Well, sadly you have been taught incorrectly. Also, although technically that use of 'frigid' is correct, I think it is rare to see it used like that. Several layers of thin clothing are essential to keep warm in cold climates. Using 'keeping' is incorrect in that sentence structure.

the second one should use "are" in place of "is" we use is in the first one because it is followed by a continuous verb. In the 2nd one we are referring to more than one layer (ie layers) so we must use are (the plural sense) I know this is a rudimentary definition, but I hope it helps, Jack Lindsay

Umm sorry to throw another cat among the pigeons, but this sentence is turning up quite frequently as part of English-teaching material. "Several layers of thin clothing are essential to keeping warm in frigid climates." OK, I see two ways of looking at this: 1) "To keeping" uses a gerund. I've checked with a few other verbs, and the pattern "essential to [verb]ing" is legitimate. We can also remove the verb-form and drop in a regular noun (ie. the acid test for gerunds). So, I'm willing to argue that this is a correct sentence. 2) If we use "to keep", then we have an infinitive of purpose, ie. "in order to keep". Again, another check around shows that this is also legitimate. There's also that intermediate-level rule of "to [verb]" following adjectives. I also checked up on Paul's suggestion of "essential for keeping", and the results show it turns up about as often as "essential to keeping". I'd just rewrite the whole sentence and avoid the confusion. :)

Rohan, that is not correct.

Remember one thing .. Most of time when you are using "to" --> then use To+verb first form. If you want to use verb+ing form then you have to use "for " Example :- To keep warm, for keeping warm