[Grammar] Using "verb+ ing" following "to" , example:-Committed to boosting ties

[Sahil Dhankhar]

Using "verb+ ing" following "to" , example:-Committed to boosting ties

Dear members, I have always heard that we should use only 1st form of a verb whenever a verb follows "to" but in the following case, verb is used with "ing" instead of first form.

Is this an exception for some verbs or is it a special rule ?


sentence 1:-Committed to boosting ties, Modi tells Putin.


sentence 2:-Hailing Russia as “our country’s greatest friend,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Russian President Vladimir Putin that India was committed to deepening ties and cooperation between the two countries.

please help me understand this thing.

reference:- http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/committed-to-boosting-ties-modi-tells-putin/article6219180.ece

 

[MikeNewYork]

Re: Using "verb+ ing" following "to" , example:-Committed to boosting ties

Your rule is not stated correctly. When "to" is the particle that introduces an infinitive, the base form of the verb is always used. But "to" can also be a preposition. In that case, the rule does not apply.

In your first sentence, "boosting" is a gerund (noun) that is the object of the preposition "to".
In your second sentence, "deepening" is also a gerund which acts as the object of the preposition.

 

[Sahil Dhankhar]

Re: Using "verb+ ing" following "to" , example:-Committed to boosting ties

Dear sir ,
Thank you for your prompt reply.
You identified the use of "to" very easily but it was rather difficult for me.Could you please put some more light on :-how to identify that in which sense "to" is used in a sentence.
Otherwise please guide me to a reference where I can learn in detail about the same.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Re: Using "verb+ ing" following "to" , example:-Committed to boosting ties

Well, in this case, it was easy because the base form of the verb did not follow "to". The context of the sentence will usually differentiate the two uses of "to". I suggest you try Google for more information.

 

[Tdol]

Re: Using "verb+ ing" following "to" , example:-Committed to boosting ties

You can be committed to something or to doing something- to is preposition that accompanies the word committed. To be honest, this isn't very common or easy to spot, so using a dictionary will help in such cases.

 

[TheParser]

Re: Using "verb+ ing" following "to" , example:-Committed to boosting ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Russian President Vladimir Putin that India was committed to deepening ties and cooperation between the two countries.

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Hello, S.D.:

You are right: that little word "to" is very confusing.

*****

I like to eat ice cream.
I llike to study grammar.
I like to watch television.

The infinitive is actually the words "eat," "study," and "watch." As MikeNewYork reminded us, another term is the base form. And you use the term lst form.

Just remember that the "to" in those sentences has one job: to introduce the infinitive. If you say, "I like study grammar," everyone will understand you. but it is not considered "good" English.

(When you study more English, you will learn that SOMETIMES it is NOT necessary to use "to" to introduce the infinitive. For example: Mona made him clean his room.)

*****

Sometimes, however, "to" has a different job:

I go to school.
He walks to the kitdhen.
She threw the ball to him.

This time, as MikeNewYork and Tdol reminded us, we call it a preposition.

After a preposition, we need a noun (like "school" or "kitchen") or a pronoun (like "him.").

Look at your sentence:

"India is committed to deepening ties."

Have you studied GERUNDS yet? Well, they are words ending in -ing. They can do the job of a verb AND a noun. It IS very, very confusing.

a. "Deepening" is a verb in your sentence. What is India committed to? To deepen ties with Russia.
b. "Deepening" is also a noun in your sentence. What is India committed to? Deeper ties with Russia.



James

 

[MikeNewYork]

Re: Using "verb+ ing" following "to" , example:-Committed to boosting ties

Well, we use different terminology, but that happens. In my world, a word cannot be both a noun and verb in one sentence/clause. However, it can be a noun and a verbal (a gerund). Or it can be an adjective/adverb and a verbal (participle).