rules which support that implicitness?Thanks very much for your attention, guys.brunces

Dokterjokkebrok · Accepted Answer

Hi

Doubt 1

to be used to doing something.

In this case, to is a preposition indeed, and as holds true for all prepositions, they cannot be followed by a to-infinitive or bare infinitive. (e.g. to go, to see, go, see). It must be followed by an -ing form (or gerund, if you like).

I think your confusion has to do with another form of to, which is:

I like to swim.
Do you want to go to dinner now?

The 'to' here is a particle that goes with the verb that comes behind it. They are not prepositions and are usually meaningless, as opposed to actual prepositions, which indicate place/direction etc.

So it's important that you can distinguish between those two forms of 'to'.

Doubt 2

This is more complicated and there isn't one rule for it. The only thing that can be said here is that all verbs prefer, if you will, a certain type of verb after them. This type may be:

- verb without to (bare infinitive) He helped the old lady cross the street.
- verb with to (to-infinitive) Do you want to go to the movies this evening?
- gerund (-ing form) I like watching television.
- that clause I recommend that you (sometimes a verb takes a that-clause).

But these are only the basics.

As I've said, there isn't one rule for it, unfortunately. You will have to learn them by heart. There are some rules though, and good grammar books can often provide them.

But, for example, that the verb 'start' can be followed by either the -ING form or the to-infinitive, you simply have to know. Purchase a good electronic dictionary and you'll see that it's all in there.

Good luck!

Dokterjokkebrok

Anonymous · Answer

In the first case you are making a prepositional phrase and must use a noun to conclude the phrase. gerunds are verbs that have been conjugated (right word for this? converted perhaps) into nouns by the addition of ~~ing, infinitives are not nouns and as such may not represent to object of a prepositional phrase~~-though i am still trying to find a case in which an infinitive might be included as a modifying adjective in a prepositional phrase, have great doubts about the ability to do so.

in the second case the speaker is merely being lazy and not completing the infinitive, they are violating the rules of grammar if not speech... I don't speak french as well as I want to speak french. you can think of it as an applied subject if you like... I don't usually say, "You do your homework." It is understood that you is the subject just as speak is understood to be the verb speak.

in answer to your question to as a preposition is never used with a verb as its object.

Using the preposition TO

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