English Mastery
Module 4 · Gerunds & Infinitives

Gerunds After Prepositions

Intermediate–Advanced50 min25 questions7 sections
Step 1

Quick Look

One iron law governs this whole chapter: after ANY preposition, a verb wears -ING. In, on, at, for, about, of, without, before, after, by, instead of — all of them. The only trick is spotting the sneaky preposition TO (looking forward TO, used TO, object TO), which looks like the infinitive’s ‘to’ but demands a gerund. Master that trap and this chapter is yours.
Sentence TypeStructure + Example
The iron law
preposition+verb-ing, always
He left without informing anyone.
Verb/adjective + preposition
insist on paying, interested in buying, good at negotiating, tired of waiting
The TO trap
look forward to meeting / be used to waking early / object to sharing — this ‘to’ is a preposition!

The golden rule for the TO trap: put a NOUN after the ‘to’ and see if the sentence survives. ‘I look forward to THE MEETING’ — so this to is a preposition gerund (to meeting). ‘I want to THE MEETING’ — so want’s to is the infinitive marker base verb. The noun test never fails.

The iron law: a preposition makes the next verb wear -ing
BASE VERBCOMES OUT ASinforminformingsignsigningattendattendingANY PREPOSITIONinonatforaboutofwithoutbeforeafterbyinstead ofto !He left without informing anyone.Read before signing.He is good at negotiating.
Whatever preposition comes first, the verb after it takes -ing — never ‘without to inform’.
Step 2

When to Use It

VERB + PREPOSITION + -INGinsistonmeetingapologiseformissingdreamofowning
Use 1

Verb + preposition combinations

The verb drags a fixed preposition; the next verb wears -ing.
  • The seller insisted on meeting at his lawyer’s office.
  • Success in this market depends on knowing the right people.
  • He apologised for missing the possession ceremony.
  • We’re thinking about opening a branch in Moradabad.
  • She dreams of owning a farmhouse near Shukratal.
ADJECTIVE + PREPOSITION + -INGinterestedinlearninggoodatreadingtiredofchasing
Use 2

Adjective + preposition combinations

Same law, adjective version.
  • I’m interested in learning video editing for the channel.
  • He’s very good at reading buyers’ body language.
  • We’re tired of chasing that one pending payment.
  • She was afraid of losing the token amount.
  • The team is excited about launching the new tower.
HOW · WHEN · HOW-NOTHOW-NOTwithoutreadingWHENbeforepayingHOWbyattending
Use 3

Preposition-led phrases: without, before, after, by, instead of

These paint how, when, and how-not.
  • Never sign without reading the annexures.
  • Confirm the khasra number before paying anything.
  • After inspecting the site, we revised our offer.
  • He built his network by attending every property expo.
  • Instead of renting, they decided to buy in Raj Nagar Extension.
THE SNEAKY ‘TO’ — A PREPOSITION!look forwardtoworkingbe usedtodrivingobjecttoconverting
Use 4

The TO-trap club

look forward to, be used to, get used to, object to, be committed to, confess to, in addition to.
  • We look forward to working with your firm.
  • I’m used to driving on NH-9 in fog now.
  • The RWA objected to converting the flat into an office.
  • He’s committed to completing the project before Diwali.
  • In addition to managing sales, she handles the CRM.
INFINITIVE ‘TO’want to+ the plot→ base verbPREPOSITION ‘TO’look forward to+ the deal→ -ingTHE NOUN TEST: DOES A NOUN FIT AFTER ‘TO’?
Use 5

One clean exception zone

‘To’ after want/plan/decide/hope is the INFINITIVE marker, not a preposition — base verb follows. The noun test separates the two instantly.
  • I want to invest. (want to + THE PLOT infinitive)
  • I look forward to investing. (look forward to + THE DEAL preposition)
The TO-trap and the noun test
INFINITIVE ‘to’1 THE NOUN TESTI want to THE MEETINGa noun does not fit → infinitive marker2 SO WHAT FOLLOWS?base verbI want to meet.PREPOSITION ‘to’1 THE NOUN TESTI look forward to THE MEETINGa noun fits → it is a preposition2 SO WHAT FOLLOWS?-ingI look forward to meeting. THE ‘TO’-TRAP CLUBall take -inglook forward tobe / get used toobject tocommitted toconfess toin addition to
Put a noun after ‘to’: if the sentence survives, it is a preposition and the verb needs -ing.
Step 3

Hindi Concept Note

अHindi Concept Noteहिंदी में समझिए
लोहे का नियम: किसी भी preposition के बाद verb हमेशा -ing पहनता है — in, on, for, about, without, after, by... सब।
बिना बताए मत जाओ
Don’t leave without informing. (‘without to inform’ कभी नहीं!)
sign करने से पहले पढ़ो
Read before signing.
अब सबसे बड़ा जाल — TO जो preposition है: I look forward to meetING you. यहाँ to के बाद -ing! वैसे ही: used to wakING early (आदत है), object to sharING।
पहचान की trick: to के बाद कोई noun रख के देखो। ‘I look forward to THE MEETING’ — बनता है? तो यह to preposition है -ing लगाओ। ‘I want to THE MEETING’ — नहीं बनता? तो यह infinitive का to है base verb।
और ‘interested’ के साथ in: मुझे सीखने में दिलचस्पी है I’m interested IN learnING (‘interested to learn’ आम बोलचाल में चल जाता है, पर interested in learning ही साफ़ English है)।
Step 4

