Wrong preposition: 'be fond to' (be fond of)

Native speakers say "be fond of" to show a warm or recurring liking for someone or something. "Fond to" is nonstandard and usually comes from literal translation.

Quick answer

Use "be fond of" + noun or gerund (verb-ing). Do not use "fond to". Example: Correct - I'm fond of hiking. Incorrect - I'm fond to hike.

Pattern: subject + be (am/is/are/was) + fond + of + noun/gerund.
If you see "fond to", change "to" → "of" and switch a following verb to -ing, or use like/enjoy instead.

Core grammar: why "of" and how to form it

"Fond" is an adjective that pairs with the preposition "of" to link to the thing you like. The expression is fixed: "fond of + noun/gerund." You cannot follow "fond" directly with an infinitive (to + verb).

Correct: She is fond of jazz; He was fond of swimming.
Wrong to avoid: fond to + verb (e.g., fond to swim).

Wrong: I am fond to play video games.
Right: I am fond of playing video games.
Wrong: She's fond to her niece.
Right: She's fond of her niece.
Wrong: They were fond to travel every summer.
Right: They were fond of traveling every summer.

Quick corrections: rewrite patterns you can paste in

If you spot "fond to", use one of these fixes: replace with "of + gerund", swap to like/enjoy, or rewrite for clarity.

Replace: fond to + verb → fond of + verb-ing. (fond to read → fond of reading)
Swap noun: fond to + noun → like + noun. (fond to chess → like chess)
Use another verb: fond to + activity → enjoy + noun/gerund. (fond to travel → enjoy traveling)
Keep it simple: He is fond of X → He likes X or He enjoys X, if that sounds cleaner.

Rewrite:
Incorrect: I'm fond to travel east every summer.
Rewrite: I'm fond of traveling east every summer.
Rewrite:
Incorrect: She's fond to the museum.
Rewrite: She's fond of the museum. / She likes the museum.
Rewrite:
Incorrect: He was fond to give long lectures.
Rewrite: He was fond of giving long lectures. / He liked giving long lectures.
Rewrite:
Incorrect: I'm fond to read quiet books at night.
Rewrite: I'm fond of reading quiet books at night. / I enjoy reading quiet books at night.
Rewrite:
Incorrect: She's fond to help colleagues.
Rewrite: She's fond of helping colleagues. / She enjoys helping colleagues.

Real usage and tone: when to use "fond of" vs like/enjoy/love

"Fond of" implies a gentle, warm, or stable liking. "Like" is neutral and common in casual speech. "Enjoy" emphasizes the activity; "love" signals stronger feeling.

Use "fond of" for affectionate or long-term preferences (people, pets, hobbies).
Use "like" for neutral, everyday comments.
Use "enjoy" when you want to highlight the experience or action.

Usage: I'm fond of my grandparents. (affection)
Usage: I like the new office layout. (neutral)
Usage: I enjoy presenting to clients. (activity)

Examples by context: work, school, casual

Below are incorrect "fond to" examples with correct rewrites. Choose the rewrite that matches your tone.

Work - Wrong: I'm fond to present in front of clients.
Right: I'm fond of presenting in front of clients. OR I enjoy presenting to clients.
Work - Wrong: She's fond to mentor new hires.
Right: She's fond of mentoring new hires. OR She enjoys mentoring new hires.
Work - Wrong: They're fond to hold weekly check-ins.
Right: They're fond of holding weekly check-ins. OR They like holding weekly check-ins.
School - Wrong: I'm fond to study chemistry.
Right: I'm fond of studying chemistry. OR I enjoy studying chemistry.
School - Wrong: The students were fond to the new teacher.
Right: The students were fond of the new teacher.
School - Wrong: She's fond to give extra tutoring.
Right: She's fond of giving extra tutoring. OR She enjoys tutoring students.
Casual - Wrong: We're fond to go hiking on Sundays.
Right: We're fond of going hiking on Sundays. OR We like going hiking on Sundays.
Casual - Wrong: I'm fond to that café down the street.
Right: I'm fond of that café down the street. OR I like that café.
Casual - Wrong: He's fond to cats.
Right: He's fond of cats. OR He likes cats.

