Why “Look Forward to See You” Is Wrong: The Grammar Behind the Expression

“Look Forward to See You” Is Always Wrong

Some learners may think that “I look forward to see you” is correct. This misunderstanding may come from overgeneralizing the rule that “to” is followed by the base form of a verb.

However, it’s important to remember that the word “to” has two different grammatical functions, and what follows it depends on which type of “to” is being used. Consider the sentence below:

I like to go to school.

In this sentence, there are two instances of “to,” and each has a different grammatical function. The first “to” is part of the to-infinitive, while the second “to” is a preposition. In this article, we will examine how these two types of “to” differ and why that distinction is important for understanding why “look forward to see you” is incorrect.

Prepositional “to”

A preposition is a type of word that doesn’t carry a clear meaning on its own. By contrast, nouns and verbs, which are often called content words, tend to have clearer meanings.

For example, if someone says “on” without any context, it’s difficult to understand exactly what they mean. However, if someone says “dog,” you can at least understand what kind of thing they are referring to.

Because prepositions mainly serve a grammatical function, they are often classified as function words.

The following are some common prepositions:

• in
• on
• at
• of
• with
• through
• above
• under
• to

As you can see, “to” is sometimes used as a preposition.

What Follows After a Preposition

It’s fairly easy to remember what can follow a preposition. A preposition must be followed by one of the following:

• noun
• gerund
• noun phrase
• gerund phrase

A gerund is a word form made by adding “-ing” to a verb. Remember that, when used as a gerund, it no longer functions as a verb. Instead, it functions as a noun.

For example, consider the following sentence:

Eating is my hobby.

In this sentence, “eating” functions as the subject. Since a main verb can’t serve as the subject of a sentence, we can say that “eating” here is a gerund, not a verb.

The same rule applies to the preposition “to.” When “to” is used as a preposition, it must also be followed by a noun, a gerund, a noun phrase, or a gerund phrase.

Example Sentences with a Prepositional “to”

Here are some example sentences that use “to” as a preposition. So, it is followed by a noun, a gerund, a noun phrase, or a gerund phrase.

I look forward to seeing you.

In this sentence, we know that “to” is a preposition because it’s followed by the gerund “seeing.” The expression “look forward to” is a fixed phrase, and the “to” in this phrase must be followed by a noun or a gerund, not by the base form of a verb.

He is committed to improving the system.

In this example, “to” is a preposition followed by the gerund phrase “improving the system.” The adjective “committed” is commonly followed by prepositional “to.”

His answer to the question was surprisingly honest.

In this sentence, “to” is a preposition because it is followed by the noun phrase “the question.” It’s not part of a to-infinitive, since no base-form verb follows it.

To-Infinitive

Another grammatical use of “to” is the to-infinitive. When “to” is used in this way, it is followed by the base form of a verb.

Like prepositional “to,” the to-infinitive is also grammatical in function. However, unlike prepositional “to,” the to-infinitive can express a range of meanings depending on the context. It’s also important to understand how it functions grammatically in a sentence.

In many cases, the to-infinitive is used in the following ways:

• expressing purpose
• expressing reason
• functioning as a noun

The clearest grammatical difference is what comes after “to.” If “to” is followed by the base form of a verb, it’s part of a to-infinitive, not a preposition.

Take a look at the following sentences:

She went to the library to study.

In this sentence, the to-infinitive “to study” expresses purpose. It explains why she went to the library. Because “to” is followed by the base-form verb “study,” this is a to-infinitive, not a preposition.

I was surprised to hear the news.

Here, the to-infinitive “to hear the news” expresses reason. It explains why the speaker was surprised. Again, “to” is followed by the base-form verb “hear,” so it functions as a to-infinitive.

Example Sentences with a To-Infinitive

Here are some example sentences that use the to-infinitive. In each case, “to” is followed by the base form of a verb.

He wants to become a doctor.

In this example, “to become a doctor” is a to-infinitive because “to” is followed by the base-form verb “become.” Grammatically, the to-infinitive functions as a noun in the sentence. More specifically, it expresses what he wants.

They decided to leave early.

This sentence uses the to-infinitive “to leave early.” Because “to” is followed by the base-form verb “leave,” this is a to-infinitive. Grammatically, the to-infinitive functions as a noun in the sentence. It expresses what they decided to do.

The scientist opened the window to let in fresh air.

In this sentence, “to let in fresh air” is a to-infinitive because “to” is followed by the base-form verb “let.” Grammatically, the to-infinitive functions like an adverb and expresses purpose. It explains why the scientist opened the window.

She saved money to buy a new laptop.

Here, “to buy a new laptop” is a to-infinitive because “to” is followed by the base-form verb “buy.” It functions like an adverb and expresses purpose by showing why she saved money.