Common Mistakes Hindi Speakers Make

Wrong
Right
Why
I look forward to hear from you.
I look forward to hearing from you.
The most famous trap in email English — this ‘to’ is a preposition -ing.
She left without to say goodbye.
She left without saying goodbye.
Preposition + -ing, always — ‘without to’ is impossible.
He is good in making presentations.
He is good at making presentations.
Two layers: the fixed pair is good AT, and the -ing follows.
I am used to wake up at 5 now.
I am used to waking up at 5 now.
Be used to = accustomed preposition to -ing. (Don’t confuse with ‘used to wake’ = past habit, Module 1.)
Instead of to take a loan, he sold the old flat.
Instead of taking a loan, he sold the old flat.
Instead of + -ing.
We are thinking to open a new branch.
We are thinking of/about opening a new branch.
Think drags of/about with it — then -ing. ‘Thinking to’ is Indian- English; standard English wants the preposition.
Step 5

Signal Words

Spotting the law:
Any preposition in sight (in, on, at, for, of, about, without, before, after, by, instead of) next verb is -ing
Fixed pairs to memorise: insist ON, depend ON, apologise FOR, succeed IN, dream OF, good AT, interested IN, tired OF, afraid OF
TO-trap club: look forward to, be/get used to, object to, committed to, confess to, in addition to -ing
The noun test: ‘to + a noun’ works? preposition gerund
Step 6

Practice

Set A

Fill in the blanks

0 / 10
  1. 1
    We look forward to (receive) the revised quotation.
  2. 2
    He insisted on (verify) every original document himself.
  3. 3
    You can’t grow this business without (build) a referral network.
  4. 4
    She’s very good at (calm) angry customers.
  5. 5
    Before (transfer) the token, confirm the account name.
  6. 6
    I’m not used to (work) from home yet.
  7. 7
    They succeeded in (get) the CLU within six months.
  8. 8
    Instead of (argue), let’s ask the surveyor to re-measure.
  9. 9
    He apologised for (miss) the follow-up call.
  10. 10
    The neighbours objected to (dig) the borewell so close to the wall.
Set B

Correct the mistake

0 / 8
  1. 11
    I look forward to meet you at the expo.
  2. 12
    He went out without telling to anyone. (fix the whole phrase)
  3. 13
    She is interested to learn digital marketing. (make it standard)
  4. 14
    After to finish the inspection, we sat for tea.
  5. 15
    I am used to get up before sunrise.
  6. 16
    They are thinking to sell the Ghaziabad godown.
  7. 17
    He is afraid to losing his security deposit. (keep ‘afraid’)
  8. 18
    By work hard, he cleared all his loans.
Set C

Translate into English

0 / 7
  1. 19
    मैं आपसे मिलने के लिए उत्सुक हूँ... मतलब, आपके जवाब का इंतज़ार रहेगा। (email की भाषा)
  2. 20
    बिना पूछे किसी की चीज़ मत लो।
  3. 21
    खाना खाने से पहले हाथ धोओ।
  4. 22
    वह बहाने बनाने में माहिर है।
  5. 23
    मुझे अब जल्दी उठने की आदत हो गई है।
  6. 24
    मेहनत करके उसने अपना घर बना लिया।
  7. 25
    उन्होंने किराए पर देने के बजाय दुकान बेच दी।
Step 7

Answer Key

Show answersHide answers
Answers · Set A
1
receiving
2
verifying
3
building
4
calming
5
transferring
6
working
7
getting
8
arguing
9
missing
10
digging
Answers · Set B
11
I look forward to meeting you at the expo. (TO-trap -ing.)
12
He went out without telling anyone. (Without + -ing; no ‘to’ after telling here.)
13
She is interested in learning digital marketing. (Interested IN + -ing.)
14
After finishing the inspection, we sat for tea. (After + -ing.)
15
I am used to getting up before sunrise. (Be used to + -ing.)
16
They are thinking of/about selling the Ghaziabad godown. (Think OF/ABOUT + -ing.)
17
He is afraid of losing his security deposit. (Afraid OF + -ing.)
18
By working hard, he cleared all his loans. (By + -ing.)
Answers · Set C
19
I look forward to hearing from you. / I look forward to meeting you.
20
Don’t take anyone’s things without asking.
21
Wash your hands before eating.
22
He is an expert at making excuses. / He’s very good at making excuses.
23
I am used to getting up early now. / I’ve got used to waking up early.
24
By working hard, he built his own house.
25
Instead of renting it out, they sold the shop.

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Next up · Chapter 7Advanced Forms — Passive, Perfect & Possessive

Passive and perfect gerunds and infinitives: he hates being interrupted, she seems to have left, he denied having met them.