Wednesday, October 7, 2015

grammar - Could you please explain how to use "preposition+ gerund" in a sentence?


I came across a sentence



With a view to creating a safe and secure environment for women an armed battalion of women police has been formed in Bihar.



Shall I write it as



With a view to create a safe and secure environment for women an armed battalion of women police has been formed in Bihar.




Is it incorrect to use infinitive in the latter sentence? Does the meaning of both the sentences is same?


If not please explain me the difference in the meaning of the two sentences.


I've seen many explanations regarding the usage of preposition+gerund in stackexchange still I'm in confusion.


Please explain me how and when to use gerunds with prepositions like "to" simpler way.



Answer



Gerunds are nouns, and objects of prepositions are nouns. So you can use gerunds as objects of prepositions.


To X has many meanings in English, and one of those is toward X which can mean "to do things which cause you to move closer to the goal X":



With a view to creating a safe and secure environment




To also can be just the sign of an infinitive which is what is happening here:



With a view to create a safe and secure environment



The first one is saying we are going move toward creating a "safe and secure" environment. When completed, the environment will be more safe/secure, but might not be completely safe/secure.


The second one is saying that when completed, the environment will be completely safe/secure.


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