Gerunds after Prepositions

This is a good rule. Why? Because it has no exceptions!

If we want to use a verb after a preposition, it must be a gerund. It is impossible to use an infinitive after a preposition. 

So for example, we say:

• I will call you after arriving at the office.
• Please have a drink before leaving.
• I am looking forward to meeting you.
• Do you object to working late?
• Tara always dreams about going on holiday.

Notice that you could replace all the above gerunds with "real" nouns:

• I will call you after my arrival at the office.
• Please have a drink before your departure.
• I am looking forward to our lunch.
• Do you object to this job?
• Tara always dreams about holidays.

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Extra practice: Which preposition to use?

Verbs with Prepositions followed by the Gerund

Example: I'm looking forward to seeing you again soon.

• accuse of
• adjust to
• agree with
• apologize for
• approve of
• ask about
• ask for
• begin by
• believe in
• be used to
• blame for
• care for
• carry on
• complain about
• concentrate on
• congratulate on
• consist of
• cope with
• decide against
• decide for
• depend on
• die of
• dream about / of
• escape from
• feel like
• forgive for
• give up
• insist on
• keep on
• look forward to
• object to
• pay for
• prevent sb. from
• protect from
• put off
• rely on
• spend money on
• spend time on
• succeed in
• suspect of
• take part in
• talk about / of
• thank for
• think of
• use for
• warn against
• worry about

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We said that the above rule has no exceptions! So in the following examples why is "to" followed by "driving" in the first and by "drive" in the second?

1. I am used to driving on the left.
2. I used to drive on the left.

to as preposition	Preposition
I am used	to	driving on the left.
I am used	to	animals.
to as infinitive	Infinitive
I used	to drive	on the left
I used	to smoke.