A1 · Grammar
Like and would like
After this page you can say what you like in general with like, love, hate and enjoy (+ -ing), and make polite wishes and offers with would like / I'd like.
Rules
1.
like, love, hate + noun
- I like tea, but I don't like coffee.
- Tom loves football.
- Priya hates the rain in November.
- Do you like jazz? – Yes, I do.
Use like, love and hate for things you enjoy or don't enjoy in general. They are normal verbs in the present simple: he, she, it → likes, loves, hates.
How much?
- love: I love it very much.
- like: I think it's nice.
- don't like: I think it isn't nice.
- hate: I don't like it at all.
Questions and short answers work like other verbs: Does Anna like cats? – No, she doesn't.
like, love, hate = in general: I love pizza.
he, she, it → likes, loves, hates
2.
like, love, hate, enjoy + verb-ing
- I like cooking for my friends.
- Anna loves swimming in the sea.
- Marek hates getting up early.
- We enjoy walking in the park at the weekend.
After like, love, hate and enjoy, a verb gets -ing. enjoy means like doing. After enjoy, always use -ing.
verb + -ing
- most verbs + ing: read → reading · cook → cooking
- e at the end → no e + ing: dance → dancing · drive → driving
- short verbs, one vowel + one consonant → double: swim → swimming · run → running
I love reading. · She hates driving.
enjoy + -ing (not: enjoy to …)
3.
would like: polite wishes and offers
- I'd like a coffee and a croissant, please.
- We'd like a table for two.
- Would you like some cake? – Yes, please.
- Would you like a bag? – No, thank you.
would like means want, but it is more polite. Use it in shops, cafés and on the phone. I'd is the short form of I would.
would like
- I'd like · you'd like · he'd like · she'd like · we'd like · they'd like
- the same for everybody: she would like (not: would likes)
- offer: Would you like …? → Yes, please. · No, thank you.
I want can sound rude in a shop or a café. Say I'd like.
I'd like = I would like = I want (polite)
Would you like a tea? – Yes, please.
4.
would like + to + verb
- I'd like to book a table for Saturday.
- Sofia would like to visit Edinburgh next summer.
- Would you like to come to dinner on Friday? – Yes, I'd love to.
- We'd like to stay for two nights.
After would like, a verb has to: would like to + verb. Not -ing.
Two patterns
- like + -ing: I like dancing. (in general)
- would like + to + verb: I'd like to dance. (now, or soon)
A nice answer to an invitation: Yes, I'd love to. or Yes, I'd like that.
would like + to + verb: I'd like to go.
not: I'd like going.
5.
Do you like …? or Would you like …?
- Do you like Indian food? – Yes, I do.
- Would you like some rice? – Yes, please.
- Do you like dancing? – No, I don't.
- Would you like to dance? – Yes, I'd love to.
Do you like …? asks about the person in general. Would you like …? is an offer or an invitation: now, or soon.
Answers
- Do you like …? → Yes, I do. · No, I don't.
- Would you like …? → Yes, please. · No, thank you. · Yes, I'd love to.
Do you like …? = in general
Would you like …? = an offer now
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