Uploaded December 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Is the correct sentence “I’m used to live here” or “I’m used to living here”? In this advanced English grammar lesson, you will learn TWENTY phrases that can be followed by gerunds (verb+ing). Yes! It’s possible, and it’s much more common than you think. In this class, you will PRACTICE repeating sentences that use phrases such as “lead to,” “object to,” “look forward to,” “pay attention to,” “relate to,” “respond to,” and many more. When you are finished, make sure you do the quiz to make sure you’ve got it. engvid.com/20-to-phrases-that-can-use-verbing
For more English resources, check out my website: englishalex.com
More grammar videos like this:
Correct Your English: Top 10 Mistakes With Gerunds & Infinitives youtu.be/O0DsFTWlWRI
USED TO, BE USED TO, GET USED TO: When & How to Use Them youtu.be/ymq-OAaSK08
In this lesson:
0:00 20 "to + _____-ing" Phrases in English
1:16 Particle or preposition?
3:44 adapt to
4:21 adjust to
4:47 add to
5:12 contribute to
5:47 be close to
6:12 dedicate to
6:44 commit to
7:09 lead to
7:50 admit to
8:50 be addicted to
9:48 be accustomed to
11:18 be used to
12:07 get used to
12:54 be opposed to
13:40 object to
14:32 relate to
15:17 respond to
15:41 listen to
16:08 get back to
16:41 look forward to
TRANSCRIPT:
Oh, hey, everyone.
I think I might be addicted to taking selfies, so I apologize about that.
Hey, everyone.
I'm Alex.
Thanks for clicking, and thank you for learning English with engvid.com.
That's E-N-G-V-I-D dot com.
If you are watching this video and you are enjoying it, make sure you subscribe to my
channel on YouTube, click like, and turn on the notifications so you never miss a video.
Now, in today's lesson, we are going to talk about a grammar topic that many people have
questions about once they reach the upper intermediate or advanced level of English,
and that is, "Alex, when can I add 'ing' after 'to'?
I know it's possible."
Okay?
So, yes.
In this video, I will teach you 20 phrases that use "to" plus verb "ing", or where it's
possible to use "to" plus the verb "ing".
Now, before we begin, an important question to ask when you are wondering, "Can I use
verb 'ing' after 'to'?"
Well, you have to ask yourself, "Wait, is this a particle, or is it a preposition?"
Now, a particle is, as an example number one, "I want to leave."
As you know, if you are watching this video, some verbs in English can be followed by a
gerund, which is verb "ing".
Some verbs can be followed by a "to" infinitive, which is "to" plus the verb.
So, in this case, "I want to leave", "to" is functioning as, grammatically, what is
known as a particle.
Now, a particle is just a junk word that we throw in, but is necessary in order to continue
and complete a grammatical form.
So, "I want to leave", for example, in this case.
Now, for a preposition, one of the rules about prepositions is they are always followed by
objects.
Right?
So, a preposition needs an object.
"I live in Canada", for example.
"I spent the day with Martha."
Or "lung cancer is linked to smoking."
Right?
So, here, remember gerunds are verbal nouns, so they function as nouns, which means they
can function as objects.
Okay?
So, here we have an example where you are using verb "ing" after "to".
How?
"Lung cancer is linked to", so you have a phrase, "to be linked to something", you have
to be linked to something.
A gerund is a something.
Okay?
So, now, so far, so good, I hope.
You can always rewind the video, listen to me explain this again, or first make sure
you understand about the basics of gerunds and infinitives.
And now, let's continue with learning and practicing the phrases that you can use with
"to" plus verb "ing".
I apologize for the pause.
My brain went in a different direction for a moment.
Now, one of the phrases that you can use is "adapt to".
So, for example, "I'm adapting to using AI."
Here, you can see I'm using a verb in the continuous form.
I am adapting.
Adapting to what?
I am adapting to using AI.
I am making the adaptation in the...
I'm in progress.
I'm in process of doing this now.
This is actually true for me.
Maybe it's true for you.
You're adapting to using AI as it becomes a bigger part of our lives.
Next, we have "adjust to".
So, she is adjusting to...
What is she adjusting to?
Something.
She's adjusting to wearing high heels.
Now, of course, you can say she's adjusting to high heels, right?
To wearing them.
But, yes, another phrase with "adjust to".
This is a preposition in this case.
Next, we have "add to".
"Spending time alone only added to feeling depressed."
Here, we can actually use a possessive gerund, if you would like.
