0
Jackson6612 Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Today, I went out to eat in a restraurant.

1: Today, I went out to eat in a restraurant.
2: Today, I went out to eating in a restraurant.

I assume both of the above are correct. Even if not, you would understand my question, I hope.

Is "to" in #1 connected with "eat" and functioning as one unit, i.e. "to eat"?

Is "to" in #2 a preposition and a separate entity, not joined with "eating" and where "eating" is a gerund?

I have problems in deciding where to use "to + simple verb" and "to + gerund". Could you please give me some guideline?

Please help me. It would be really kind of you. Thanks a lot.
  

Top answer

1 is correct; 2 is not. Think of "to eat" here as a short form of "in order to eat". ] Also correct: I like eating in restaurants; eating in restaurants is fun (nouns) I like to eat in restaurants.

  • 1 is correct; 2 is not.
  • Think of "to eat" here as a short form of "in order to eat".
  • ] Also correct: I like eating in restaurants; eating in restaurants is fun (nouns) I like to eat in restaurants.
  • (object of verb) I'm hoping someone like CJ or others might be able to shed more light on this.
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3 Answers
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1 is correct; 2 is not.

Think of "to eat" here as a short form of "in order to eat".

[compared to: I am not used to (unit) eating spicy foods.]

Also correct: I like eating in restaurants; eating in restaurants is fun (nouns)

I like to eat in restaurants. (object of verb)

I'm hoping someone like CJ or others might be able to shed more light o
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Thank you, Philip. But as you yourself have pointed out that there is still a room for further clarification so I would request someone of you to please help me with this. This really confuses me. Thanks.
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Assuming the both sentences are correct, are they the same in meaning? Please let me know.

1: The sharing is the first step to solving humanity's problems.
2: The sharing is the first step to solve humanity's problems.

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