The expression look forward to, Most learners get confused by, The correct

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Anonymous:

The correct term is the one with meeting." I am looking forward to meeting you" The clause "I am looking forward" requires a present participle. ie the verb form ending in "ing"

Goodman:

Sheerinshaikhpls tell me which is correct sentence

IAM LOOKING FORWARD TO MEET YOU

OR

IAM LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING YOU.

& why please?

pls reply me soon.

thanks.

Most learners get confused by the infinitive “to”, thinking that after “to” the bare form of the verb must be followed. In fact, it's the opposit. A structure with “ looking forward to” is always follow by a direct object (noun or gerund).

If you would think of a gerund as a noun, the following sentence may make more sense to you:

1) I am looking forward to my 2 week vacation in . The direct object is the noun phrase “my 2 week vacation”

2) I am looking forward to spending two weeks off in . The direct object is “spending 2 weeks”.

In # 2, "to spend 2 weeks off" is incorrect because it's not a direct object.

Does this help?

Senior Member3,816

Anonymous:

I am looking forward to meeting you

Ouc:

look forward to / agree to / object to

Adriana, learning English in Canada, writes:

I have been studying English since I came to Canada, about four years now, but because there are so many exceptions to rules, it's hard for me to apply what I've learnt. For instance, I don't understand why it's correct to say I look forward to hearing from you and not I look forward to hear from you.

Jolie from Vietnam writes:

In the example In no way will I agree to sharing an office with Ben, I just wonder why you can use both infinitive and V-ing form for the verb share.


	Roger Woodham replies:






			look forward to something = anticipate something with interest Look forward to is one of the many phrasal verbs in English in which an adverbial particle (forward) as well as a preposition (to) is combined with the stem verb to signify a particular meaning. What we are looking forward to can be exemplified as either as a noun phrase or as a verb-phrase with an -ing pattern Jill says she's not looking forward to Jack's party next weekend. I very much look forward to meeting you soon. They're looking forward to joining their children in Australia There are many such three-part verbs, e.g.: look back on = think back to put up with = tolerate come down with = fall ill with There are a number of instances where such verbs end with the preposition to, e.g.: face up to = confront get round to = do something after some delay get down to = concentrate on Note that in such instances to is not part of any infinitive phrase. It is an integral part of the verb. And whatever it is that we face up to or get round to is normally expressed as either a noun phrase or as a verb phrase with an -ing pattern: I must get round to cleaning my car next weekend. And I must get down to reading Jack's article* which he sent me two weeks ago* I must face up to the fact that I'm never going to be promoted* in this organisation.* Note that when verbs follow prepositions (any prepositions) the V-ing form is normally used, not the to-infinitive pattern: I managed to finish reading Jack's article by staying up till midnight. He's talking about getting it published* in National Geographic magazine.* Instead of going on holiday last summer, he undertook this arduous trip up the Amazon.

			agree - agree to There is a complication in your example, Jolie, where both the -ing form and the to-inifnitive pattern appear possible: I cannot agree to share / to sharing* an office with Ben.* In no way can I agree to sharing / to share* an office with Ben* The complication arises because there are two different forms of pretty much the same verb, agree and agree to. If we are using the phrasal verb, agree to, the -ing pattern is more likely. If we are using the non-phrasal verb, agree, the to-infinitive pattern is imperative. Compare the following: What have you agreed? We've agreed to tidy our rooms when we get up, to clear the dishes from the table after eating and not to go out until we've finished our homework. What have you agreed to? We've agreed to arriving punctually before the working day begins and to not leaving before five o' clock in the afternoon.


			object to Note that the opposite of agree to is object to and here only the -ing pattern is possible: What do you object to in her behaviour? I object to her going out every evening and not telling me where she is going.

New Member09

Anonymous:

The expression look forward to + ing (and others formed in the same way) often cause learners confusion, because, when studying gerunds and infinitives, they learn that the word to is usually followed by an infinitive:

I want to go.
I need to see you.
I promise to give it to him.

look forward to see

noun

-ing

I look forward to our meeting.
I look forward to meeting you.

Anonymous:

you're so correct. Congrats for your Grammar English knowledge. Cheers!

Anonymous:

i am looking forward to meet you, - correct

Goodman:

Hi Anon,

I think you need to dig up your grammar book and relearn your grammar.

I am looking forward to meet you is wrong.

Anonymous:

meeting

RE: I am looking forward to (meet / meeting)? you? page 2

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