Fix your own sentence: a 3-step checklist

Run these three quick checks when you spot "fond to" or feel unsure.

1) Replace "to" with "of" and change any following verb to -ing. (fond to + verb → fond of + verb-ing)
2) If the phrasing feels awkward, swap to "like" or "enjoy".
3) If you need stronger feeling, use "love".

Original: I'm fond to read long reports at night.
Fixed: I'm fond of reading long reports at night. (Or: I don't mind reading long reports at night.)
Original: Fond to help others, he volunteered every weekend.
Fixed: Fond of helping others, he volunteered every weekend. (Or: Because he liked helping others, he volunteered every weekend.)
Original: She's fond to the idea of flexible hours.
Fixed: She's fond of the idea of flexible hours. (Or: She likes the idea of flexible hours.)

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence, not just the phrase. Context usually makes the right form clear.

Memory trick: a quick way to remember "fond of"

Imagine "fond" holding hands with "of" - "of" connects fond to whatever you like. Practice two frames: "I'm fond of dogs." and "She's fond of jazz." Swap the object each time.

If a noun fits right after "of" and the sentence sounds normal ("fond of dogs"), you probably have the right preposition.
Repeat "I'm fond of ___" with five personal examples daily for quick retention.

Similar mistakes: other adjective + preposition confusions

Many adjectives pair with a specific preposition. Learn common pairs rather than guessing.

Remember: interested in, keen on, good at, afraid of, proud of.
When unsure, rephrase the sentence using like/enjoy or consult a reliable grammar reference.

Wrong: I'm interested to history.
Right: I'm interested in history.
Wrong: She's keen of running.
Right: She's keen on running.
Wrong: He's good in play piano.
Right: He's good at playing the piano.

Hyphenation and spacing: tiny details

Write "fond of" as two words with a single space. Do not hyphenate the adjective and preposition.

Capitalize "Fond" only at the start of a sentence or in titles; "of" stays lowercase unless title style requires otherwise.

Correct: fond of
Incorrect: fond-of (hyphen), fond of (double space), Fond Of (unless title case)

Concise grammar notes: gerund vs infinitive after "fond of"

"Fond of" is followed by a noun or a gerund (verb+ing). It cannot be followed by an infinitive (to + verb). Use verbs like like/enjoy/want if you need an infinitive structure.

Correct: fond of reading, fond of travel (noun), fond of classical music.
Avoid: fond to read. Instead: like to read / enjoy reading / fond of reading.
Alternate verbs: like + to/gerund, enjoy + gerund, love + noun/gerund (pick by tone).

Wrong: She is fond to write poems.
Right: She is fond of writing poems. (Or: She likes to write poems.)

FAQ

Can you say "fond to" in English?

No. "Fond to" is not standard. Use "fond of" plus a noun or gerund (e.g., "fond of painting"). If you wrote "fond to", change it to "fond of" and convert the verb to -ing or use like/enjoy.

Can "fond of" be followed by a verb?

Yes, but only a gerund: "fond of swimming." It can also be followed by a noun: "fond of chocolate." It is not followed by an infinitive.

Is "fond of" acceptable in formal writing?

Yes. "Fond of" fits formal and informal contexts when you want to convey warmth. For neutral professional tone, prefer "enjoy" or "like."

What if the corrected sentence sounds awkward?

If "fond of + gerund" feels clumsy, try "like," "enjoy," or a different sentence structure that matches your intended tone.

How can I practice these patterns?

Write a short list of 10 things you like. Use "I'm fond of ___" for five and "I like ___" for five. Convert any "fond to" sentences into correct forms using the rewrite patterns above.

Try a quick check

Paste one sentence with "fond" into a checker or rewrite it using the patterns here. If unsure, change "fond to" → "fond of + -ing" or swap to "like/enjoy" for immediate clarity.