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Why we say like this when we meet someone?

  1. John-"Thanks Mike for being here"
  2. Mike- "John, you know I just love to be here". Why one uses 'being' and other 'to be'?.

Which one is correct? And why?

  1. Chine is close to be a superpower.
  2. China is close to being a superpower.
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  • Mike can say "I love being here"
    – Sid
    Commented Apr 29, 2020 at 10:23

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Your second sentence is correct(China is close to being a superpower)

"Close to" implies nearness. And since you cannot be near an action, "close to be...." is incorrect.

However being is the gerund(noun) form of the verb "be". It functions as a noun, so you can say "close to being...."

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  • 'Close' is an adjective followed by a preposition 'to' which must be followed by a noun or a gerund.
    – Rocky
    Commented Apr 29, 2020 at 17:51

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