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Joeviee Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

'To' + 'ing'

Hi,

I'm back. Been busy with works and hadn't had much time to come to the forum. I have a list full of question to ask but let me go slow with it. I might need Goodman's help as well with my Techinical writing, hope he is still around:) Goodman, please response to this message if you happen to see this so that I know you are there ready to help ya...Emotion: smile

Okie, enough talk. I have a question with the use of 'to'. I'm not sure whether it sounds alright when I use 'ing' following 'to'. Please see the sentence below.

1. There is no shortcut (any other word to replace this?) to learning a language. It needs lots of hardworks and determination than you can imagine.

- Is this sentence sounds natural?

- Is the 'ing' being gramatically right in the sentence considering there is a 'to' in front of it?

Thanks for all the replied~
  

Top answer

Hey joeviee, welcome back, There is no shortcut to learn a language. You only use an -ing form following "to" when "to" is a preposition, like "look forward to". You'll master them after a short period of time, don't worry.

— LanguageLover

  • Hey joeviee, welcome back, There is no shortcut to learn a language.
  • You only use an -ing form following "to" when "to" is a preposition, like "look forward to".
  • You'll master them after a short period of time, don't worry.
  • Good luck.
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17 Answers
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Hey joeviee, welcome back,

There is no shortcut to learn a language.

You only use an -ing form following "to" when "to" is a preposition, like "look forward to". You'll master them after a short period of time, don't worry. Good luck.

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No.

In the sentence 'learning' is a verbal, a gerund, and has noun function.
'Shortcut to' In this prepositional phrase 'to' is not the infinitive 'to', but a preposition.

There is no shortcut to learning is fine grammatically.

http://dictionary.cambrid

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Here are just a few cases where to is a preposition, not part of an infinitive. The -ing form is used with all prepositions; to is no exception.

shortcut to learning ...
approach to studying ...
key to learning ...
objection to going ...
secret to knowing ...
path to learning ...
aversion to doing ...
reaction to seeing ...

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Thanks alot for all your suggestions. It is definitely no shortcut to learning English andI love devoting all of my time to memorizing all the exceptions that only English langauge has.

Am I right?
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There is definitely no... .
I love to devote is correct too. Otherwise your sentence is fine. Emotion: wink
"all the exceptions that on
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JoevieeThanks alot for all your suggestions. It is definitely no shortcut to learning English andI love devoting all of my time to memorizing all the exceptions that only English langauge has.

Am I right?
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Thank you all. I'm getting old, that was a good reminder of that! And at the same time encouraging to review my grammar.
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joeviee,

That is an excellent illustration that you have understood the idea! A+! Emotion: smile

Just a few minor points no
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CalifJimjoeviee,

That is an excellent illustration that you have understood the idea! A+! Emotion: smile
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it would have to refer to something previously mentioned in the same context. For example, perhaps the text preceding this sentence said that standing on one's head while studying English leads to great facility in that language. Then one might say It (i.e., standing on one's head) is definitely no shortcut to learning the language. There is nothing here to suggest tha
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