Like vs Would Like: Difference and Comparison

If someone is unsure about the difference between like and would like, thatโ€™s quite natural.

Like and Would Like are exceptionally similar English words that can be used to express a preference or what you hope for, however, Like and Would Like are extraordinarily different too.

Key Takeaways

  1. โ€œLikeโ€ expresses a general preference or fondness for something, while โ€œwould likeโ€ conveys a specific desire or request.
  2. โ€œLikeโ€ is a verb, whereas โ€œwould likeโ€ is a modal verb phrase.
  3. โ€œWould likeโ€ is considered more polite than โ€œlikeโ€ when making requests or expressing preferences.

Like vs Would Like

โ€œLikeโ€ refers to a general positive feeling towards something or someone, for example, โ€œI like pizzaโ€ means that the speaker has a general positive feeling towards pizza. โ€œWould likeโ€ expresses a preference for something, for example, โ€œI would like pizzaโ€ means that the speaker wants pizza at the moment.

Like vs Would Like

Like when a verb is well-known to provide pleasure or satisfaction, the expression to be liked by is also used to indicate what persons, things, or characteristics a person prefers.

/10

Language Quiz

Language quiz helps us to increase our language skills

1 / 10

What is the term for a word that is opposite in meaning to another word?

2 / 10

I ______ a reply to my letter in the next few days.

3 / 10

What is the term for the set of rules for pronunciation in a language?

4 / 10

Put ________ bag on ________ table, then give me ________ apple and ________ bar of chocolate.

5 / 10

What is a word that describes a noun?

6 / 10

Choose the word that means the opposite of "to begin":

7 / 10

Fill in the blank. โ€œBad weather can ________ peopleโ€™s ability to work.โ€

8 / 10

Choose the synonym for the word "clever":

9 / 10

Choose the word that means the opposite of "intense":

10 / 10

Choose the correct word: The problem was finally __________.

Your score is

0%

For instance, she likes everyone in her class, I wouldnโ€™t say I like the color green, and I like your idea.

Would like is a verb which means to want or desire something. However, when used as a verb, โ€˜Would Likeโ€™ indicates a desire for something soon.

For instance, Please join us for dinner tomorrow night, I would like to have a new house by next summer, and Would you like to meet tomorrow?

Comparison Table

Parameters of ComparisonLikeWould Like
DefinitionLike can be used to express a preference. Would like can be used to talk about what someone wants, or what they hope for.
VerbWhen used as a verb, like means to give pleasure or satisfaction. When used as a verb, would like indicates a desire for something shortly.
Auxiliary VerbThe verb Like is generally used as an auxiliary verb in questions. The verb Would Like is not used as an auxiliary verb in questions.
Negativity Like, can be used as an auxiliary verb in negative sentences. Would Like, cannot be used as an auxiliary verb in negative sentences.
IllustrationHe likes his teacher, I like my pizza spicy, and what do you like about that? That would be fun. You should go, would you like some help? and would you like to have dinner with me tonight?

What is Like?

The verb Like is generally used as an auxiliary verb in questions to mean โ€œAre you willing to do climbing?โ€ instead of asking if someone likes something. In these instances, the subject of the question is understood, and it is unnecessary to include it.

Moreover, Like can also be used as an auxiliary verb in negative sentences, meaning โ€œto be unwilling to do climbing,โ€ with no subject or object.

  • I like your dress.
  • He likes his best friend.
  • What do you like the most about that?
  • Would you like to go to the beach?
  • She likes almost everyone in her section.
  • I donโ€™t like the color maroon.
  • Iโ€™m not sure about the book. I donโ€™t like it so far.
  • I like my coffee black.

These illustrations show the use of Like as a verb, where it states likes for things and opinions about something. In this instance, if you said, โ€œI like his singing voice,โ€ it wouldnโ€™t mean want or desire.

Instead, it would be talking about an opinion or a preference; in this case, the speaker likes his singing. However, it shows that the speaker likes the person singing, not their voice.

like

What is Would Like?

Would Like often comes from the phrase would you like and is asked politely before offering a gift or service, whereas Would Like is a verb which means to want, desire something, or something closer to what a person has. For instance:

  • Would you like to watch a movie with me tonight?
  • I would like to have a new car by next summer.
  • That would be fun. You should go.
  • I would like to hear him sing live on Singerโ€™s Live.
  • I want to keep it as a surprise.

These illustrations are where Would Like is used as a verb and states that the person in question would like to hear or do something happen.

Moreover, if someone were to say, โ€œWould you like some help?โ€ they are asking if the person wants them to help them set up something. If a person were then to respond with โ€œI would like that,โ€ they are confirming that they want help setting up.

The use of would you like? Or would you like to help? It is preferred in formal writing but Would Like, or I Would Like to help are often found in spoken or informal usage.

Main Differences Between Like and Would Like

  1. The like can be used to express a preference, whereas, Would like can be used to talk about what someone wants or what they hope for.
  2. When used as a verb, like means to give pleasure or satisfaction, whereas, when used as a verb, would like indicates a desire for something shortly.
  3. The verb Like is generally used as an auxiliary verb in questions, whereas the verb Would Like is not used as an auxiliary verb in questions.
  4. Like, can be used as an auxiliary verb in negative sentences, whereas, Would Like cannot be used as an auxiliary verb in negative sentences.
  5. He likes his teacher. I like my pizza spicy, and what do you like about that? , whereas that would be fun. You should go, would you like some help? And would you like to have dinner with me tonight?
Difference Between Like and Would Like

References

  1. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1046/j.1525-1497.2003.20826.x
  2. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1191/0265659006ct299oa
  3. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02579174

One request?

Iโ€™ve put so much effort writing this blog post to provide value to you. Itโ€™ll be very helpful for me, if you consider sharing it on social media or with your friends/family. SHARING IS โ™ฅ๏ธ

Want to save this article for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own articles box!

Ads Blocker Image Powered by Code Help Pro

Ads Blocker Detected!!!

We have detected that you are using extensions to block ads. Please support us by disabling these ads blocker.