Grammar
LIKE + ING OR + INFINITIVE?
✔ Enjoyment: LIKE + ING: (+infinitive is also possible)
– I really like doing sports (like to do sports)
– Sarah likes talking to her friends on the phone (likes to talk to…)
– We don’t really like cleaning the flat on weekends (don’t like to…)
➡ Here, LIKE + ING can be on just one occasion:
– I liked playing with the kids today
✔ Choice and habits: LIKE + INFINITIVE (and here ING isn’t possible)
– I like to do sports only in the mornings
– When I have cakes, I like to have chocolate ones
– I like to help people when I can
One issue here is there is often a fine line between ‘Enjoyment’ and ‘habit’ hence why at times the ‘ing’ or ‘infinitive’ form is possible. The choice, of course, depends on the context.
