Preposition + -ing

When a preposition is followed by a verb, that verb takes the -ing form. This applies to all common prepositions: in, for, about, of, at, without, before, after, and others.

The Core Rule: Preposition + verb = -ing

If a verb comes right after a preposition, it must end in -ing. There are no exceptions.

• Are you interested in working for us?
• Thanks very much for inviting me to the meeting.
• What are the advantages of having a dedicated project manager?
• How about meeting for lunch tomorrow?

This also works when someone else does the action:

• I’m fed up with people telling me what to do.

Preposition	Example
interested in	She’s interested in joining the finance team.
good/bad at	He’s not good at learning new software.
fed up with	The team is fed up with waiting for approval.
advantages/disadvantages of	What are the advantages of outsourcing this work?
instead of	Why don’t you call instead of sitting by the phone?
in spite of	Amy went to the office in spite of feeling ill.

Before -ing and After -ing

Use before + -ing or after + -ing to show the order of events. Do not use “to” after before or after.

• Before going to the meeting, I read the agenda. (not Before to go)
• What did you do after leaving the company?

You can also write these with a full clause: Before I went to the meeting, I read the agenda. Both forms are correct.

By -ing (How Something Happens)

Use by + -ing to explain the method — how something is done or how a result is reached.

• You can improve your English by reading more.
• She made herself ill by not eating properly.
• Many accidents are caused by people driving too fast.

At work, this pattern is common when describing solutions or processes:

• We cut costs by switching to a local supplier.
• He got promoted by taking on extra responsibilities.

Without -ing

Use without + -ing to say that something does not happen alongside the main action.

• We ran ten kilometres without stopping.
• It was a bad thing to say. I said it without thinking.
• She needs to work without people disturbing her. (or: without being disturbed.)
• I have enough problems of my own without having to worry about yours.

In a work context:

• He left the company without giving proper notice.
• She finished the report without asking for help.

To as a Preposition (look forward to -ing)

This is where people make mistakes. The word to has two jobs:

1. to + infinitive (part of the verb): We decided to travel by train.
2. to as a preposition (like in/for/about): I prefer tea to coffee.

When to is a preposition and a verb follows, use -ing — not the infinitive.

• I prefer driving to travelling by train. (not to travel)
• Are you looking forward to going on holiday? (not to go)

Wrong	Right
I’m looking forward to go.	I’m looking forward to going.
I prefer walking to take the bus.	I prefer walking to taking the bus.
She’s used to work late.	She’s used to working late.

A quick test: if you can replace “to” with another preposition (like “about”) and the sentence still makes sense structurally, then “to” is a preposition and the verb needs -ing.

Quick Self-Check