NEGATIVE PREFIXES

Dear Dr English,

I have just read your column in The Nation. I love to read Dr English so much I look forward to reading The Nation every Monday. Now I 'd like to ask you one question. How to use "un" and "non" in front of a word? For example, is it untraced or nontraced?

Mantana Intana

Oh my! I'm afraid this is going to be one that will cause you headaches for quite some time.

'Non', as a prefix shows a lack of something, as in 'noncommittal', meaning showing a lack of commitment, or 'noncombatant', someone who is in the army but does not fight, like a military doctor, for example.

The prefix, 'un-', on the other hand, shows an opposite, as in 'unfair', 'unhappy' or 'unacceptable'.
However - and herein lies the crux of the matter - both prefixes also mean as much as 'not' as in 'nonstick', 'nonexistent', 'unattached', or 'unasked'. Which means that, as so often happens in English, you will have to learn the correct negative form together with the positive form, just to make sure.

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WHAT FOLLOWS "LOOK FORWARD TO"

Dear Dr English,

I learned from my English teacher that "looking forward to" should be followed with a noun or (verb)+ing, but sometimes I see "looking forward to hear from you" and "looking forward to meet with you". Are these the exceptions? Are there any other exceptions for this phrase, kindly advise.

Supaporn

Your teacher is right. The phrase "look forward to" is used to show that someone is pleased or excited with something they are going to experience. It can be followed with either a noun or an '-ing' form; never with an infinitive.

"Looking forward to hear from you" and "looking forward to meet with you" are not exceptions. They are in fact incorrect English. They should be: "looking forward to hearing from you" and "looking forward to meeting with you".

The children look forward to the coming summer holiday.
The children are looking forward to the coming summer holiday.
Little Benny looks forward to seeing his grandfather.
Little Benny is looking forward to seeing his grandfather.

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