The verb like is one of the most commonly used verbs in English. However, it is also one of the most commonly misused verbs in English! This post shows you how to use the verb like in a simple sentence structure.
1) What you like:
When you use the verb like, you MUST say what you like, even if you have to use ‘it’ or ‘this.’
I like. is NOT a complete sentence!
Think of Facebook:
When you ‘like’ something on Facebook, it doesn’t say “You like.” It says "You likethis."
Example sentences:
I like her hair!
My mom liked her Mother’s Day present.
I don’t like the way you treat people.
He likes the new girl in his class!
On the weekends she likes to go shopping with her friends.
I don’t like interrupting her when she’s studying.
2) How much you like something:
The verb like is ALWAYS followed by what you like [the object]. They can’t be separated.
*You can NOT put very much, or a lot, or so much between like and the object.
INCORRECT:
X: I like so much playing football!
*Very much / a lot / so much CANNOT go between like and the object [what you like].
X: I very like playing football!
*Very cannot be used by itself
Example sentences:
He likes her very much.
My husband likes our new house very much!
Have you seen Dan’s new car?
-Yes! I like it a lot!
I like playing football so much, I get up at 6am just to practice!
I like Depeche Mode's new ablum a lot.
*You can put really before the verb like, but it cannot separate like and the object.
Example sentences:
I really like her new house!
He really likes playing video games. He plays them all day long!
She really likes Paris. It's her favourite city!
My mom really likes old movies.
I really like Depeche Mode's new album.
NOTE: You can NOT like something too much. Too much is a negative expression. For example:
I ate too much chocolate and now I feel sick.
3. Like can be followed by a gerund OR an infinitive.
She really likes to swim.
She really likes swimming.
*Some people will say there is a difference between the two, but I wouldn’t worry about it. It's such a small difference that it's almost meaningless.
Now you know how to use the verb like!
1) What you like:
When you use the verb like, you MUST say what you like, even if you have to use ‘it’ or ‘this.’
subject + like + what you like
I like. is NOT a complete sentence!
Think of Facebook:
When you ‘like’ something on Facebook, it doesn’t say “You like.” It says "You likethis."
Example sentences:
I like her hair!
My mom liked her Mother’s Day present.
I don’t like the way you treat people.
He likes the new girl in his class!
On the weekends she likes to go shopping with her friends.
I don’t like interrupting her when she’s studying.
~
2) How much you like something:
The verb like is ALWAYS followed by what you like [the object]. They can’t be separated.
subject + like + what you like + very much / a lot / so much
*You can NOT put very much, or a lot, or so much between like and the object.
INCORRECT:
X: I like so much playing football!
*Very much / a lot / so much CANNOT go between like and the object [what you like].
X: I very like playing football!
*Very cannot be used by itself
Example sentences:
He likes her very much.
My husband likes our new house very much!
Have you seen Dan’s new car?
-Yes! I like it a lot!
I like playing football so much, I get up at 6am just to practice!
I like Depeche Mode's new ablum a lot.
subject + really + like + what you like
*You can put really before the verb like, but it cannot separate like and the object.
Example sentences:
I really like her new house!
He really likes playing video games. He plays them all day long!
She really likes Paris. It's her favourite city!
My mom really likes old movies.
I really like Depeche Mode's new album.
NOTE: You can NOT like something too much. Too much is a negative expression. For example:
I ate too much chocolate and now I feel sick.
~
3. Like can be followed by a gerund OR an infinitive.
She really likes to swim.
She really likes swimming.
*Some people will say there is a difference between the two, but I wouldn’t worry about it. It's such a small difference that it's almost meaningless.
~
Now you know how to use the verb like!
