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Would Like in English: The Polite Way to Ask for Something
"Would like" is the polite way to say you want something, more formal than "want."
Written by Bryan López, Profesor de inglés · Updated
"Would like" is the polite way to ask for something or say what you want: "I would like a coffee, please." It's more formal and courteous than simply saying "I want."
Would like + to + verb
It's 'would like,' never 'will like'
A very common mistake is saying "I will like a coffee" instead of "I would like a coffee." "Would" is the one used to ask for something politely, "will" isn't used in this expression.
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Practice would like with real audio
Interactive exercises, real pronunciation, and the full lesson taught in English.
Would like vs. want
"Want" is more direct: "I want a coffee." "Would like" is more polite and formal: "I would like a coffee, please." Both mean the same thing, but would like sounds more courteous, especially with strangers.
Common mistakes learners make
Saying "will like" instead of "would like," often thinking of the future tense. It's also common to forget the "to" before a verb: "I would like go" is wrong, it should be "I would like to go."
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Frequently asked questions
What does would like mean?
It's the polite way to say you want something: "I would like a coffee" (I'd like a coffee).
Do you say "I would like" or "I will like"?
"I would like" is correct. "Will like" isn't used to ask for something politely, that's the most common mistake with this expression.
What's the difference between would like and want?
"Want" is more direct (I want a coffee), "would like" is more polite and formal (I would like a coffee, please).
What are some examples of would like?
"I would like to make a reservation." "Would you like some water?" "She would like to travel more."
Do you need "to" after would like?
Yes, when it's followed by a verb: "I would like to go," never "I would like go."
Why do learners mix up would like and will like?
"Would" and "will" sometimes translate similarly in other languages, which creates confusion, but only "would like" is used to ask for something politely.
Practice would like with real audio
Interactive exercises, real pronunciation, and the full lesson taught in English.