Is a preposition after "replying" required?

Question

Would it be wrong to write"... upon replying your letter, I queried my boss to see "as opposed to"... upon replying to your letter, I queried my boss to see " ?If it's wrong, what differs "replying" from other -ing-formed verbs (remind me of the correct expression here, please), like e.g "beating", which wouldn't require a preposition? Are there any differences between American English and British English in this matter?My teacher claimed a preposition was necessary without question. Is he correct?

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]Would it be wrong to write "... upon replying your letter, I queried my boss to see " as opposed ... American English and British English in this matter? My teacher claimed a preposition was necessary without question. Is he correct?[/nq]
In sentences of the form you are asking about, your teacher is correct. "Reply" is primarily an intranstive verb, and intransitive verbs are by definition those verbs that cannot take direct objects. So when you receive a letter and are told to reply, you cannot grammatically "reply the letter." You must "reply to the letter." "To the letter" is a prepositional phrase modifiying "reply," not a direct object.
When you use a gerund formed from an intransitive verb, the gerund retains the characteristic of being intransitive. So "Upon replying your letter" is wrong, because the author has attempted to put a direct object after "replying." You must write "Upon replying to your letter." Because "beat" and "ask" are both transitive, you don't need to: "I beat the horse." "I asked a question." But not "I replied a letter."
Be careful, though, because in another kind of usage "reply" can be transitive. This occurs when what follows "reply" states not what caused the reply (a letter, a question, etc.) but what the reply was. The object of transitive reply is usually a clause: "I replied, 'Not on your life, Charlie.'" "He replied that he would be late for dinner."
That's about as clear as I can make it.

Bob Lieblich
Gazing through the fog

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Would it be wrong to write "... upon replying your letter, I queried my boss to see " as opposed ... American English and British English in this matter? My teacher claimed a preposition was necessary without question. Is he correct?[/nq]
Yes, he is correct. The -ing ending is not what matters. "Reply" is an intransitive verb - it doesn't take an object. You have to "reply to" a letter; or you can "answer" it (no preposition - "answer" is normally transitive in this sense).
Alan Jones

Is a preposition after "replying" required?

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