Look Forward To + Gerund

To understand this rule, we need to look at the word to. Usually, to is part of an infinitive, like to eat or to sleep. But in look forward to, the word to is a preposition. Prepositions are words like in, at, or on. What comes after a preposition? Usually, a noun. You say I am in the house, not I am in to house. Because to is a preposition here, it needs a noun or a noun-like word. This is where the gerund comes in. A gerund is just a verb with an -ing ending that acts like a noun. When you say I look forward to meeting you, the word meeting is the noun version of the action. It is like saying "I look forward to our meeting." This is the biggest hurdle for learners. Your brain sees to and wants to use a simple verb. You have to train your brain to see to as a bridge to an -ing word. It is like a grammar traffic light. When you see look forward to, the light turns green for -ing.

1. 1Creating these sentences follows a very specific recipe. You cannot skip steps, or the cake won't rise. Here is the step-by-step breakdown:
2. 2Start with your Subject (I, You, We, They, He, She).
3. 3Add the verb Look. You can use look for a general feeling. You can use am looking for a more immediate, personal feeling.
4. 4Add the fixed phrase forward to.
5. 5Add your Gerund (Verb + ing) or a Noun.
6. 6Finish with the rest of your detail.
7. 7Example: I (Subject) + am looking (Verb) + forward to (Phrase) + visiting (Gerund) + Paris (Detail).
8. 8Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes! You might hear someone say I look forward to see you. They are technically wrong, but people understand them. To sound like a pro, stick to the -ing form every single time.

This phrase is incredibly versatile. You can use it in formal settings. It is the perfect way to end a job interview email. For example: I look forward to hearing from you. It shows respect and professional interest. You can also use it in informal settings. If your friend is coming over for dinner, you can text: I'm looking forward to seeing you tonight! It adds a layer of warmth to your plans. Use it when you are genuinely happy about a future event. It works for travel, food, meetings, and even simple things like a phone call. It is a great way to build rapport with people. It tells them, "Hey, I value our future interaction."

Don't use this phrase for things you are dreading. If you have a scary dentist appointment, don't say I look forward to getting a root canal. That sounds like you are being sarcastic. Use it only for positive or neutral professional expectations. Also, avoid using it for things happening right now. It is strictly for the future. If you are already eating the pizza, you can't look forward to eating it. You are already in the moment! Finally, be careful with the past tense. While you can say I looked forward to the party, we mostly use this phrase in the present or present continuous to talk about our current feelings regarding the future.

The king of all mistakes is using the base verb. I look forward to meet you is the most common error in English classrooms worldwide. Always remember: to + verb is usually fine, but look forward to + verb is a crime! Another mistake is forgetting the to. Some people say I look forward meeting you. This sounds broken and confusing. You need that to because it acts as the link. A third mistake is using the wrong preposition. Never say look forward for or look forward at. It is a fixed package. Think of look forward to as one single word that cannot be broken apart. If you break it, it stops working.

How is this different from I want to or I hope to? When you use want to, you follow it with a base verb: I want to go. When you use look forward to, you use the -ing form: I look forward to going. Want expresses a desire. Look forward to expresses anticipation and excitement. Another similar phrase is I'm excited about. This also uses a gerund: I'm excited about going. However, look forward to is slightly more elegant. It works better in a business letter than I'm excited about. Think of look forward to as the sophisticated older sibling of I want to.