Here is the grammar trap that catches almost every learner: “I look forward to meet you” — wrong. “I look forward to meeting you” — correct. But why?
Because in certain expressions, ‘to’ is a preposition, not part of an infinitive. And prepositions are always followed by nouns. The noun form of a verb in English is the gerund — the -ing form. So after these expressions, you must always use verb + ing, never the base verb.
The Golden Rule: When ‘to’ works as a preposition — not as part of “to + base verb” — the verb that follows MUST be in -ing form.
Structure: [Expression + to] + [verb-ing] + [rest of sentence]
Quick test: Can you replace the verb with a noun? If yes, ‘to’ is a preposition → use -ing.
Example: “I look forward to the meeting” ✅ → so “I look forward to meeting you” ✅
30 Expressions That Always Take -ing After ‘To’
- look forward to (to = preposition)
To feel excited or pleased about something coming in the future
examples:
We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.
The students are looking forward to receiving their results next week.
She looks forward to starting her new job on Monday.
2. be addicted to (to = preposition)
To be unable to stop doing something; strongly dependent on a habit or activity
examples:
He is completely addicted to playing video games late at night.
Many young people are addicted to scrolling through social media for hours.
She admits she is addicted to drinking three cups of coffee every morning.
3. be used to (to = preposition)
Accustomed or familiar with something through habit or experience
examples:
She is used to travelling long distances by train every week.
After three years abroad, I am used to living without family nearby.
He is not used to eating food without spices — everything tastes bland to him.
4 get used to (to = preposition)
To become accustomed to something over time
examples
It takes time to get used to working night shifts at a call centre.
You will get used to driving on the left side of the road eventually.
New employees need a few weeks to get used to following the company’s processes.
5. object to (to = preposition)
To formally express disagreement or opposition to something
examples:
Several residents objected to building a highway through their village.
The lawyer objected to including that piece of evidence in the trial.
Many parents objected to changing the school’s examination pattern.
6. be committed to (to = preposition)
Dedicated or pledged to doing something
examples:
The company is committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 2030.
The government is committed to providing free healthcare in rural areas.
She is committed to improving literacy rates in her local community.
7. be dedicated to (to = preposition)
Fully focused on or devoted to a cause or activity
examples:
This foundation is dedicated to protecting endangered wildlife.
The NGO is dedicated to rehabilitating survivors of natural disasters.
He has dedicated his entire career to finding a cure for the disease.
8. resort to (to = preposition)
To use something undesirable as a last option
examples:
The farmers resorted to blocking the road after weeks of no response.
When talks failed, both sides resorted to filing lawsuits against each other.
Please do not resort to guessing — read the question carefully first.
9. be opposed to (to = preposition)
Against something; holding a contrary position
examples:
Many economists are opposed to imposing new trade restrictions.
Local traders are opposed to allowing large supermarkets into their area.
She was strongly opposed to changing the organisation’s founding values.
10. be accustomed to (to = preposition)
More formal version of ‘be used to’ — habitually familiar with something
examples:
He was not accustomed to being questioned in front of a large audience.
Village teachers are accustomed to managing classrooms of different age groups.
After years of early starts, she is accustomed to waking up before sunrise.
11. confess to (to = preposition)
To admit having done something, often reluctantly
examples:
He confessed to taking money from the fund without authorisation.
The student confessed to copying answers after repeated questioning.
She finally confessed to knowing about the problem for several months.
12. admit to (to = preposition)
To acknowledge something true, especially something unflattering
examples:
The CEO admitted to misleading investors in the annual report.
She admitted to missing the deadline due to poor time management.
He admitted to making the same mistake twice despite the warning.
13. be prone to (to = preposition)
Having a tendency or likelihood toward something
examples:
Coastal areas are prone to flooding during the monsoon season.
People with desk jobs are prone to developing back and neck problems.
Children are prone to catching colds more frequently than adults.
14. be averse to (to = preposition)
Having a strong dislike or reluctance toward something
examples:
Conservative investors are averse to putting money into volatile markets.
He is averse to making any decision without checking the data first.
She is not averse to taking risks when the opportunity is worth it.
15. be open to (to = preposition)
Willing to consider or accept something
examples:
The management said it is open to reviewing the salary structure.
We are open to negotiating the final terms of the contract.
She has always been open to learning new skills, even later in life.
16. be resistant to (to = preposition)
Unwilling to accept or adapt to something
examples:
Older staff members are often resistant to adopting new software systems.
Some communities are resistant to accepting changes in traditional practices.
Children can be resistant to trying new foods at an early age.
17. be given to (to = preposition)
Having a habit of doing something, often a bad one
examples:
She is given to exaggerating her achievements in front of others.
He is given to making promises that he cannot always keep.
Politicians are often given to using vague language under pressure.
18. in addition to (to = preposition)
Besides or apart from something already mentioned
examples:
In addition to teaching, she runs a coaching centre on weekends.
In addition to writing the report, he also presented the findings live.
In addition to paying tuition fees, the family covers hostel and travel costs.
19. with a view to (to = preposition)
With the aim or intention of doing something (formal)
examples:
The state signed the agreement with a view to attracting foreign investment.
