can we use ing after to. If yes will that be verb or noun?
Yes, we can use ‘ing’ ending (or Gerund) after the preposition ‘to’.
For example,
- I’m looking forward TO meeting you.
- John admits to TO having a drug problem.
- She returned TO singing after a ten-year break.
- I’m not used TO getting up early.
- Mrs Jones is dedicated TO uniting families.
- Tom is committed TO improving his Japanese.
- His addiction TO playing poker has caused his wife great distress.
- My father’s reaction TO seeing his grandchild was really moving.
Prepositions are usually followed by nouns (on the tree, under the table, to the town), however, they may also be followed by gerunds.
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In the above examples, TO functions as a PREPOSITION and follows verbs (look forward, admit, return), adjectives (used, dedicated, committed) and nouns (addiction, reaction).
* Gerund is formed by adding –ING to the base form of a verb. Gerunds function as nouns in a sentence:
- Smoking is bad for you.
- Running is better exercise than swimming.
So, in sentences where TO is a preposition it may be followed by a verb with –ING ending.
Read more:
List of Verbs Followed by ING Form or Infinitive!
12 (All) English Tenses with Examples
Gerund or How to Use -Ing and with What? (Infographic)
List of Verbs Followed by Both Gerunds and Infinitives!
