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Sextus Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
Like
Like + doing or like + to do?
Is there a difference between them. I know people who use the former and other people who employ the latter.
The only difference I have found in a British English grammar is that one says “I like playing soccer” when one enjoys it, but that one says “I like to go to the dentist” not because one enjoys it but because one thinks it is a good idea.
Sextus
Is there a difference between them. I know people who use the former and other people who employ the latter.
The only difference I have found in a British English grammar is that one says “I like playing soccer” when one enjoys it, but that one says “I like to go to the dentist” not because one enjoys it but because one thinks it is a good idea.
Sextus
Top answer
Hello Sextus There isn't a great deal of difference. I don't agree with the 'dentist' example – I can't imagine a context where you'd use 'I'd like to X' in that way. ) Perhaps you could say that 'like to (play)' puts more emphasis on the act as a whole, and 'like (playing)' on the process.
- Hello Sextus There isn't a great deal of difference.
- I don't agree with the 'dentist' example – I can't imagine a context where you'd use 'I'd like to X' in that way.
- ) Perhaps you could say that 'like to (play)' puts more emphasis on the act as a whole, and 'like (playing)' on the process.
- So: 1.
- I like to play football on Sundays.
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1 Answers
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Hello Sextus
There isn't a great deal of difference. I don't agree with the 'dentist' example – I can't imagine a context where you'd use 'I'd like to X' in that way. (But maybe I'm wrong.)
Perhaps you could say that 'like to (play)' puts more emphasis on the act as a whole, and 'like (playing)' on the process.
So:
1. I like to play football on Sundays.
There isn't a great deal of difference. I don't agree with the 'dentist' example – I can't imagine a context where you'd use 'I'd like to X' in that way. (But maybe I'm wrong.)
Perhaps you could say that 'like to (play)' puts more emphasis on the act as a whole, and 'like (playing)' on the process.
So:
1. I like to play football on Sundays.
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