Looking forward to...

[Trangpigi]

I think this is a quite common mistake, but I don't understand the difference between I'm looking forward to read the book and I'm looking forward to reading the book. Can anybody explain it? thanks

[Pamela]

'look forward to' requires an -ing verb, so 'I'm looking forward to read the book' is reputedly an incorrect sentence.

[Topaze]

The difference is that the second sentence is correct, and that's more than you can say about the first one.

[Trangpigi]

So, is it possible to say "I'm looking forward to hear from you"

[Topaze]

Er... I just told you that it's not, right in my previous message, didn't I? Anyway, no, it would be incorrect. The correct sentence is 'I'm looking forward to hearing from you'.