Like + Verb-ING – Like + Infinitive – Enjoy +
Verb-ING
Infinitives
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 and 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 2) is in its infinitive form.
In the original sentence, the second verb, sleep, is in its infinitive form: to sleep.
Another example:
I need to study.
There are two verbs in this sentence. Verb 1. need and Verb 2. study.
The second verb is in its infinitive form… TO study.
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.
Verbs after LIKE
With the verb LIKE there are two ways of putting a verb after it.
You can say:
I like to sleep. (This 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.
I like to eat chocolate for breakfast.
(This is my habit or my 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.
Love, Enjoy, Don’t Like, Hate + Verb-ing
I like sleeping.
This is an example of the verb like + 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.