-ING or not , this an Urgent question

[Aliska]

Hello! Would someone be kind enough
to explain to me why do we say:
I hope to hear_ from you
and
I look forward to hearING from you

Why does the first sentence have an -ing form after 'to'
and the other hasn't? I can't see the difference, is there one
and if so what is it, and why?
Many, many thanks to anyone who can answer this ASAp please...
Aliska
Ps. Please don't hesitate to correct my English!

[Aliska]

Yes, but can you say
I look forward to hear from you
and
I hope to hearing from you ( I don't think so for the 2nd one)
?

[anlalou]

hi
the phrasal verb look forward is always followed by ING. it is an expression we use mostly in anticipating future contacts, especially in foramal letters.
yours

[engee30]

Yes, but can you say
I look forward to hear from you
and
I hope to hearing from you ( I don't think so for the 2nd one)
?

Hello Aliska,
I'll try to explain the issue to you:

if there are two verbs in a sentence, the first verb is always followed either by a present participle clause (e.g. working) or a 'to' infinitive clause (e.g. to work); since the verb hope is a verb which is used with a 'to' infinitive clause, you are supposed to use the infinitive after it.

I hope to hear from you.
She hoped to get that job.

As for the phrasal verb 'look forward to' - you should know that all phrasal verbs consist of the main verb and an adverb or a preposition, or an adverb and preposition together; you should also bear in mind that all the verbs following prepositions take a present participle form like it is in our case:

I look forward to hearing from you. ('to' is the preposition)

Hoping I've been of help to you.
Cheers

[Aliska]

Thanks a lot engee, that was the answer I was looking for, perfect!