B1 · 중급 챕터 5

Connecting Ideas with -ing and To

5 총 규칙
60 예문
5 분
이 챕터의 규칙 빠른 연습

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of connecting your thoughts smoothly using gerunds and infinitives in everyday conversation.

  • Describe feelings and experiences using adjectives and infinitives.
  • Connect actions after prepositions using gerunds.
  • Express plans and causal relationships with confidence.
Connect your world with confidence and flow.

배울 내용

Ready to make your English flow better? This chapter helps you effortlessly describe feelings (like 'easy to learn') and exciting plans, so you can sound more natural and confident when you speak. Get ready to connect your thoughts with ease!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Describe your daily routine and future plans using varied verb patterns.

챕터 가이드

Overview

Mastering how to connect your thoughts smoothly is a huge step in sounding more natural and confident in English. At the B1 level, you're moving beyond basic sentences and really starting to express more complex ideas, feelings, and plans. This guide will show you how to effortlessly link verbs, adjectives, and prepositions using -ing forms (gerunds) and to-infinitives.
This isn't just about passing a grammar test; it's about making your everyday conversations richer and more authentic, whether you're describing how easy it is to learn something new or sharing what you're excited about doing.
Many B1 English grammar learners find that using gerunds and infinitives can feel a bit tricky at first, especially knowing when to use -ing and when to use to. That's why we're breaking down key patterns like Adjective + To-Infinitive, understanding Gerunds After Prepositions, and correctly using phrases like look forward to or verbs like make and let. By the end of this chapter, you'll have a clear understanding of these essential structures, enhancing your ability to connect ideas with -ing and to more effectively and improving your overall fluency.
Get ready to elevate your English communication!

How This Grammar Works

Let's dive into how these structures help you link your ideas seamlessly. First, we often use an Adjective + To-Infinitive to express opinions, feelings, or qualities about an action. For example, "It's easy to learn English or I'm happy to help you." The adjective (easy, happy) describes the *quality* or *feeling* connected to the action (to learn, to help).
This pattern allows you to clearly state how something is perceived.
Next, prepositions are little words that pack a big punch. When a verb follows a preposition, that verb must always take its -ing form, known as a gerund. This is because the gerund acts like a noun.
Think of "I'm good at speaking English or Thanks for coming." Here, 'at' and 'for' are prepositions, so 'speak' becomes speaking and 'come' becomes coming. This rule is crucial for correct sentence structure after words like for, in, about, of, and with.
Building on the gerund, certain common phrases involve go + gerund for leisure activities. If you like sports or hobbies, you often
go swimming,
go shopping,
or
go fishing.
It's a natural way to talk about activities that involve movement and are done for enjoyment. Then there's the special case of look forward to.
Many learners mistakenly use an infinitive here, but the 'to' in 'look forward to' is actually a preposition. Therefore, it must be followed by a gerund: "I'm really looking forward to seeing you or She's looking forward to starting her new job." The 'to' here is part of a fixed expression, not an infinitive marker.
Finally, we have make and let, two powerful verbs that describe influencing others. When you use make (meaning to force or cause) or let (meaning to allow), the verb that follows them is always the base form (without to). For instance,
My boss made me work overtime
(forced me) or
My parents let me go to the party
(allowed me).
Understanding these patterns will significantly improve your accuracy in connecting actions and intentions.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ It's difficult for understand this.
✓ It's difficult to understand this.
*Explanation: After an adjective expressing difficulty, we use the to-infinitive.*
  1. 1✗ I'm interested in to learn new languages.
✓ I'm interested in learning new languages.
*Explanation: A verb following a preposition (like 'in') must always be in the -ing form (gerund).*
  1. 1✗ We are looking forward to meet you.
✓ We are looking forward to meeting you.
*Explanation: The 'to' in 'look forward to' is a preposition, so it must be followed by a gerund.*

Real Conversations

A

A

"I'm so happy to be here in London!"
B

B

"Me too! It's an exciting city to explore. Are you looking forward to visiting the museums tomorrow?"
A

A

"Absolutely! I'm really good at finding the best exhibits."
A

A

My sister made me clean her room today.
B

B

"Oh, that's rough! My parents usually let me choose my own chores. Are you still planning on going shopping later?"
A

A

"Yes, I need some new shoes. I'm thinking about going to Oxford Street."

Quick FAQ

Q

When should I use -ing after 'to'?

You use -ing after 'to' when 'to' is part of a phrasal verb or a fixed expression where 'to' acts as a preposition, such as 'look forward to', 'be used to', or 'object to'. Otherwise, 'to' is usually followed by the base form of the verb (infinitive).

Q

Can I say go to swim instead of go swimming?

While go to swim isn't grammatically incorrect, it sounds less natural for a leisure activity.

Go swimming
is the standard and much more common way to talk about the activity. Go to swim might imply going *to a place* for the purpose of swimming, rather than the activity itself.

Q

What's the difference between make and let in terms of grammar?

