To or -ing?

Question

1. "The cops can search the house without us to stop them"

"I know how to get to the library without him to guide me"

"I can get to the library with him to guide me"

2. "The cops can search the house without us stopping them"

"I know how to get to the library without him guiding me"

"I can get to the library with him guiding me"

Which one should be used?

Thank you

GPY · Accepted Answer

ziomack"I know how to get to the library without him to guide me"
"I can get to the library with him to guide me"
"I know how to get to the library without him guiding me"
"I can get to the library with him guiding me"

These would all be OK if you added full stops. The affirmative sentences, especially, tend to suggest that the speaker may be disabled in some way, e.g. blind.

ziomack1. "The cops can search the house without us to stop them"
2. "The cops can search the house without us stopping them"

These are grammatically OK but I find the meaning a bit unclear. Is it supposed to mean that if we were present then we could stop them, but since we aren't present they can search the house? Or is it supposed to mean that there is nothing we can do to stop them?

To or -ing?

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