Added to his feeling depressed, or her feeling depressed, or your feeling depressed.
Something like that. […]
Is the correct sentence “I’m used to live here” or “I’m used to living here”? In this advanced English grammar lesson, you will learn TWENTY phrases that can be followed by gerunds (verb+ing). Yes! It’s possible, and it’s much more common than you think. In this class, you will PRACTICE repeating sentences that use phrases such as “lead to,” “object to,” “look forward to,” “pay attention to,” “relate to,” “respond to,” and many more. When you are finished, make sure you do the quiz to make sure you’ve got it. engvid.com/20-to-phrases-that-can-use-verbing
For more English resources, check out my website: englishalex.com
More grammar videos like this:
Correct Your English: Top 10 Mistakes With Gerunds & Infinitives youtu.be/O0DsFTWlWRI
USED TO, BE USED TO, GET USED TO: When & How to Use Them youtu.be/ymq-OAaSK08
In this lesson:
0:00 20 "to + _____-ing" Phrases in English
1:16 Particle or preposition?
3:44 adapt to
4:21 adjust to
4:47 add to
5:12 contribute to
5:47 be close to
6:12 dedicate to
6:44 commit to
7:09 lead to
7:50 admit to
8:50 be addicted to
9:48 be accustomed to
11:18 be used to
12:07 get used to
12:54 be opposed to
13:40 object to
14:32 relate to
15:17 respond to
15:41 listen to
16:08 get back to
16:41 look forward to
TRANSCRIPT:
Oh, hey, everyone.
I think I might be addicted to taking selfies, so I apologize about that.
Hey, everyone.
I'm Alex.
Thanks for clicking, and thank you for learning English with engvid.com.
That's E-N-G-V-I-D dot com.
If you are watching this video and you are enjoying it, make sure you subscribe to my
channel on YouTube, click like, and turn on the notifications so you never miss a video.
Now, in today's lesson, we are going to talk about a grammar topic that many people have
questions about once they reach the upper intermediate or advanced level of English,
and that is, "Alex, when can I add 'ing' after 'to'?
I know it's possible."
Okay?
So, yes.
In this video, I will teach you 20 phrases that use "to" plus verb "ing", or where it's
possible to use "to" plus the verb "ing".
Now, before we begin, an important question to ask when you are wondering, "Can I use
verb 'ing' after 'to'?"
Well, you have to ask yourself, "Wait, is this a particle, or is it a preposition?"
Now, a particle is, as an example number one, "I want to leave."
As you know, if you are watching this video, some verbs in English can be followed by a
gerund, which is verb "ing".
Some verbs can be followed by a "to" infinitive, which is "to" plus the verb.
So, in this case, "I want to leave", "to" is functioning as, grammatically, what is
known as a particle.
Now, a particle is just a junk word that we throw in, but is necessary in order to continue
and complete a grammatical form.
So, "I want to leave", for example, in this case.
Now, for a preposition, one of the rules about prepositions is they are always followed by
objects.
Right?
So, a preposition needs an object.
"I live in Canada", for example.
"I spent the day with Martha."
Or "lung cancer is linked to smoking."
Right?
So, here, remember gerunds are verbal nouns, so they function as nouns, which means they
can function as objects.
Okay?
So, here we have an example where you are using verb "ing" after "to".
How?
"Lung cancer is linked to", so you have a phrase, "to be linked to something", you have
to be linked to something.
A gerund is a something.
Okay?
So, now, so far, so good, I hope.
You can always rewind the video, listen to me explain this again, or first make sure
you understand about the basics of gerunds and infinitives.
And now, let's continue with learning and practicing the phrases that you can use with
"to" plus verb "ing".
I apologize for the pause.
My brain went in a different direction for a moment.
Now, one of the phrases that you can use is "adapt to".
So, for example, "I'm adapting to using AI."
Here, you can see I'm using a verb in the continuous form.
I am adapting.
Adapting to what?
I am adapting to using AI.
I am making the adaptation in the...
I'm in progress.
I'm in process of doing this now.
This is actually true for me.
Maybe it's true for you.
You're adapting to using AI as it becomes a bigger part of our lives.
Next, we have "adjust to".
So, she is adjusting to...
What is she adjusting to?
Something.
She's adjusting to wearing high heels.
Now, of course, you can say she's adjusting to high heels, right?
To wearing them.
But, yes, another phrase with "adjust to".
This is a preposition in this case.
Next, we have "add to".
"Spending time alone only added to feeling depressed."