Both make and let are followed by the base form of the verb (without 'to'). The difference is in meaning: make means to force or cause someone to do something (e.g.,

She made me laugh
), while let means to permit or allow someone to do something (e.g.,
He let me borrow his car
).

Cultural Context

Native English speakers use these patterns constantly in everyday conversation. The choice between -ing and to-infinitive often comes down to ingrained habits rather than conscious rule application. For instance, looking forward to is extremely common when discussing future plans, conveying enthusiasm.
While formal writing adheres strictly to these rules, casual speech might occasionally have slight deviations, but understanding the standard forms will always make you sound more natural and avoid miscommunication.

주요 예문 (8)

1

It's `easy to make` friends in this city.

이 도시에서는 친구 사귀기가 쉬워요.

형용사 + To부정사 (배우기 쉽다)
2

The new app was `simple to use` even for beginners.

새로운 앱은 초보자도 사용하기 쉬웠어요.

형용사 + To부정사 (배우기 쉽다)
3

Thank you `for helping` me with my homework.

숙제를 도와줘서 고마워요.

전치사 뒤의 동명사 (왜 'For', 'In', 'About' 뒤에 -ing를 사용하는가)
4

She is really good `at solving` puzzles.

그녀는 퍼즐을 푸는 것을 정말 잘해요.

전치사 뒤의 동명사 (왜 'For', 'In', 'About' 뒤에 -ing를 사용하는가)
5

My friends and I `go camping` every summer.

제 친구들과 저는 매년 여름 캠핑을 가요.

'Go'와 함께하는 활동: 수영, 쇼핑 등 (Go + 동명사)
6

She `is going shopping` for a new dress this afternoon.

그녀는 오늘 오후에 새 드레스를 사러 쇼핑 갈 거예요.

'Go'와 함께하는 활동: 수영, 쇼핑 등 (Go + 동명사)
7

I'm really `looking forward to starting` my new course next week.

다음 주에 새 강좌를 시작하는 것이 정말 기대돼요.

~을 고대하다 + 동명사 (미래에 대한 기대)
8

Are you `looking forward to visiting` your grandparents this summer?

이번 여름에 할머니 댁에 가는 거 기대돼?

~을 고대하다 + 동명사 (미래에 대한 기대)

팁과 요령 (4)

💡

이 문법에 쓰이는 형용사들!

의견, 감정, 특성을 나타내는 형용사들을 주로 사용해요. 예를 들어, good, bad, easy, hard, happy, sad, important, possible 같은 단어들이요. 이런 형용사들이 이 문법과 아주 잘 어울린답니다: "It's good to be here."
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 형용사 + To부정사 (배우기 쉽다)
💡

전치사는 까다로워요!

전치사는 마치 클럽 문지기 같아요. 특정 형태만 들여보내 주거든요! 동사의 경우, 항상 -ing 형태(동명사)만 허락해요. 이 규칙만 잘 기억하면 흔한 실수를 줄일 수 있어요! "I'm good at playing tennis."
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 전치사 뒤의 동명사 (왜 'For', 'In', 'About' 뒤에 -ing를 사용하는가)
💡

활동 먼저 생각하기

go + 동사-ing를 쓸지 말지 고민될 때는, -ing 단어가 여러분이 하러 가는 «주요 활동»을 나타내는지 생각해보세요. 스포츠, 취미, 특정 쇼핑이라면 거의 맞을 거예요.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 'Go'와 함께하는 활동: 수영, 쇼핑 등 (Go + 동명사)
💡

'전치사 + 명사'처럼 생각하기!

'look forward to'의 'to'는 전치사 역할을 해요. 'to the store' (명사)처럼 'to working' (동명사가 명사 역할)이라고 말하는 거죠. "I'm looking forward to working with you." 이렇게 생각하면 헷갈리지 않을 거예요.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: ~을 고대하다 + 동명사 (미래에 대한 기대)

핵심 어휘 (5)

Excited very happy/enthusiastic Permission allowing someone to do something Recreational related to hobbies/fun Fluent speaking easily Interested in wanting to learn more

Real-World Preview

coffee

Planning the Weekend

Review Summary

  • It + be + Adj + to + verb
  • Prep + verb-ing
  • Go + verb-ing
  • Look forward to + verb-ing
  • Make/Let + object + base verb

자주 하는 실수

'Look forward to' uses 'to' as a preposition, so you must follow it with a gerund.

Wrong: I look forward to see you.
정답: I look forward to seeing you.

Adjectives need the 'to' particle to connect to the infinitive verb.

Wrong: It is easy learn English.
정답: It is easy to learn English.

After 'make' or 'let', we use the base form of the verb without 'to'.

Wrong: She made me to go.
정답: She made me go.

Next Steps

You've done an incredible job today. Keep practicing, and you'll be speaking like a native in no time!

Write a diary entry for tomorrow using all 5 rules.

Continue to: Advanced Verb Patterns and Meaning Changes

빠른 연습 (10)

전치사 뒤에 동명사를 올바르게 사용한 문장을 고르세요.

