Object To Doing vs. Object To Do
Cambridge records object to someone/something as the opposition construction, and its preposition guidance allows an -ing clause as the complement of a preposition. Do not treat “object to do” as the infinitive alternative to this meaning. A separate noun such as “object” can occur before a to-infinitive in unrelated structures, but that is not the verb object-to construction.
Use “object to doing” when object means oppose or disapprove of an action; here “to” is a preposition, so an -ing clause can follow it.
Key details
Further guidance
Boundary
Do not treat “object to do” as the infinitive alternative to this meaning. A separate noun such as “object” can occur before a to-infinitive in unrelated structures, but that is not the verb object-to construction.
Construction
Cambridge records object to someone/something as the opposition construction, and its preposition guidance allows an -ing clause as the complement of a preposition.
Decision
Use “object to doing” when object means oppose or disapprove of an action; here “to” is a preposition, so an -ing clause can follow it.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- object to someone/something — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Object to as an opposition/disapproval construction, used with a noun phrase; combined with Cambridge preposition-complement guidance for -ing after prepositional to
- Prepositional phrases — Cambridge Grammar (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Prepositions can take an -ing clause as complement; Cambridge specifically contrasts preposition + -ing with invalid to-infinitive substitutions