Why we use 'being' and 'to be' at the same time?
Why we say like this when we meet someone?
- John-"Thanks Mike for being here"
- Mike- "John, you know I just love to be here". Why one uses 'being' and other 'to be'?.
Which one is correct? And why?
- Chine is close to be a superpower.
- China is close to being a superpower.
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...."