Why do I sometimes need to put a gerund (verb+ing) after the word to instead of an infinitive?
Sometimes the word to should be followed by a gerund, not an infinitive verb. This is because in combination with certain words, to is used not as an infinitive particle but as a preposition, and prepositions are always followed by gerunds or nouns.
Here are the most common words which follow this pattern:
accustomed to + verb+ing (Many people have now become accustomed to working from home.)
committed to + verb+ing (The government is committed to finding a solution to inequality.)
confessed to + verb+ing (Jake confessed to stealing the apple cake from Mrs. Miggins.)
dedicated to + verb+ing (Our team is dedicated to finding the right solution for you.)
devoted to + verb+ing (There are many websites that are devoted to creating fake news stories about celebrities.)
look forward to + verb+ing (I’m looking forward to hearing from you.)
opposed to + verb+ing (I’m opposed to increasing taxation on fast food.)
