Question

Choose the sentence in which the gerund is correctly used.

• A. I look forward to receive your reply.
• B. I look forward to receiving your reply.
• C. I look forward for receiving your reply.
• D. I look forward receiving your reply.

Answer 1

Answer:

B. I look forward to receiving your reply.

The expression “look forward to” means to eagerly await something.

Here, to is a preposition, not an infinitive marker. A preposition is followed by a noun or gerund (V + ing).

Therefore:

• Look forward to + Gerund

• Look forward to + Noun

• to receive – Incorrect. The verb should be in the gerund form.

• to receiving – Correct. Receiving is a gerund.

• for receiving – Incorrect. The correct expression is look forward to.

• look forward receiving – Incorrect. The preposition to is missing.

More examples

1. I look forward to meeting you.

2. She looks forward to joining the college.

3. We look forward to hearing from you.

4. He is accustomed to getting up early.