do/doing

Missosology.com is dedicated to help save and protect the environment.

I read the sentence above on the Internet. Should it not be ‘helping’ in lieu of ‘help’?

Source: missosology.com

Thanks.

Strictly speaking yes, it should.

Though ‘commit’ usually takes a gerund preceded by the preposition ‘to’ (like ‘to helping’), one of the examples given in the ELBS & OUP dictionary is infinitival. This is the example: He has committed himself to support his brother’s children.

It’s not the same pattern.
Commited someone to
is not the same as
something dedicated to

The website is dedicated to helping…
The website is committed to supporting…

Hello, T_H_Lawrence:

[english-test.net/forum/sutra ... tml#452591](http://www.english-test.net/forum/sutra452591.html#452591)

The link above (partly) sheds some light on this case, IMHO! :slight_smile:

Thank you, Foreigner. Yes, it was enlightening. The graph looks good, too.

Now let’s discuss the matter further in different detail.

We have be used to, be accustomed to, be committed to, be dedicated to and so on.

Here the ‘to’ is a preposition and not an infinitive marker. A preposition, as we know, takes only a gerund after it.

When we treat the ‘to’ as an infinitive marker, we have to provide a verb in its root form after it.

If either of them is acceptable in any context, they are to carry the same meaning. Then it’s a question of choice or preference.

=====

Now, in many cases the infinitival and the gerundial constructions are interchangeable without much difference in meaning. As I understand, in certain cases, the infinitive is preferred to indicate a particular tendency/situation and the gerund to express a general tendency/situation. For example: I like to swim; I like swimming.

But there are occasions where such interchanges will be suicidal: compare, for instance, ‘I stopped to talk’ with ‘I stopped talking’ and ‘I remember to visit’ with ‘I remember visiting’.

Viewed in this light, I have these concerns:

  1. Would expressions like be accustomed to take either the infinitive or the gerund without any change in meaning?

  2. If so, is it a matter of choice for the user?

  3. If not, why can’t we say it allows only a gerund as in ‘We look forward to meeting you soon’?

Thanks for your patience.

“I am accustomed to”

Generally, “I am being accustomed to” - is not standard English. It only appears to be used by Indian English speakers. Possibly at some point it became confused with ‘I am becoming accustomed to’, which is standard.

What is the context of this reply, Bev? Where do you find it in this post?

Yes, very good questions, indeed! :slight_smile:

Let’s consult some reliably sources:

Professor Michael Swan says as follows:

 [i]attempt, intend, continue, can't bear, be accustomed to, be committed to[/i]

After these words and expressons we can generally use either an -ing form or an infinitive without much difference of meaning. (underline is mine)

I am not accustomed [i]to give/giving[/i] personal information about myself to strangers.

Firstly, T_H_Lawrence, pay attention to what he said. —> without much difference of meaning. So, there must be a difference of some kind/degree.

As concerns the second issue, I'm also interested whether it is really a matter of choice?
  1. You are totally right and I have been interested in this point for a long time! Why be accustomed to and be committed to can be followed by either an -ing form or an infinitive, while after some expressions such as look forward to, object to, admit (to), confess to, get round to we should use only an -ing form in contrast to an infinitive?

Beeesneees/Foreigner,
1a. The website is dedicated to help the poor people.
1b. The website is dedicated to helping the poor people.
2a. He is dedicated to help save and protect the environment.
2b. He is dedicated to helping save and protect the environment.
3a. The website is committed to support the poor people.
3b. The website is committed to supporting the poor people.
4a. I am becoming accustomed to drinking tea.
4b. I am becoming accustomed to drink tea.
Please check and correct them.
Thanks.

1a. The website is dedicated to help the poor people.
1b. The website is dedicated to helping the poor people.
2a. He is dedicated to help save and protect the environment.
2b. He is dedicated to helping save and protect the environment.
3a. The website is committed to support the poor people.
3b. The website is committed to supporting the poor people.
4a. I am becoming accustomed to drinking tea.
4b. I am becoming accustomed to drink tea

You have not answered my question below:

Yes, you may not have noticed my question, or you have ignored it.

Well, Bev, I’m glad that you often refer to three types of English, namely BrE, AmE and InE. Isn’t it true that what you have referred to could also have been spoken by any other person whose primary/first language is not English? Yet, you label it as Indian usage, which, I think, is a kind of recognition.

As a matter of fact I haven’t heard/seen it before.

I didn’t find it in your post. However, I did feel it was connected to the conversation taking place and therefore a point worth mentioning.

Beeesneees,
1a. You have to be dedicated to go to practice every day.
1b. You have to be dedicated to going to practice every day.
2a. He’s dedicated to make Raman the best football player.
2b. He’s dedicated to making Raman the best football player.
3a. The President has committed to reform health care.
3b. The President has committed himself to reforming health care.
4a. Their commitment obligated them to settling the dispute.
4b. Their commitment obligated them to settle the dispute.
Please correct all.
Thanks.

1a. You have to be dedicated to go to practice every day.
1b. You have to be dedicated to going to practice every day.
2a. He’s dedicated to make Raman the best football player.
2b. He’s dedicated to making Raman the best football player.
3a. The President has committed to reform health care.
3b. The President has committed himself to reforming health care.
4a. Their commitment obligated them to settling the dispute.
4b. Their commitment obligated them to settle the dispute.

Hello, DEAR TEACHER!

However, according to Michael Swan 3a is not grammatically incorrect . What do you think?

Thanks.

Isn’t it obvious what I think from my response?

I would not accept this either:
I am not accustomed to give personal information about myself to strangers.