“I like what I like, I don’t like what I don’t like.” James Vincent McMorrow, an Irish singer-songwriter

“I would like to be a polyglot.” Rachel Maddow, an American television news program host

LIKE

We use like to to talk about something we love:

• I like cats.
• I like good food.
• I like my bed.

After like we can use to + infinitive or V-ing:

• I like to swim / I like swimming.
• I like to watch TV / I like watching TV.
• I like to learn English / I like learning English.

After like we can also use it when + subject + predicate:

• I like it when you are happy.
• He likes it when people listen to him.
• We like it when we make progress.

When you like something best, you like it most:

• I like this novel best.
• The whole album is great, but I like this song best.
• All the four seasons are great, but I like summer best.

The opposite of like something best is like something least:

• I don’t like these people, and I like that man least.
• This is the place which I like least. (= I like this place least)
• The whole film is bad. If you ask me*, I like this scene least.

*We use the phrase “if you ask me” before we give our opinion: 1) If you ask me, this color is awful. 2) If you ask me, the book is great.

When you don’t like something, you dislike it:

• I dislike worms. (= I don’t like worms)
• I dislike cooking. (= I don’t like cooking)
• I dislike him. (= I don’t like him)

WOULD LIKE

We use would like + noun to ask for something:

• I would like a cup of tea.
• I would like some rest.
• I’d like an ice cream. (= I would like an ice cream)

We use the question form to offer things:

• Would you like some juice?
• Would you like an apple?
• Would you like some help?

Related: “A/An, Some, Any & No”

I would like = I want, I like ∼ I love. Compare:

• I like ice cream (💓). I would like an ice cream now because it’s very hot.
• He likes beer. He would like a bottle of beer tonight.
• I like fish. I would like some fish for dinner.

I would like to do something = I want to do something:

• I would like to invite you to the party.
• He would like to date her.
• My brother would like to get a new job.

LISTENING & READING PRACTICE

 

Hi! I’m Becky. I am a teacher, and I like my job very much. I like to teach kids and adults, and I like to learn something new every day, I like to help* others learn new things too. But I don’t like to work long hours*. Sometimes it happens though*.

I would like to tell you about what I like best. I like it when my students make progress* and feel happy about their results. I would like to enjoy more times like these, so I will work hard and hope my students will make good progress in future too.

• To help somebody do something = To help somebody to do something: Can you help me find my glasses? / Can you help me to find my glasses?
• Long hours = overtime – extra hours that someone works at their job: I don’t like to work long hours. / I don’t like to work overtime.
• We use though to indicate that some information contrasts with or modifies information in a previous sentence or sentences: I like him. Sometimes he’s unbearable though.
• To make progress = to improve: He is making progress in his work.

What do you like, and what would you like?

You can discuss these and other topics with a teacher. Contact us for more information!

• Easy English