like, love, hate + -ing

Use like, love and hate to talk about things you enjoy or don't enjoy. When a verb comes after them, it takes -ing: swim – swimming, read – reading, cook – cooking.

You can also put a noun after them.

From love to hate

love – like – don't mind – don't like – hate. Don't mind means "it's OK for me", and it takes -ing too.

Questions and negatives

Like is an ordinary verb. It takes do or does in questions and negatives, and -s after he, she and it.

Like to + verb is correct too: I like to swim means the same as I like swimming.

Like or would like

Would like (short form 'd like) means "want". It's the polite way to ask for something in a café or a shop, or to offer something. After it comes a noun or to + verb, never -ing.

Common mistakes

• × I like swim. → I like swimming.
• × She like reading. → She likes reading.
• × Do you like cook? → Do you like cooking?
• × I'd like going home. → I'd like to go home.