UNIT 54 Infinitive or -ing? (1) -like, would like, etc.
A. like hate can't bear love can't stand
After these verbs and expressions you can use -ing or the infinitive.
- I like getting up early or I like to get up early.
- I love meeting people or I love to meet people.
- I hate washing dishes or I hate to wash dishes.
- She can't stand being alone or She can't stand to be alone.
- He can't bear living in the city or He can't bear to live in the city.
B. dislike enjoy mind
After these verbs you can use -ing, but not the infinitive:
- I enjoy being alone. (not enjoy to be)
- Why do you dislike living here? (not dislike to live)
- Tom doesn't mind working at night. (not mind to work)
C. Would like is followed by the infinitive:
- I would like to be rich.
- Would you like to come to a party?
Notice the difference in meaning between I like and I would like. I would like is a polite way of saying I want. Compare:
- I like playing tennis or I like to play tennis (= enjoy it in general)
- I would like to play tennis today. (= I want to play)
We also use the infinitive after would love/hate/prefer:
- Would you prefer to have dinner now or later?
- I'd love to be able to travel around the world.
D. You can also say ''I would like to have done something'' (= I regret that i didn't or couldn't do something):
- It's too bad we didn't visit Tom. I would like to have seen him again
- We'd like to have taken a vacation, but we didn't have enough money.
The same structure is possible after would love/hate/prefer:
- Poor Jim! I would hate to have been in his position
- I'd love to have gone to the party, but it was impossible.
- we went to a restaurant but I didn't enjoy it. I'd prefer to have eaten at home.
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