Let\u2019s check and find out!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Have you ever ended your emails with this phrase? Guess what? I’ve got answers! Shocking, I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Both \u2018looking forward to\u2019 and \u2018look forward to\u2019 are correct. <\/strong>However, there is a slight difference in style. \u2018Looking forward to\u2019 is considered to be more informal\/casual\/friendly in style, whereas \u2018look forward to\u2019 is considered to be more formal\/polite in style.<\/strong> Use whichever one works for you, depending on how you feel and who you are talking to!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. You always need a verb + ing after the \u2018to\u2019, and here is why:<\/strong> This verb + ing is the prepositional object of the verb<\/strong>. That might sound confusing, but I\u2019d like to give you other examples that follow the same rule, and then it will make more sense. Have a look at these sentences: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I look forward to meet you! \ud83d\ude40<\/strong>
<\/strong>
<\/strong>Sit down, honey, we need to talk. This is not correct.
These phrases are often used in ending an English email:
I\u2019m looking forward to meeting you!<\/em>
<\/em>I look forward to continuing our discussion in person.<\/em>
<\/em>I am looking forward to hearing back from you!<\/em>
<\/em>I look forward to returning your kind hospitality.<\/em>
<\/em>
However, there are 2 things that people ask me all the time: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m <\/em>scared of going<\/em><\/strong> out at night.<\/em>
<\/em>He\u2019s <\/em>interested in learning<\/em><\/strong> Indonesian.<\/em>
<\/em>She is <\/em>fascinated by watching<\/em><\/strong> the stars in the sky.<\/em>
<\/em>They are <\/em>irritated by hearing<\/em><\/strong> those sirens every day.<\/em>
<\/em>I am so <\/em>angry about losing<\/em><\/strong> my keys!<\/em>
<\/em>He is <\/em>frightened of hearing<\/em><\/strong> loud noises.<\/em>
<\/em>
All of the sentences above follow the same rule.<\/strong> After the preposition (of, in, by, about, etc), all of the sentences above take the verb + ing form. \u2018To\u2019 is also a preposition. So \u2018look forward to\u2019 and \u2018looking forward to\u2019 also must be followed by the verb + ing.
Try saying the sentences above without the \u2018ing\u2019 form. They should sound strange this way. If they sound normal to you, then you need to hang out with smarter people. \ud83d\ude05
I hope this helps you understand more about this common expression in English and the mistakes you can make without realising it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n