phrase (phrasal verb + preposition) · neutral

look forward to + V-ing

Band 4-5speakingtask1task2

to be excited about something that will happen; followed by a noun or a gerund (not infinitive).

Examples

“I'm looking forward to meeting your parents next week.”

“We look forward to receiving your application.”

“She is looking forward to the holiday.”

Band 8 sentence

“All of us at the department are looking forward to welcoming the new students in September.”

Collocations

  • look forward to + V-ing (looking forward to meeting)
  • look forward to + noun (looking forward to the trip)

Word family

look forward to phrasal verblooking forward to phrase

Common mistakes

I'm looking forward to meet you.→I'm looking forward to meeting you.

She is looking forward to go home.→She is looking forward to going home.

Say it for a higher band

5want to + V→6be excited about + V-ing→7+look forward to + V-ing

Synonyms

anticipate

Easily confused

anticipate + V-ing / anticipate + that-clause

“We anticipate receiving the results next month.”

Related words

try + V-ing / try to + Vfor + somebody + to + Vavoid + V-ingbe likely to + Vbegin / start + V-ing / to + Vprevent + somebody + from + V-ingturn out + to + Vas well as + V-ing

Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.

In Gerunds & infinitives

Learn it with its set