Jose
Luis Luque studying English in the UK writes:
Could
you please tell me the difference between like as a verb
and as a preposition?
Roger
Woodham replies:
like
Like
as a verb is used mainly to talk about enjoyment, preferences and
habits. It is perhaps not quite as strong in emotional terms as
love, or be fond of or be keen on. Compare
the following:
Do
you like cross-country skiing? ~ Yeah, I quite like it
now, but I still prefer downhill.
When
I’m making a cold drink, I always like to put the
ice and slices of lemon in first.
How
did you like the pumpkin soup? ~ Oh, I liked it
very much.
I’ve
got blackcurrant mousse for desert. Do you like blackcurrants?
~ Oh, I love them.
He’s
a very kind person. I like him very much, but I could never
go out with him.
I’m
a very social person but I don’t like people following
me around all the time.
Note
that like is not normally used in the progressive form and
cannot normally be used without an object:
What
do you think of the conversation classes? ~ I like them.
(NOT: I’m liking them.)
Do
you like garage music? ~ Yes, I do. OR: Yes, I like
it. (NOT: Yes, I like.)
would
like to = want to
Take
care not to confuse like with would like to. They
have quite different meanings. Compare the following and note the
structural differences when using them:
I'd
like to / I want to send this parcel by international
recorded delivery, please.
Are
you interested in going to the match on Saturday. ~ Yes, I'd
like to. / Yes, I want to.
If
you'd like to / you want to take your coat off,
please do. It's rather hot in here.
I
would like to visit him in hospital, but my wife
doesn't want to. She doesn'tlike hospitals.
I
would have liked to have seen John before he left for Canada,
but Mary didn't want to.
Note
that when used for requests and suggestions, would like to
sometimes sounds slightly more polite than want to.
like
as preposition
Like
as a preposition with nouns or pronouns is used to express ideas
of similarity or comparison. Compare the following:
When
she's on stage, she looks a bit like Britney, but she sounds
more like Madonna.
Like
you, I prefer to eat my breakfast in the morning without engaging
in small talk.
It
was only five o' clock, but it seemed like the middle of the
night, it was so dark.
These
plants grow very well in hot countries, like Costa
Ricaand Venezuela.
What's
Bournemouth like as a seaside town? ~ It's a little
bit like Brighton. Quite lively!
To
practise using like as a preposition and a verb look at our today.
