LIKE


Meaning of LIKE in English

I

verb

1

BAD : What he likes to know is how much it will cost.

GOOD : What he would like to know is how much it will cost.

BAD : Do you like me to show you where to go?

GOOD : Would you like me to show you where to go?

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When you mean 'want', use would like .

Compare: 'Do you like playing the piano?' (= Do you enjoy ... ?) 'Would you like to play the piano?' (= Do you want ... ?)

2

BAD : She would like that you ring her back after five o'clock.

GOOD : She would like you to ring her back after five o'clock.

BAD : Would you like going for a walk with me?

GOOD : Would you like to go for a walk with me?

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would like ( sb ) to do sth : 'Would you like me to help you with the packing?' 'I'd like you all to listen carefully.'

3

BAD : I don't like that my shoes get wet.

GOOD : I don't like my shoes getting/to get wet.

GOOD : I don't like it when my shoes get wet.

BAD : I don't like when friends of mine get married.

GOOD : I don't like it when friends of mine get married.

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like + sb/sth + doing/to do sth (NOT that clause): 'I don't like the children staying/to stay out late.'

like + it + when/if clause: 'I don't like it when the children stay out late.'

II

preposition

1

DUBIOUS : Everyone arrived late like they often do when you don't want them to.

GOOD : Everyone arrived late as they often do when you don't want them to.

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Although the use of like as a conjunction is becoming fairly common and appears even in formal English, it has not yet been fully accepted by careful users.

2

BAD : She spoke very loudly like I was deaf.

GOOD : She spoke very loudly as if I was deaf.

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The use of like to mean 'as if' is very informal and is usually regarded as non-standard.

Longman Common Errors English vocabulary.      Английский словарь распространенных ошибок Longman.