Understanding Gerunds After Prepositions in English

When dealing with prepositions and gerunds in English, it's essential to understand their proper usage. This article covers how and when gerunds are used after prepositions, focusing on common examples and sentence structures.

Introduction to Gerunds

A gerund is essentially a form of a verb ending in -ing, which functions as a noun. Examples include "smoking" or "meeting". Gerunds can appear after certain prepositions, forming phrases that are an integral part of English grammar.

Consider the given example:

"I am used to smoking."

In this case, "smoking" is a gerund, functioning as the object.

Common Phrasal Verbs with Gerunds

Some phrasal verbs end with the preposition "to". After such phrasal verbs, it is natural to use a gerund rather than an infinitive. Here are some examples:

"I look forward to seeing you tomorrow."

Here, "seeing" is the gerund form of the verb "see", and it is more natural and correct in this context.

"He has taken to talking to himself."

Here, "talking" is the gerund form of the verb "talk".

"I am accustomed to dining in style."

Again, "dining" is a gerund here, with "dine" being used in its -ing form.

"I will get around to doing it tomorrow."

Here, "doing" is the gerund form of the verb "do".

Essentially, the gerund is used after "to" when it reflects a natural and idiomatic usage in the language.

Distinguishing Gerunds from Infinitives with the Word "it"

It's crucial to understand the difference between using a gerund and an infinitive after "to" in a sentence. To check if a word following "to" is a gerund or an infinitive, you can replace the phrase with "it" and see if it makes sense.

"I look forward to it." "He has taken to it." "I am accustomed to it." "I will get around to it."

However, if you replace "to smoking" with "to it" in the sentence, it doesn't make sense, indicating that "smoking" is a gerund, and the correct form is:

"I am used to smoking."

If you use "it" in place of the -ing form and the sentence becomes nonsensical, it indicates that "to it" is correct, where "it" refers to the entire infinitive verb phrase.

"I want to buy something."

Here, "want" is followed by an infinitive. However, when you try to replace "to buy something" with "to it", it doesn't make sense, indicating that "to buy" is indeed an infinitive and not a gerund.

Exceptions and Illustrative Examples

Another example illustrating this concept is:

"I stopped to smoke."

This sentence uses a gerund, as it refers to the act of smoking.

"I stopped to it."

This sentence would not make sense, confirming that "to smoke" is a gerund and "to it" is the correct structure for an infinitive.

Conclusion

Understanding the use of gerunds after prepositions in English can greatly enhance your language skills. By recognizing and utilizing the correct forms, you can communicate more effectively and avoid common errors. Whether you're a native speaker or a language learner, mastering these concepts can be a valuable tool in your linguistic arsenal.