Here, we can actually use a possessive gerund, if you would like.
Added to his feeling depressed, or her feeling depressed, or your feeling depressed.
Something like that. […]


![30 Minutes of ENGLISH VOCABULARY TRAINING (Interactive Practice)
Get ready to build your English vocabulary for the next 30 minutes. In this upper-intermediate vocabulary training class, I present 20 of the most common English phrases, ask you to listen to and repeat sentences, and encourage you to build your own sentences. Need more time? You can always pause and rewind the video. Some of the phrases in this lesson include “all the time,” “better off,” “back and forth,” “step by step,” “get used to,” and “let’s.” All of the phrases in this lesson are included in my book, 300 Practical English Words and Phrases. So if you want more like this, get the book! https://www.englishalex.com/product-page/300-practical-english-words-and-phrases
Take the quiz: https://www.engvid.com/30-minutes-of-english-vocabulary-training-interactive-practice/
If you liked this lesson format, try this 15-minute lesson where youll practice using PHRASAL VERBS: https://youtu.be/gbZVgE8W7kg
In this lesson:
0:00 30 Minutes of English Vocabulary Training
1:24 all the time
2:06 once in a while
2:55 from time to time
3:37 point of view (POV)
4:54 be open to
6:07 better off & worse off
7:55 used to
10:14 be used to
12:38 get used to
14:39 look forward to
15:59 lets
16:54 back and forth
18:38 by oneself
20:18 step by step
21:28 to an extent
22:53 chip in
24:26 count on
25:48 deal with
27:04 keep in mind
TRANSCRIPT:
Hey, everyone.
Im Alex.
Thanks for clicking, and thank you for learning English with www.engvid.com.
Thats E-N-G-V-I-D dot com.
In todays video, I am going to give you some vocabulary training.
So, we will go over 20 common English phrases, and I will give you some example sentences
that you can repeat to help you practice your English so that you can see these phrases
in context.
Whats this Im holding?
Hmm.
All of the phrases that you learn today are from my book called 300 Practical English
Words and Phrases.
This book includes 300 high-frequency English words and phrases with over 2,000 example
sentences.
It has common sentences, phrase variations, multiple meanings of phrases, so you dont
just get one meaning, but multiple meanings in most of the cases, to be very honest with
you.
And, yeah, check it out.
You can get the PDF, the e-book, or this beautiful physical version.
Just check out the link that is attached to this video for more information.
Okay.
Are you ready to start?
Here we go with phrase number one.
All the time.
A very common phrase that you have probably heard, and this means at all times, or constantly,
or regularly.
So, here is an example.
Repeat after me.
We talk all the time.
Good.
This means we talk regularly or constantly.
The computer is on all the time.
This means I never shut off the computer, so that is all the time.
Next.
Once in a while.
Once in a while simply means sometimes, so once, like one time, and then theres some
time that passes and I dont do anything.
So, lets listen and repeat these examples.
I still play guitar once in a while.
Good.
And the second example.
Once in a while, we go to the public pool.
And now, I want you to finish this for me.
Think about your life and say, Once in a while, I visit.
Let me know who you visit once in a while in the comments.
Another phrase for sometimes is from time to time.
For example, repeat.
My car makes funny noises from time to time.
Next, repeat.
We still go there from time to time.
And finally, make your own sentence.
From time to time, I like to...
Okay, good.
Tell me what you like to do from time to time.
The next phrase is point of view.
In writing, sometimes people write POV as a short form for point of view.
So, your point of view is your perspective or how you see something.
Lets look at these two example sentences.
Repeat after me.
Whats your point of view on this?
So, you can have a point of view, a perspective on something.
And next, repeat.
From my point of view, we need to hurry.
This means we need to work faster.
We need to finish this as quickly as possible.
And finally, I want you to give me your point of view on any topic at all.
So, just complete this sentence in the comments or just say it out loud as youre watching this video.
From my point of view...
Okay, good.
Lets go on to the next one.
To be open to something means to be receptive or to be willing to consider.
So, for example, Im open to having my mind changed.
Now, here you notice we have a phrase with to, which is a preposition.
After be open to, if you want to mention an activity, make sure you use verb plus -ing.
You can also use other things, like a noun phrase, as in the second example.
Repeat this one after me.
Are you open to other options?
Good.
This means will you consider?
Can you consider?
Are you open to this?
Or is your mind closed to this?
And repeat...
Not repeat.
