Deepurple
Member
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2007
- Member Type
- Interested in Language
- Native Language
- Chinese
- Home Country
- Hong Kong
- Current Location
- Hong Kong
Dear Teachers,
Take the following newsline as an example, I would like to know when the use of a preposition "to" (so that it is followed by a gerund) is preferred to an infinitive "to"(so that it is followed by a verb), or vice versa. Are there any rules or principles governing their respective uses? Thank you.
"A ban on idling engines is one small but important step to decreasing roadside temperatures, improving the working conditions for professional road users, and improving the environment generally for us all. Following the ban, there should be a number of supplementary measures, such as continued assessment of the availability of cleaner engines, and better urban planning to create more open spaces with better natural ventilation. - SCMP
In the second sentence stated above, could I use "There should be a number of supplementary measures...... to creating more open spaces with better natural ventilation as that in the first sentence, i.e. A ban on.....to decreasing roadside temperatures"? If not, what are the reasons? Thanks again.
Take the following newsline as an example, I would like to know when the use of a preposition "to" (so that it is followed by a gerund) is preferred to an infinitive "to"(so that it is followed by a verb), or vice versa. Are there any rules or principles governing their respective uses? Thank you.
"A ban on idling engines is one small but important step to decreasing roadside temperatures, improving the working conditions for professional road users, and improving the environment generally for us all. Following the ban, there should be a number of supplementary measures, such as continued assessment of the availability of cleaner engines, and better urban planning to create more open spaces with better natural ventilation. - SCMP
In the second sentence stated above, could I use "There should be a number of supplementary measures...... to creating more open spaces with better natural ventilation as that in the first sentence, i.e. A ban on.....to decreasing roadside temperatures"? If not, what are the reasons? Thanks again.
Last edited: