Hello Friends,
Have you ever noticed that ‘To’ is at once an ‘Infinitive’ and a ‘Preposition’? Yes! ‘To’ is both ‘Infinitive’ and ‘Preposition’. Look at the following sentences and notice where ‘To’ has been used as an Infinitive and where it has been used as a ‘Preposition’:-
- We’re going to have dinner at Rahul’s. (Here, ‘to’ has taken ‘have’ and so ‘to have’ is an Infinitive)
- We are going to house. (Here, ‘to’ has taken ‘house’ which is a Noun; hence, here ‘to’ is a Preposition.)
Note: It is to be borne in mind that a Preposition takes 'Noun' or 'Gerund' or 'Objective form of Pronoun'
There are some certain Idiomatic Expressions ending in ‘to’. The ‘to’ in such expressions is a Preposition indeed.
Such Idiomatic Expressions ending in ‘to’ as a Preposition are as follows:
With a view to
- We all reached there with a view to attending the motivation class.
Look forward to
- I am looking forward to watching the cricket match between India and Pakistan.
- (=I am looking forward to the cricket match between Indian and Pakistan.)
On the way to
- On the way to going to school, I saw a spectacle on the road-side.
- (=On the way to school, I saw a spectacle on the road-side)
Prone to
- Babies are highly prone to catching colds.
- (=Babies are highly prone to colds.)
Dedicated to
- I am dedicated to serving for the poor.
- (=I am dedicated to the service to the poor.)
Used to
- He was used to taking wine two years ago.
- (=He was used to win two years ago.)
Key to
- Being sincere about one’s studies is the key to getting success.
- (=Being sincere about one’s studies is the key to success.)
Accustomed to
- He does not feel sick while traveling by bus as he has become accustomed to traveling by it.
- (=He does not feel sick while traveling by bus as he has become accustomed to it.)
Guide to
- The book will prove to be the best guide to helping you fetch flying marks in the examination.
Panacea to
- The coming back of her son home will be a panacea to curing her disease.
Lead somebody to
- The strong gust of air leads the ship to going towards the North Pole.
Devote to
- Mahatma Gandhi devoted himself to working for a cause.