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Would Like: 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.
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 with would like
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."
Practice would like with real audio
Interactive exercises, real pronunciation, and the full lesson taught in English.
It's never 'will like'
Incorrect
I will like a coffee.
Correct
I would like a coffee.
More examples of would like
- I would like to make a reservation for two.
- Would you like some more tea?
- She would like to visit Japan someday.
- We would like to speak with the manager, please.
Would like to vs. like to
"Would like to" talks about a specific wish, usually about the future: "I would like to travel to Japan" (a want, not necessarily a plan yet). "Like to" (without would) talks about a habit or a general preference: "I like to travel in summer" (something you enjoy doing regularly). Mixing them up changes the meaning: "I would like to swim" means you want to swim now or soon, while "I like to swim" means swimming is something you enjoy in general.
Would like vs. would love
Would love works the same way as would like but expresses a stronger wish: "I would love to visit Japan" sounds more enthusiastic than "I would like to visit Japan," even though both are grammatically correct and polite. Would love is common when accepting an invitation enthusiastically: "Would you like to come to the party?" "I'd love to!" The same pattern works with would love + to: "I would love to help you with that project."
Would like in a real conversation
A: "Would you like to order now?" B: "Yes, I'd like the chicken sandwich, please." A: "Would you like anything to drink?" B: "I'd like a lemonade, thank you."
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.
How do you respond to 'Would you like...?'
With "Yes, I would" or "Yes, please" to accept, and "No, thank you" to decline. You can also answer with what you want: "I'd like the pasta, please."
Is 'I'd like' the same as 'I would like'?
Yes, "I'd like" is just the contracted form of "I would like." Both are correct, the contraction is more common in speech.
How do you use would like at a restaurant?
To order politely: "I would like the salmon, please" or "I'd like a glass of water." It's the standard polite way to ask for food or drinks.
What's the difference between would like and would love?
Would love expresses a stronger wish than would like. Both are polite and correct, but would love sounds more enthusiastic, especially when accepting an invitation: "I'd love to!"
Can you use would like in the past?
Yes, with "would have liked": "I would have liked to go, but I was busy." This talks about a wish that did not happen in the past.
Is 'I would like that' a complete sentence?
Yes, it works as a short, polite way to accept an offer: "Do you want some help?" "I would like that, thank you."
What's the negative of would like?
Would not like, usually contracted to wouldn't like: "I wouldn't like to bother you," "She wouldn't like that kind of surprise."
Practice would like with real audio
Interactive exercises, real pronunciation, and the full lesson taught in English.
Keep learning
- Like + -ing: How to Talk About What You EnjoyLike + -ing is the most natural way to say what you enjoy doing in English.
- Will: Spontaneous Decisions, Predictions, and PromisesWill + base verb never changes form, no matter the subject: I will, she will, they will.
- Can: Ability, Permission, and RequestsCan covers three things: what you're able to do, asking for permission, and asking for a favor. It's always followed by the base form of the verb.