54 Like

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Introduction

Like, as a verb, is used to express things we enjoy and take pleasure in.

Form

We usually find this structure in its three forms:

Affirmative

The structure, in its affirmative form, is:
Subject + like/likes + [verb + -ing]/noun + …

  • Like/likes: in the affirmative form, the third person singular changes from like to likes.
Subject Like Verb + -ing/Noun
I like working/pizza
You like working/pizza
He likes working/pizza
She likes working/pizza
It likes working/pizza
We like working/pizza
You like working/pizza
They like working/pizza

Negative

The structure, in its negative form, is:
Subject + do/does + not + like + [verb + -ing]/noun + …

  • Do/does: in the negative form, the third person singular changes from do to does;
  • Short form of the negative form is the same as the short form of present simple: I don’t – he doesn’t…
Subject do/does + not Like Verb + -ing/Noun
I do not like working/pizza
You do not like working/pizza
He does not like working/pizza
She does not like working/pizza
It does not like working/pizza
We do not like working/pizza
You do not like working/pizza
They do not like working/pizza

Interrogative

The structure, in its interrogative form, is:
Do/does + subject + like + [verb + -ing]/noun + …?

  • Do/does: in the interrogative form, the third person singular changes from do to does.
Do Subject Like Verb + -ing/Noun Question
Mark
Do I like working/pizza …?
Do you like working/pizza …?
Does he like working/pizza …?
Does she like working/pizza …?
Does it like working/pizza …?
Do we like working/pizza …?
Do you like working/pizza …?
Do they like working/pizza …?

Example

Affirmative

  • I really like sending postcards to my family.
  • He likes to go to the mountains.
  • We like the holidays.

Negative

  • I don’t like sending postcards to my family.
  • He doesn’t like going to the mountains.
  • We don’t like the holidays.

Interrogative

  • Do I like sending postcards to my family?
  • Does he like going to the mountains?
  • Do we like the holidays?

Use

We use like when we want to express enjoyment of doing something.

Summary

The verb like is used to express the idea of enjoying something.

We can use it in its different forms:

  • Affirmative: We start with the subject followed by the verb like and a verb that ends with -ing or a noun. In the third person singular, we use likes.
  • Negative: We start with the subject followed by do not and the verb like followed by a verb that ends with -ing or a noun. In the third person singular, we use does not.
  • Interrogative: We start with do followed by the subject followed by the verb like and a verb that ends with -ing or a noun (the sentence ends with a question mark). In the third person singular, we use does.

For example:
— Affirmative: “I like drinking tea.”
— Negative: “I don’t like drinking tea.”
— Interrogative: “Do you like drinking tea?”

NOTE: Would like has a different meaning than like: would like is used to express our requests or offers more politely.

For example:
— “I like sport.” = We use like to express that the subject enjoys doing sports.
♦ “I would like to do some sport.” = We use would like to express the subject’s desire to do some sport.

Let’s revise this content within the {Form} section. Take a look at the {Example} section that shows its use within a context.

Related

At A2 level, we also have Like as a preposition to make questions and Like to make a comparison.

If you want to say politely that you want something, you can use “would like”.

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