LIKE + verb-ing
English grammar lesson
Before we look at like + verb-ing,
we need to learn about infinitives
I want to sleep.
How many verbs are here?
There are two verbs
verb 1: want
verb 2: sleep
The verb sleep has the word to before it.
This means the verb is in its infinitive form.
to sleep
to + verb is called
an infinitive
to sleep is an infinitive
Normally when two verbs are together,
the second verb, verb number two,
is in its infinitive form.
In the original sentence the second verb,
sleep, is in its infinitive form to sleep
I want to sleep.
another example
I need to study.
There are two verbs in this sentence
verb 1: need
and verb two: study
The second verb is in its infinitive form.
to study
I need to study.
another example
He wants to travel.
The second verb travel needs to be in its infinitive form to travel
He wants to travel.
This is the general rule about two verbs together
and there are some exceptions like with modal verbs but we will see
this in another lesson.
With the verb LIKE there are two ways of putting a verb after it.
You can say
I like to sleep
which is like + infinitive, which we have already seen
but with the verb LIKE we frequently use a verb ending in ING after it.
I like sleeping
sleeping is a verb ending in -ING
Another example
You can say...
I like to eat chocolate.
or you can say...
I like eating chocolate.
Is there a difference?
In general there isn't a difference in meaning
though we sometimes use the infinitive
to + verb
to talk about habits or choices.
For example
I like to eat chocolate for breakfast.
is talking about my habit, routine or choice.
I like eating chocolate.
This is more about what I like doing in general.
However, using a verb+ING is more common than using an infinitive.
I like sleeping
This is an example of the verb like + a verb ending in ING.
This rule of like + verb-ing
also applies to other similar liking verbs, such as
love, enjoy, don't like, hate.
Note: don't like is just the negative form of like.
I love reading in bed at night.
I enjoy playing video games.
I don't like getting up early.
I hate washing the dishes.
Using a verb-ING after these verbs sounds more natural.
In general,
we prefer to use the verb-ing after like, love or hate.
But, with the verb enjoy, if there is a verb after it,
we only use a verb-ING and not an infinitive.
enjoy + verb-ing
We enjoy playing cards.
After enjoy
we have the verb ending in ING, in this case playing,
enjoy playing, this is correct
We cannot say:
We enjoy to play cards. No, this is not correct.
It is NOT possible to use enjoy + an infinitive.
Another example
We say...
He enjoys going to the cinema.
enjoy + verb ing in this case going
enjoys going
This is correct.
We do not say...
He enjoys to go to the cinema. No, this is NOT correct.
Negative sentences
To make negative sentences we use the rules of DON'T and DOESN'T before LIKE.
I like writing essays.
becomes
I don't like writing essays.
He likes mowing the lawn.
The sentence in negative is...
He doesn't like mowing the lawn.
Remember, there's no S at the end of the verb in negative sentences and questions.
More examples of negative sentences with like + verb-ING.
I don't like waiting.
He doesn't like eating spinach.
They don't like going to the doctor.
She doesn't like cleaning the house.
or... She doesn't like doing the housework.
Questions
To make questions we use the rules of DO and DOES at the beginning of the question.
They like playing chess.
To make a question with THEY we use
DO at the beginning so it becomes...
Do they like playing chess?
She likes baking cakes.
To make a question with SHE we use
DOES at the beginning so it becomes
Does she like baking cakes?
Again, remember there is no S at the end of the verb
in negative sentences and questions.
More examples of questions with like + verb-ing
Do you like blowing bubbles?
Do they like taking selfies?
Does John like listening to music?
Does your grandmother like going to the gym?
Answer these questions:
What are three things you like doing?
What is one thing you don't like doing?
Let us know in the comments below.
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