like love hate can't bear enjoy dislike mind can't stand
These verbs and expressions all mean 'like' or 'not like'. They are often followed by ~ing:
* Ann hates flying.
* Why do you dislike living here?
* I don't like people shouting at me. (= I don't like being shouted at.)
After love, hate and can't bear, you can also use to ... So you can say:
* I love meeting people. or I love to meet people.
* She can't bear being alone. or She can't bear to be alone.
But after enjoy/dislike/mind/can't stand, we use only ~ing (not 'to ...'):
* I enjoy being alone. (not 'I enjoy to be')
* Tom doesn't mind working at night. (not 'mind to work')
Like
You can say 'I like doing something' or 'I like to do something'. Often it doesn't matter which you use, so you can say:
* I like getting up early. or I like to get up early.
In British English, there is sometimes a difference between 'I like doing' and 'I like to do'.
'I like doing something' means 'I enjoy it':
* Do you like cooking? (= do you enjoy it?)
* I like living here. (= I enjoy it)
'I like to do something' means 'I think it is good or right +() do it':
* I like to clean the kitchen as often as possible. (This doesn't mean that I enjoy it; it means that I think it is a good thing to do.)
* Mary likes people to be on time.
Would like/would love/would hate/would prefer are usually followed by to ... (infinitive):
* I would like to be rich.
* Would you like to come to dinner on Friday?
* I'd love (= would love) to be able to travel round the world.
* Would you prefer to have dinner now or later?
Compare I like and I would like:
* I like playing/to play tennis. (= I enjoy it in general)
* I would like to play tennis today. (= I want to play today)
Note that would mind is followed by ~ing (not to ...)
* Would you mind closing the door, please?
You can also say 'I would like to have done something' (= I regret now that I didn't or couldn't do something):
* It's a pity we didn't see Val when we were in London. I would like to have seen her again.
* We'd like to have gone on holiday but we didn't have enough money.
You can use the same structure after would love/would hate/would prefer:
* Poor old Tom! I would hate to have been in his position.
* I'd love to have gone to the party but it was impossible.
EXERCISES
57.1 Complete the sentences with likes... or doesn't like... + one of the following (in the correct form):
be kept waiting do nothing drive fly solve mysteries take photographs take risks work in the open air
1. George is a detective. He enjoys his work. He _likes solving mysteries._
2. Ann very rarely travels by plane. She _doesn't like flying._
3. Rose always carries her camera with her. She ---
4. Christine doesn't use her car very often. She ---
5. Dave is a gardener. He likes his job. He ---
6. Jennifer is a very cautious person. She ---
7. Ted is extremely lazy. He ---
8. Helen is very impatient. She ---
57.2 Write sentences about yourself. Say whether you like or don't like these activities. Choose one of these verbs for each sentence: (don't) like love hate enjoy don't mind
1. (flying) _I don't like flying._
2. (playing cards)
3. (doing the ironing)
4. (going to museums)
5. (lying on the beach all day)
57.3 How would you feel about doing these jobs? In your sentences use one of these:
I'd like/I wouldn't like I'd love I'd hate I wouldn't mind
1. (a teacher) _I wouldn't like to be a teacher._
2. (a dentist)
3. (a hairdresser)
4. (an airline pilot)
5. (a tourist guide)
57.4 Put in a suitable verb in the correct form, ~ing or to ... Sometimes either form is possible.
1. It's nice to be with other people but sometimes I enjoy _being_ alone.
2. I'm not quite ready yet. Do you mind --- a little longer?
3. When I was a child, I hated --- to bed early.
4. I don't enjoy --- letters. I can never think what to write.
5. I need a new job. I can't stand --- here any more.
6. I would love --- to your wedding but I'm afraid it isn't possible.
7. Caroline never wears a hat. She doesn't like --- hats.
8. 'Would you like --- down?' 'No, thanks. I'll stand.'
9. When I have to catch a train, I'm always worried that I'll miss it. So I like --- to the station in plenty of time.
10. Have you got a moment? I'd like --- to you about something.
57.5 Write sentences like those in Section above. Use the verb in brackets.
1. It's a pity I couldn't go to the wedding. (like)
I would like to have gone to the wedding.
2. It's a pity I didn't see the program. (like)
3. I'm glad I didn't lose my watch. (hate)
4. It's a pity I didn't meet Ann. (love)
5. I'm glad I wasn't alone. (not/like)
6. It's a pity I couldn't travel by train. (prefer)
57.1
3 likes taking/to take photographs.
4 doesn't like driving/to drive.
5 likes working/to work in the open air.
6 doesn't like taking/to take risks.
7 likes doing/to do nothing.
8 doesn't like being/to be kept waiting.
57.2 Example answers:
2 I don't mind playing cards.
3 I hate doing the ironing.
4 I enjoy going to museums.
5 I don't like lying on the beach all day.
57.3 Example answers:
2 I wouldn't like to be a dentist.
3 I'd like to be a hairdresser.
4 I'd hate to be an airline pilot.
5 I wouldn't mind being a tourist guide.
57.4
2 waiting 3 going/to go
4 writing 5 working/being
6 to come to go
7 wearing to wear
8 to sit 9 to get
10 to talk/to speak
57.5
2 I would like/I'd like to have seen the program.
3 I would hate to have lost my watch.
4 I would love to have met Ann.
5 I wouldn't like to have been alone.
6 I would prefer to have travelled by train