올바른 문장을 고르세요:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I'm thinking about buying a new car.
전치사 'about' 뒤에는 동명사(-ing 형태)가 필요합니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 전치사 뒤의 동명사 (왜 'For', 'In', 'About' 뒤에 -ing를 사용하는가)

문장을 완성하는 올바른 형태를 고르세요.

It's so important ___ your friends.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: to support
'important'(형용사) 뒤에는 행동을 설명하기 위해 'to부정사'를 사용합니다. 'To support'가 올바른 형태입니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 형용사 + To부정사 (배우기 쉽다)

'형용사 + to부정사' 구조를 올바르게 사용한 문장을 고르세요.

올바른 문장을 고르세요:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It's necessary to remember details.
정확한 패턴은 'It's + 형용사 + to부정사'입니다. 'To remember'가 올바른 to부정사 형태입니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 형용사 + To부정사 (배우기 쉽다)

문장의 실수를 찾아 고치세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

The book was difficult understanding.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The book was difficult to understand.
형용사 'difficult' 뒤에는 동명사('understanding')가 아닌 'to부정사'('to understand')가 와야 합니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 형용사 + To부정사 (배우기 쉽다)

문장에서 틀린 부분을 찾아 고치세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

He is very good at to cook Italian food.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He is very good at cooking Italian food.
전치사 'at' 뒤에는 동사의 동명사 형태를 사용해야 합니다. 'Cooking'이 올바른 동명사입니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 전치사 뒤의 동명사 (왜 'For', 'In', 'About' 뒤에 -ing를 사용하는가)

문장을 완성하기 위해 올바른 형태를 선택하세요.

She apologized `for ___` late to the meeting.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: being
전치사 'for' 뒤에는 동명사(-ing 형태)가 와야 해요. 'Being'은 'to be'의 동명사 형태입니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 전치사 뒤의 동명사 (왜 'For', 'In', 'About' 뒤에 -ing를 사용하는가)

문장을 완성하기 위해 올바른 형태를 고르세요.

My parents always let me ___ my own decisions.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: make
'let + 목적어' 다음에는 'to' 없이 동사원형이 와야 해요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Make vs Let: 강제하기 vs 허용하기 (동사원형)

문장에서 틀린 부분을 찾아 고치세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

The unexpected news made her to feel very excited.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The unexpected news made her feel very excited.
'make + 목적어' 뒤에는 'to' 없이 동사원형이 와야 해요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Make vs Let: 강제하기 vs 허용하기 (동사원형)

문장을 완성하기 위해 올바른 형태를 고르세요.

My sister is really looking forward to ___ her new puppy home.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: bringing
'look forward to' 구문 뒤에는 동명사(-ing 형태)나 명사가 와야 해요. 여기서 'to'는 전치사 역할을 하기 때문이죠.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: ~을 고대하다 + 동명사 (미래에 대한 기대)

문장에서 틀린 부분을 찾아 고치세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

The team is looking forward to present their ideas at the meeting.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The team is looking forward to presenting their ideas at the meeting.
'look forward to' 다음에는 부정사('to present')가 아니라 동명사('presenting')가 와야 올바른 형태예요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: ~을 고대하다 + 동명사 (미래에 대한 기대)

Score: /10

자주 묻는 질문 (6)

이 문법의 기본 아이디어는 어떤 행동의 특징이나 그 행동에 대한 느낌을 형용사와 직접 연결해서 표현하는 방법이에요. «배우기 쉬워요»나 «공부하는 게 중요해요»처럼요. "It's easy to learn« 또는 »It's important to study."
네, 정말 흔하게 쓰는 표현이에요! "It's hard to understand«와 »It's good to see you" 같은 문장들은 영어 회화에서 아주 자연스럽게 들린답니다.
동명사는 동사에 -ing를 붙여서 명사처럼 쓰이는 형태를 말해요. 예를 들어, Swimming is fun (수영은 재미있다)에서 'swimming'은 문장의 주어 역할을 하는 동명사예요.
전치사는 항상 명사나 대명사가 뒤따라와야 해요. 동명사는 동사가 명사처럼 쓰이는 형태이기 때문에, 전치사 뒤에 어떤 행동을 쓰고 싶을 때 이 문법적 요구사항을 충족시켜 주는 거죠.
기본 규칙은 go (어떤 시제든) 바로 뒤에 동사의 -ing 형태를 붙여서 활동, 특히 여가 활동에 참여하는 것을 묘사하는 거예요. 예를 들어, I go swimming이나 They went shopping처럼요.
-ing 형태는 동명사 역할을 해서 명사처럼 기능해요. 그래서 go fishing이라고 말할 때는 본질적으로 '낚시 활동을 하러 가다'라는 의미가 되며, 활동 자체가 움직임의 직접적인 목적이 되는 거죠.
이전 챕터
Introduction to Gerunds and Infinitives
다음 챕터
Advanced Verb Patterns and Meaning Changes
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