Tell me in the comments or say it out loud. […] 30 Minutes of ENGLISH VOCABULARY TRAINING (Interactive Practice)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pAbf9uNoaV0/mqdefault.jpg)
![What’s Your Daily Routine? | How to Talk about Your Day in English
What do you do every day? Do you know what English vocabulary you need to talk about your daily routine? In this fun (and funny!) beginner English lesson, I talk about my day and teach you the most common words and phrases you need to know. This lesson is perfect for A2 beginners, or any learner who just wants to review some of the basics. Watch, laugh, and learn, then do the quiz to internalize the information even more. https://www.engvid.com/daily-routine-talk-about-your-day-in-english/
More of my beginner vocabulary videos:
https://youtu.be/vqrWUxPlxPY
https://youtu.be/LOB3b8DROTw
In this lesson:
0:00 English for Your Daily Routine
0:13 My Routine in English: Waking up
2:49 My Routine in English: Early Morning
6:30 My Routine in English: Morning
8:11 My Routine in English: Day
9:04 My Routine in English: Evening
10:02 My Routine in English: Night
Transcript:
Peppa, wake up. Its time to go to school. But Daddy, I dont want to go to school. Peppa, you have to go to school and I have to go to work. What do you have to do today and what do you usually do every day? That is the topic of todays lesson. Im going to give you some phrases that you can use to talk about your day, to talk about the things that you do every day. And I have some surprises for you in this video that I think you will enjoy or you will just laugh. So, watch the whole thing and you will see what I mean.
So, lets talk about my day. I will read the complete text first. You can listen and read at the same time. So, youre practicing your reading and youre listening. I wake up at 5.30, but I dont get up right away. I usually stay in bed for another five to ten minutes. I only get out of bed around six. After I get up, the first thing I do is open the blinds. Then, I go to the bathroom. I go to the bathroom. I wash up and get dressed.
Okay. So, lets talk about these words one by one a little quickly. Wake up. I open my eyes. What time do you wake up? What time do you stop sleeping? I dont get up right away. So, get up is you leave your bed. Okay. I usually stay in bed. I rest. I continue to rest. And I only get out of bed. This is another way to say get up, right? Get up or get out of bed around six. After I get up, the first thing I do is open the blinds. So, the blinds are the covers that block the sun in the window. Maybe you have blinds. Maybe you have curtains. Okay. And then I go to the bathroom. We know what that means. Okay. I wash up. I wash up. I wash my face. I wash my hands. And then I get dressed. Get dressed means I put my clothes on.
Ah, magic. Please listen to me and read this as you listen. Next, I comb my hair and go downstairs to the kitchen. The first thing I do in the kitchen is put the kettle on. While the water is boiling, I make my breakfast. When everything is ready, I sit down at the table and have my breakfast with a cup of tea or coffee. I usually have my breakfast and check my phone at the same time.
So, lets do some of these things. Next, I comb my hair. This is a comb. It has one row of teeth. You can call these teeth. If you use the word brush, I brush my hair, it has multiple rows of bristles for your hair. This is a comb. You can use comb as a verb. I comb my hair. I go downstairs. Follow me. Okay. Okay. This is the kitchen. Im in the kitchen now. And the first thing I do in the kitchen is I put the kettle on. So, put the kettle on. You pour water into the kettle. Close it. Put the kettle on. And well check on that in a little bit. Okay. Yeah. I can hear it. Good. So, while the water is boiling, you can hear it boiling, I make my breakfast. So, I like eggs. I think many people like eggs for breakfast. Here, I have a pan. So, lets crack an egg. Yep. Good. Normally, you dont want the shell in there, but protein and everything. Okay. Perfect. Im going to check on that later. Maybe I will check it later. Okay. So, when everything is ready, I sit down at the table and I have my breakfast. We use the verb have in English to talk about food and drinks. So, you can have lunch, have breakfast, have dinner, have eggs, have coffee, for example. So, I usually have my breakfast with a cup of tea or coffee. Okay. The water was boiled a while ago. So, here I am, drinking my tea or my coffee. It depends what I am in the mood for. Okay. Do you drink tea or coffee in the morning or do you prefer a different drink? I still have the shell. This is the finger of power now. Okay. With a cup of tea or coffee, I usually have my breakfast and I check my phone. Oh, thank goodness its in my left pocket and not my right pocket. And do you check your phone while you are having your breakfast? I know its not a good habit, but I do it. I check my emails, I check social media, and I check the news usually. And are you having fun so far? I need to wash my hands before we continue. […] What’s Your Daily Routine? | How to Talk about Your Day in English](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pX91MG83Etc/mqdefault.jpg)



![Learn English: 20 ways to say ‘goodbye’
Its so hard to say goodbye, especially if you only know one way to do it. If you want to expand your conversation skills, or if you just want to be able to identify some common English sentences for ending a conversation or meeting, this is the video for you. Learn sentences like I gotta run, Take it easy, Have a good one, Catch ya later, Take care, and many more to increase your English vocabulary and conversation skills. Do you think youve got it? Make sure to test your knowledge by completing the quiz at the end of the video at https://www.engvid.com/20-ways-to-say-goodbye-in-english/ Til next time, enjoy the rest of your day.
