I am looking forward to going/to go. (2025)

I am looking forward ....... on holiday in summer.

5. to going
6. to go

Source: an English learning group in Line Software

Hello,
I say 6 is correct and my friend says 5 is correct. What's your opinion?

I have checked the dictionaries and the similar threads.

I know that [ing] is used after [look forward] but I think because [looking forward] is used in continuous, so [to go] is needed.

Thank you.

6 is correct. The verb "look forward" is followed by the preposition "to" and is followed by a noun. Going is a gerund here. Contrast with: I plan to go on vacation, which is a true infinitive use of "to"

EDIT : The text is right, but I should have said 5 is right...

pob14 said:

I think Julian's answer was a typo, that he meant 5, not 6.

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Thank you.

Indeed - so edited...

This is different from the folllowing:
I like tennis. - I like to play tennis. / I like playing tennis.
Instead of the noun "tennis," "to play tennis" or "playing tennis."

I'm looking forward to your letter. - I'm looking forward to receiving your letter.
First, the preposition "to" plus the noun "your letter."
And the preposition "to" plus the gerund phrase "receiving your letter."
This "to" is needed before you use the verb "receive."

sb70012 said:

I know that [ing] is used after [look forward] but I think because [looking forward] is used in continuous, so [to go] is needed.

Click to expand...

Whether it's just "look forward" or "(am) looking forward" doesn't influence what follows "look(ing) forward."

I wonder why this previous thread didn't help you, sb: I am looking forward <to meet, in meeting, to meeting> you.

Or indeed this one, which you started: looking forward < to/for hearing/hear > from you soon

?

Again,

sb70012 said:

I know that [ing] is used after [look forward] but I think because [looking forward] is used in continuous, so [to go] is needed.

Click to expand...

This is also different from the following:
"It began to rain" and "It began raining" are almost the same,
but "It's beginning to rain" is better than "It's beginning raining," in order to avoid double -ing form.

In this case, anyway, you need the preposition "to."
"... look(ing) forward to something" or "look(ing) forward to doing something."

sb70012 said:

I know that [ing] is used after [look forward] but I think because [looking forward] is used in continuous, so [to go] is needed.

Click to expand...

No: this 'difference' isn't correct here.

You always "look forward to doing [something]" irrespective of which tense you use.

So with a continuous tense, you would still say:
"I'm looking forward to going on holiday in the summer."