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Manicku Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
To look forward to
Hi everybody...i'm new to this forum. I'm an English student and of course i have one grammar question for you...
My question is, what is the right way to say:
"look forward to do sth"
"look forward to doing"
"look forward doing"
"looking forward to do"
"looking forward to doing"
"looking forward doing"
Is any of the above expressions completely wrong? Is there any difference in formality or difference between American and British English? I've noticed that you have already discussed some of the above expressions, however, i'm mostly interested in the form "look forward doing" or "looking forward doing", so can anyone please give his/her explanation whether the expression is correct or not.
Tnx for your answers!
Regards,
Manicku
My question is, what is the right way to say:
"look forward to do sth"
"look forward to doing"
"look forward doing"
"looking forward to do"
"looking forward to doing"
"looking forward doing"
Is any of the above expressions completely wrong? Is there any difference in formality or difference between American and British English? I've noticed that you have already discussed some of the above expressions, however, i'm mostly interested in the form "look forward doing" or "looking forward doing", so can anyone please give his/her explanation whether the expression is correct or not.
Tnx for your answers!
Regards,
Manicku
Top answer
com/topic/look-forward-to Don't try to invent things. This is incorrect: "look forward doing" (not hits on it at the New York Times) but this is OK at the New York Times: A Nod to Lieberman (for a While, at Least) ... & ...
- com/topic/look-forward-to Don't try to invent things.
- This is incorrect: "look forward doing" (not hits on it at the New York Times) but this is OK at the New York Times: A Nod to Lieberman (for a While, at Least) ...
- & ...
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11 Answers
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This is the idiom:
look forward to
http://www.answers.com/topic/look-forward-to
Don't try to invent things.
This is incorrect:
"look forward doing" (not hits on it at the New York Times)
but this is OK at the New York Times:
look forward to
http://www.answers.com/topic/look-forward-to
Don't try to invent things.
This is incorrect:
"look forward doing" (not hits on it at the New York Times)
but this is OK at the New York Times:
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Hello Manicku-- and welcome to English Forums. In my book, only 'look forward to + -ing sth' is correct usage, and the other permutations that you have offered are wrong. Of course, the main verb can appear in various forms:
I have looked forward to seeing them for 6 months.
I am looking forward to seeing them now.
I would look forward to seeing
I have looked forward to seeing them for 6 months.
I am looking forward to seeing them now.
I would look forward to seeing
00
Thanks for the answers. Still...what about the following sentences (they are all google.com hits):
We have done things that had never been done before and we look forward doing it again for our clients in the satellite
Thanks again and we look forward doing business with you in the future
I look forward seeing it in action
I last saw Bowie
We have done things that had never been done before and we look forward doing it again for our clients in the satellite
Thanks again and we look forward doing business with you in the future
I look forward seeing it in action
I last saw Bowie
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Hi, Manicku
People can't guarantee to input only correct English on webpages. So some of the google hits are just grammar mistakes.
People can't guarantee to input only correct English on webpages. So some of the google hits are just grammar mistakes.
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ManickuThanks for the answers. Still...what about the following sentences (they are all google.com hits):
We have done things that had never been done before and we look forward doing it again for our clients in the satellite
Thanks again and we look forward doing business with you in the future
I look forward seeing it in
00
Yes, they are just typographical mistakes, Manicku. On personal and non-commercial websites, few people seem to proofread what they have written.
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Hi guys...thank you for your answers...however, i still have two more questions:
1) Is there any difference between "look forward to" and "looking forward to"?
2) After "forward to" we put the verb in -ing form or infinitive?
Thanks again
Regards
Manicku
1) Is there any difference between "look forward to" and "looking forward to"?
2) After "forward to" we put the verb in -ing form or infinitive?
Thanks again
Regards
Manicku
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Hi Manicku
1) Other than the fact that one is the simple present tense and the other is present continuous tense, the main difference to me is that "I'm looking forward to" sounds a little friendlier and "I look forward to" sounds a little more formal.
2) The phrasal verb "look forward to" is never followed by an infinitive.
1) Other than the fact that one is the simple present tense and the other is present continuous tense, the main difference to me is that "I'm looking forward to" sounds a little friendlier and "I look forward to" sounds a little more formal.
2) The phrasal verb "look forward to" is never followed by an infinitive.
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Yankee
What do you mean you always need the -ing form of a verb after a preposition?
First of all, language is a living everchanging thing, nothing is written in stone. And with more than 180.000.000 google results for I'm looking forward to do alone, I start to wonder if the expression isn't mutating.
Second of all, what about the fol
What do you mean you always need the -ing form of a verb after a preposition?
First of all, language is a living everchanging thing, nothing is written in stone. And with more than 180.000.000 google results for I'm looking forward to do alone, I start to wonder if the expression isn't mutating.
Second of all, what about the fol
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to is not a preposition if it is followed by the dictionary form (base form) of a verb. It's part of an infinitive; it's an 'infinitive particle' or 'infinitive marker'. So your examples along the lines of want to play are not exceptions to the rule that gerunds are the correct form after prepositions.
Disambiguating the difference between infinitive-marker to
Disambiguating the difference between infinitive-marker to
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