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This week's topic: To -ing or not to -ing, that is the question!

April 15 - 20, 1996

©1996 by Nicholas E. Miller

**************************************** Vol. 1 No. 15 ***

Continuing with last week's grammar error notes, we will look at 'to verb-ing', a common mistake. We do not usually use both 'to' and 'ing' in the same phrase. We can say I am going skiing or I am going to ski, but not I am going to skiing. Likewise, I like to fish, or I like fishing, but not I like to fishing. Let's look at some cases and exceptions below:

I want to fishOK
I want to go fishingOK
I like fishingOK
I like to fishOK, same as the one above

But, a few special cases:

Places:.
To ReadingTo the city Reading, Pennsylvania, USA
To Wheeling To the city Wheeling, West Virginia, USA
..
People:.
To PershingTo give to or go to Mr. or Ms. Pershing
..
Toasts:.
To fishing!You are making a toast to the act or hobby of fishing
To eating and drinking with friends!You are making a toast to the act of eating and drinking with friends

WRONG examples:Change to:
I like to fishingI like fishing or I like to fish
I am going to fishingI am going fishing or I am going to fish
My hobby is to fishingMy hobby is fishing

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