Resources
Lecciones de gramáticaLecturasEjercicios de listeningFlash cardsFalsos amigos¿Cuál usar?SufijosPrefijosDiscover your levelBlogBlog
Like + -ing: How to Talk About What You Enjoy
Like + -ing is the most natural way to say what you enjoy doing in English.
Written by Bryan López, Profesor de inglés · Updated
To say what you like doing in English, use like + the verb ending in -ing: I like swimming. I like reading books.
Like + -ing
Like + to + infinitive also exists
"I like to swim" is also correct and means almost the same as "I like swimming," but the -ing form is more common and natural for talking about general likes.
Other verbs that work the same way
Love, hate, and enjoy follow the same pattern: I love cooking. I hate waiting. I enjoy dancing. All of them are followed by the -ing form to express likes.
Common mistakes with like + -ing
Always using "like to + infinitive" because it's the more direct translation from other languages. While "like to swim" isn't wrong, "like swimming" is the more natural form and the one taught first.
The biggest mistake: confusing "like" with "would like"
"I like pizza" means you enjoy pizza in general, as a lasting preference. "I would like pizza" (or "I'd like pizza") means you want pizza right now, as a polite request. Saying "I like a coffee" to order a coffee sounds strange, as if you were talking about your general tastes instead of placing an order: the correct form there is "I would like a coffee" or simply "Can I have a coffee?"
With "would like", -ing is never used
Incorrect
I would like traveling.
Correct
I would like to travel.
Practice like + -ing with real audio
Interactive exercises, real pronunciation, and the full lesson taught in English.
Verbs that ALWAYS take to + infinitive, never -ing
- want: I want to travel. (never "I want traveling")
- need: I need to rest.
- decide: I decided to quit.
- hope: I hope to see you soon.
- plan: We plan to move next year.
Like + -ing in a real conversation
A: "What do you like doing on weekends?" B: "I like hiking, but I don't like waking up early." A: "Same here. I'd like to try camping sometime though." Notice how B uses "like + -ing" for general preferences, and then A switches to "would like to" to express a one-time wish, not an ongoing preference.
More examples of like + -ing
- I like cooking on Sundays.
- She likes learning new languages.
- We like walking to work.
- Do you like watching horror movies?
Love, hate, enjoy, and prefer
Like is not the only verb that works with -ing. Love, hate, enjoy, prefer, and dislike follow the same pattern: "I love reading." "She hates waking up early." "We enjoy cooking together." Enjoy only takes -ing, never to + verb: "I enjoy to swim" is incorrect. Learning these verbs together gives you a group of patterns you can use for hobbies, opinions, and daily routines.
Spelling the -ing form
Before adding -ing, check the ending of the verb. Verbs ending in silent e drop it: make becomes making, write becomes writing. Short verbs ending in consonant-vowel-consonant double the last letter: run becomes running, swim becomes swimming. Verbs ending in -ie change to -y: lie becomes lying. Most others simply add -ing: play becomes playing.
Short ways to talk about your hobbies
- I like playing the guitar.
- She enjoys walking in the park.
- We love watching old movies.
- He doesn't like getting up early.
- Do you like cooking?
Frequently asked questions
How do you use like + -ing in English?
You add the verb ending in -ing right after like: I like swimming, she likes cooking.
What's the difference between like doing and like to do?
They mean almost the same thing. "Like doing" (with -ing) is the more common and natural form for general likes; "like to do" is also correct.
What other verbs go with -ing to express likes?
Love, hate, and enjoy: I love cooking, I hate waiting, I enjoy dancing.
What are some examples of like + -ing?
"I like playing soccer." "She likes watching movies." "They like traveling."
How do you make like + -ing negative?
With don't/doesn't before like: "I don't like waiting." "He doesn't like cooking."
Why do learners use 'like to' instead of 'like -ing'?
Because it's a more direct translation from other languages. Both forms are correct, but "like -ing" is the more natural and commonly used one.
What is the difference between "I like pizza" and "I would like pizza"?
"I like pizza" is a general preference (you enjoy pizza in life). "I would like pizza" is a one-time request, right now (you want pizza), like when ordering at a restaurant.
Can you say "I would like swimming"?
No, that is incorrect. "Would like" always takes "to + infinitive": "I would like to swim." The -ing form is only used with "like" on its own, without "would."
What other verbs never take -ing?
Want, need, decide, hope, and plan always take "to + infinitive": "I want to leave," "I need to study," never -ing.
Is "like -ing" only for hobbies?
No, it works for anything you enjoy or dislike doing, not just hobbies: chores, habits, food-related actions like "I like cooking," or even weather-related ones like "I like it when it rains."
Can I use to + verb after like?
Yes, "I like to swim" is correct. In American English it often suggests a habit or preference, while -ing often expresses enjoyment of the activity.
What is the difference between I like swimming and I'd like to swim?
"I like swimming" is a general preference. "I'd like to swim" is a wish for a specific moment, like "I'd like to swim now."
Practice like + -ing with real audio
Interactive exercises, real pronunciation, and the full lesson taught in English.
Keep learning
- Would Like: The Polite Way to Ask for Something"Would like" is the polite way to say you want something, more formal than "want."
- Present Simple in English: Affirmative, Negative, and Questions (Full Guide)The tense for habits, routines, and general facts, with the rule almost everyone forgets: the -s on he/she/it.
- Adverbs of Frequency in English: Always, Usually, Often, Sometimes, NeverAlways, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, and never say how often something happens, and they have a fixed spot in the sentence.