TRANSCRIPT
Goodbye, Ruby Tuesday, something, something, something - I cant sing. Yeah. Hey, everyone. Im Alex. Thanks for clicking, and welcome to this lesson on 20 Ways to Say Goodbye in English. So, I will give you some set phrases that you can use in your daily conversations. I will also tell you some of the more natural pronunciations of these phrases and these questions so that you are able to recognize them in television shows, and in movies, on the news, YouTube videos - anything else, and youre able to use them yourself to sound more natural in English.
So, lets start with the basics. We have: Goodbye, and the shorter version: Bye. Okay. Easy, right? Were done. See ya.
I said: 20, right? Yeah, I did, so lets keep going. So, another way to say: Goodbye or a way of, you know, saying: Goodbye - I just repeated the same thing, but ignore it. Lets keep going. See you or See you later. Instead of you, you can also just say: ya. Okay? So, repeat after me: See ya. See ya later. See ya later. Its kind of like: See ya. See ya later. All right.
And you also have - hey, a specific time of day or a specific... A specific period in time in the future, so you can say: See ya tomorrow, See ya Saturday, See you at the party, See you at the funeral. Its a weird thing to say to someone, but you know, whatever. All right?
Heres another one, a little more relaxed way to say: Goodbye - All right, see ya tomorrow. Take it easy. This means, like: Dont stress. Relax. Okay? Just take it easy. So, you can say this as a goodbye to someone. Repeat after me: Take it easy. All right.
And if you want to be very polite, of course, you can wish someone a good day, so you can just say: Have a good day. This is especially useful if you work in the service industry. So, if you work at a grocery store as a cashier or at a bank, or if youre talking to someone on the phone, and you end a conversation and you say: All right, bye. Have a good day.
Or below that, two below that: Have a nice day. And instead of saying: Have a good day or Have a nice day, you can also use this phrase, which is: Have a good one, and this means: Have a good day; the one means day. So, lets repeat that one after me. This one is, again, a little more casual, so just repeat it; you can use it in everyday situations: Have a good one.
And for: Have a nice day, for any of your professional wrestling fans... Thats a silly question because most people who are wrestling fans do not want to tell anyone else that they are wrestling fans, so... But in the 1990s there was a professional wrestler named Mankind, also known as Mick Foley, and one of his phrases that he said and hed say it in like a weird way, he would say: Have a nice day! So, theres that. Dont say it that way, but just look up: Mankind, Have a nice day. I think its also the name of the book that he wrote about his career after. Sorry, you want to learn other phrases now. Right? Forget the last 30 seconds and professional wrestling discussion.
All right, you can also say, instead of: See ya later, you can say: Catch ya later. So, here I wrote: Catch you later, so lets do the formal version first. Catch you later. Ah, it just sounds weird because I never say that. Catch you later. You have to say it quickly, and you kind of say: Catch ya, right? Hey, catch ya later. Youre not even really saying, like: Catch ya; youre saying, like: Catcha, okay? So: Hey, catcha later. Okay? But lets say the catch ya, too. Lets say that version, too. Lets practice. Catch ya later. Okay? So, you catch like: Oh, I caught a ball. Its like youre going to catch the person later; like, you will see each other later; you will catch each other. Its a metaphor; it doesnt really work in this situation.
And if you want to be, like, super cool and you dont want to bother with a lot of words because youre so minimalistic, and youre an artist, man, youre an artist, you just want to say: -Hey, later. -Later, what? Just its a word; doesnt mean anything by itself. No, no, no. Later. Okay? So you can just say: Later. All right? Instead of: See you later or Catch ya later - its possible just to say: Later. Goodbye. All right. […] Learn English: 20 ways to say ‘goodbye’](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rmNJAGWclOI/mqdefault.jpg)