She enrolled in the course with a view to changing her career path.
The policy was formed with a view to strengthening rural infrastructure.
20. be devoted to (to = preposition)
Completely loyal or committed to a person, cause, or activity
examples:
She is devoted to helping underprivileged children get access to education.
He is devoted to training six days a week ahead of the championship.
The entire team is devoted to delivering the best possible results.
21. be inclined to (to = preposition / infinitive — dual use)
Having a tendency or mild preference toward something
examples:
I am inclined to agreeing with your suggestion on this matter.
He is not inclined to taking shortcuts — he prefers doing things properly.
She is inclined to overthinking every decision before she acts.
22. be reduced to (to = preposition)
To be forced into a lesser or worse state or action
examples:
After the flooding, the family was reduced to living in a temporary shelter.
Without power, the entire office was reduced to working on paper.
He was reduced to begging for extensions after missing every deadline.
23. be limited to (to = preposition)
Restricted only to something specific
examples:
Access to the lab is limited to wearing a protective suit at all times.
Admission to the course is limited to having a minimum of 60% marks.
The discussion was limited to addressing the most urgent issues on the agenda.
24. be reconciled to (to = preposition)
To accept something unpleasant after a period of resistance
examples:
She has become reconciled to living far away from her family.
He is finally reconciled to accepting a smaller role in the new project.
After months of denial, the team became reconciled to starting over.
25. take to (to = preposition)
To develop a habit of doing something, or to begin liking something naturally
examples:
After the lockdown, many people took to cooking their own meals at home.
She took to reading classic literature during her long train commutes.
The child took to swimming immediately — he was a natural in the water.
26. be accustomed to (to = preposition)
In the habit of something through long practice — more formal than ‘used to’
Examples:
She is accustomed to presenting in front of large audiences without notes.
Growing up in a joint family, he is accustomed to sharing everything.
The athlete is accustomed to training in extreme heat and humidity.
27. be allergic to (to = preposition)
Informally used to mean a strong dislike or avoidance of something
examples:
He seems allergic to admitting when he is wrong — it never happens.
She is allergic to waking up early — every morning is a battle for her.
Some managers appear allergic to giving clear feedback to their team.
28. be accustomed to / not be used to (negative form)
Not familiar with or comfortable doing something
Examples:
I am not used to waiting more than ten minutes for a reply to an email.
She is not used to speaking in English in front of a large group yet.
He was not used to being told no — it came as a genuine shock to him.
29. be sensitive to (to = preposition)
Easily affected by or aware of something; reacting strongly to it
Examples:
Good teachers are sensitive to noticing when a student is struggling quietly.
She is very sensitive to being criticised in front of her colleagues.
The device is sensitive to detecting even the smallest changes in temperature.
30. be central to (to = preposition)
Being the most important part of something
Examples:
Listening carefully is central to building any strong relationship.
Community participation is central to making any rural programme succeed.
Honest communication is central to running an effective team.
Quick-Reference Table — All 30 Expressions
| number | Expression | Key Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | look forward to | Feel excited about a future event |
| 2 | be addicted to | Unable to stop a habit or activity |
| 3 | be used to | Familiar/accustomed through habit |
| 4 | get used to | Become accustomed over time |
| 5 | object to | Express disagreement or opposition |
| 6 | be committed to | Pledged or dedicated to something |
| 7 | be dedicated to | Fully devoted to a cause or activity |
| 8 | resort to | Use an undesirable last option |
| 9 | be opposed to | Against something |
| 10 | be accustomed to | Formally familiar with something |
| 11 | confess to | Admit doing something reluctantly |
| 12 | admit to | Acknowledge an unflattering truth |
| 13 | be prone to | Have a tendency toward something |
| 14 | be averse to | Strongly dislike or avoid something |
| 15 | be open to | Willing to consider something |
| 16 | be resistant to | Unwilling to accept or adapt |
| 17 | be given to | Have a habitual tendency |
| 18 | in addition to | Besides something already mentioned |
| 19 | with a view to | With the aim of doing something |
| 20 | be devoted to | Completely loyal to a cause or person |
| 21 | be inclined to | Have a mild preference or tendency |
| 22 | be reduced to | Forced into a worse state or action |
| 23 | be limited to | Restricted to something specific |
| 24 | be reconciled to | Accept something unpleasant finally |
| 25 | take to | Develop a habit or liking naturally |
| 26 | be accustomed to (formal) | In the habit of — formal register |
| 27 | be allergic to | Informal strong dislike or avoidance |
| 28 | not be used to | Not familiar or comfortable yet |
| 29 | be sensitive to | Easily affected or strongly aware |
| 30 | be central to | Being the most important part |
One rule to remember them all: Whenever you see ‘to’ after an adjective or a fixed expression, pause and ask — “Can a noun replace the verb here?” If yes, use -ing. This single check eliminates 90% of errors with all 30 expressions above.
This -ing pattern appears across many everyday expressions. See our post on 50 Fillers in English for spoken phrases that also carry specific grammar patterns. For conditional structures, read our guide on Provided That and Conditional Phrases.