English: gerunds that follow to. Gerunds and Infinitives are always difficult to remember (click here for more on gerunds vs infintives). They are also a large part of the B2 and C1 exams for Cambridge, Oxford, EILTS, EOI and so on. And let’s not forget that we use gerunds and infinitives all the time in geral conversation. So, yes, they are important. But, let’s not forget that sometimes gerunds follow ‘to’ (when functioning as a preposition). Here are just a few of the most common examples.
TO BE LOOKING FORWARD TO
- Mostly used at the end of an email but is also in spoken English
- Looking forward to meeting you (Notice that we do not use the subject here. This is less formal)
- We are looking forward to working with you. (This is more formal because we use the subject ‘we’)
BE USED TO / GET USED TO
- Be used to (estar acostumbrada a). To show that you doing something regularly. It also means that you enjoy it.
- She’s used to waking up early because he does it every day
- Get used to (acostubrandose). To show you are trying to make something a habit and enjoy it
- I’m getting used to living in a small town, but it is still difficult sometimes.
- Click here for more about these two phrases
COMMITTED TO / DEDICATED TO
- Committed to and dedicated to both mean that you are willing to give your time and energy to something
- We have politicians that are very dedicated to cleaning up the city.
- I am fully committed to doing a good job on the exam.
CONFESSED TO / GET AROUND TO
- Confessed to means that you have admitted that you have done something wrong.
- Joe confessed to taking the computer home with him.
- Get around to doing something means that you have done soemthing you have been wanting to do for a long time.
- I never got around to learning French.
Writing rules
Now that you have seen English: gerunds that follow to, take a look at our other Writing Rules posts:
Writing Rules: RED
Writing Rules: Mr., Miss, Mrs, Ms
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