Learn English – it is a systematic approach “to obtain” or “obtaining”

gerundsto-infinitiveword-usage

Would you please explain the use of to infinitive and to, as a preposition, + gerund, and when do we use one over the other? Many times, I have a problem deciding whether to use a regular to infinitive or treat the "to" as a preposition and add an -ing to the verb to make it gerund. I've gathered some sentences using to + gerund below:

  1. It is an approach to obtaining…..
  2. It is a key to making…..

Other than "key/approach/committed/dedicated to +ing," could you guys think of other words?

Best Answer

Mainly, if to is a preposition, we need to use a noun after it. It means if we a verb after that, then we should use the gerund form.

Now we need to know how to recognize if a to is a preposition.

  1. When to is part of a phrasal verb then it's a pereposition.

I’m really looking forward to seeing him.

  1. When to is used after an adjective:

The Boy Scouts organization is dedicated to helping boys become moral and productive adults.

  1. In a noun + preposition construction:

It is an approach to obtaining....

It is a key to making.....

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