"be applied to doing" or "be applied to do"? (2025)

For example, do we say: This technique is applied to accelerate the deterioration or it should be: This technique is applied to accelerating the deterioration?

I first think "be applied to doing" is correct because I have seen many uses of "be applied to something". But now I was confused.

Thank you!

This technique is applied to accelerating the deterioration.
This technique is applied to accelerate the deterioration.

Here the "to" expresses purpose. What is the purpose of applying this technique? So this "to" can also be "in order to", and is followed by a verb (whose implied subject is the same subject implied by the passive "is applied").

This technique is applied to accelerate the deterioration.
This technique is applied in order to accelerate the deterioration.
This technique is applied by a person when that person wants to accelerate the deterioration.

icecubee said:

I first think "be applied to doing" is correct because I have seen many uses of "be applied to something".

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That is true. But "something" is a noun, while "doing" is a verb gerund. And "doing" really means "doing something".
So they are different meanings of "to", as well as different meanings of "apply".

- be applied to something: The paint is applied to the ceiling before the walls.
- be applied to doing something: Politeness applies to talking.

dojibear said:

That is true. But "something" is a noun, while "doing" is a verb gerund. And "doing" really means "doing something".
So they are different meanings of "to", as well as different meanings of "apply".

- be applied to something: The paint is applied to the ceiling before the walls.
- be applied to doing something: Politeness applies to talking.

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Hi dojibear! Thanks for the detailed reply.

I now understand that the "to" means "in order to". And the "to" here is not a preposition so we cannot say "be applied to doing".

But I was kind of confused about this example:
- be applied to doing something: Politeness applies to talking.

Here the "talking" is a gerund, and "to" is a preposition. But is this usage only in active sentences rather than passive sentences?

icecubee said:

But I was kind of confused about this example:
- be applied to doing something: Politeness applies to talking.

Here the "talking" is a gerund, and "to" is a preposition. But is this usage only in active sentences rather than passive sentences?

Click to expand...

What does "this usage" mean? There isn't a passive sentence for this active sentence. Active sentences whose verb has a direct objects have a passive form. This verb has no direct object.

dojibear said:

What does "this usage" mean? There isn't a passive sentence for this active sentence. Active sentences whose verb has a direct objects have a passive form. This verb has no direct object.

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I mean "be applied to doing something" is a passive sentence, but the example "Politeness applies to talking" is an active sentence. May I ask is there any other passive sentence using the structure of "be applied to doing something"? Thank you~

I can think of lots of examples with active apply + to + ING-form.

I can't think of any examples with passive be applied + to + ING-form, though.