After a preposition, a verb always takes the -ing form: I'm interested in learning. Thanks for coming. Before leaving, check the windows. Watch out for to as a preposition: I look forward to seeing you. I'm used to working late.
I'm interested in learning Italian.
A preposition needs a noun after it, and the -ing form is the verb's noun form.
| Adjective + preposition | interested in, good at, afraid of, tired of, keen on: She's good at solving problems. |
|---|---|
| Verb + preposition | think about, apologise for, insist on, succeed in: He insisted on paying. |
| Time words | before, after, since, while: After finishing, we went home. |
| to as a preposition | look forward to, be used to, get used to, object to: I look forward to hearing from you. |
| Others | without, instead of, by: He left without saying goodbye. |
She's good at solving problems.
Good at, interested in, afraid of, tired of: the verb takes -ing.
He insisted on paying.
Insist on, think about, apologise for, succeed in.
Before leaving, check the windows.
Time words and without work as prepositions here.
I look forward to hearing from you.
In look forward to, be used to and object to, to is a preposition, so the verb takes -ing.
Common expressions worth learning as they are.
Thanks for _____ me.
Which verbs take -ing, which take to, and which change meaning.
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Try a noun after it. If a noun works, to is a preposition, so a verb after it takes -ing: I look forward to the weekend → I look forward to seeing you.
Used to do is a past habit (I used to smoke). Be used to doing means something is normal for you (I'm used to working late).