to V+ing or infinitive

[triannen]

Hello,

I heard this sentences other day while I was watching Law and Order and did not understand why they are using ing form after to?

''We are one step closer to finding the killer''
I can see that here -to is used as a preposition and I have to use the gerund form.However, If I were to make this sentence in an exam, I would have written as in ''We are one step closer to find the killer'. I don't understand why we have to use gerund form in this sentence.

Second sentence is the title of a book.
'''A guide to being fabulous.'' Again,I see here -to is a preposition but couldn't understand why they use (-ing) instead of infinitive?
When do we have to use -to as a preposition or infinitive?

So, If I have to write a sentence such as : This is a map to find your way in the city OR This is a map to finding your way in the city.

Thanks for your help in advance.

 

[Raymott]

Hello,

I heard this sentences other day while I was watching Law and Order and did not understand why they are using ing form after to?

''We are one step closer to finding the killer''
I can see that here -to is used as a preposition and I have to use the gerund form.However, If I were to make this sentence in an exam, I would have written as in ''We are one step closer to find the killer'. I don't understand why we have to use gerund form in this sentence.

Second sentence is the title of a book.
'''A guide to being fabulous.'' Again,I see here -to is a preposition but couldn't understand why they use (-ing) instead of infinitive?
When do we have to use -to as a preposition or infinitive?

So, If I have to write a sentence such as : This is a map to find your way in the city OR This is a map to finding your way in the city.
"To" doesn't work; it's the wrong preposition. "This is a map for finding your way in the city."
Thanks for your help in advance.

Firstly, this is not a problem of <verbing> vs. to <verb>. If you need help with that, look at the numerous previous threads.

The 'to', as you say, is a preposition, not related to the infinitive verb. The -ing forms are gerunds.
''We are one step closer to finding the killer''
I'm going to make it easier by making the preposition something other than "to", in order to divorce the concept from the "to" of the infinitive.
"We are one step further away from finding the killer." This is exactly analogous.
"We should think about finding the killer."
"We should be concerned with finding the killer."

Can you see how 'find' doesn't work in these new sentences? And that 'find' is not an option because 'to' is not an infinitive marker, but part of the phrase "closer to"?

 

[triannen]

Hello,

Thanks for your reply.

I knew it already that to was used as a preposition and I know that we need to use gerung form after prepositions. However, my question was how I can make the differentation. When should I use to as an infinitieve and when should I use to as a preposition?

I can give the same example:

'A guide to be fabulous' and 'A guide to being fabulous'

The first sentence looks fine to me too. and what is the difference in meaning then?

thanks

 

[5jj]

'A guide to be fabulous' and 'A guide to being fabulous'

The first sentence looks fine to me too.

The first sentence does not seem fine to me.

 

[triannen]

Why doesn't it seem fine then?

 

[Hedwig]

Why doesn't it seem fine then?

Because 'a guide to' is followed by a noun or noun phrase. A gerund behaves like a noun, so that's why you need a gerund and not an infinitive.

A guide to Naples.
A guide to the galaxy.
A guide to becoming a successful Hollywood star.

Not a teacher