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Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Preposition

Basically in English "to + verb", to see, to do to visit etc. (this is infinitive)

But in the expression "i am looking forward to meeting" why the verb becomes noun (gerund)?

I know because "to" functions as a preposition, in that common mistake expression.

Question: When to know "to" is functioning as preposition or infinitive?
  

Top answer

Anonymous When to know "to" is functioning as preposition or infinitive? There is no easy way of knowing. You just have to learn that the 'to' in some expressions, such as 'look forward to',and 'be/get used to', is a preposition.

— Fivejedjon

  • Anonymous When to know "to" is functioning as preposition or infinitive?
  • There is no easy way of knowing.
  • You just have to learn that the 'to' in some expressions, such as 'look forward to',and 'be/get used to', is a preposition.
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4 Answers
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Anonymous When to know "to" is functioning as preposition or infinitive?
There is no easy way of knowing. You just have to learn that the 'to' in some expressions, such as 'look forward to',and 'be/get used to', is a preposition.
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AnonymousQuestion: When to know "to" is functioning as preposition or infinitive?
I try to resolve that by asking such a question: is the word following to a verb or a noun/noun-like ing-form? If it is the former then to is a particle preceding an infinitive, if the latter then to is a preposition.
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AnonymousI try to resolve that by asking such a question: is the word following to a verb or a noun/noun-like ing-form? If it is the former then to is a particle preceding an infinitive, if the latter then to is a preposition.
That is no help when you are trying to create a sentence and want to know which form to use.
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fivejedjonThat is no help when you are trying to create a sentence and want to know which form to use.
It works for me. I'm usually aware of whether the word which I want to place after to is a noun or a verb.
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