like | want (verb patterns) – English Grammar Profiler

In the English Vocabulary Profile at A1:

LIKE = to enjoy something or feel that someone or something is pleasant

WANT = to hope to have or do something, or to wish for something

LIKE AND WANT are transitive verbs (take objects).

  • I like football.
  • I want money.

However, they can be followed by verbs.  Let’s look at the like and want verb pattern.  They are different because  ‘like’ can be followed by to-infinitive or Verb-ing.   ‘want’ is only followed by the to-infinitive.  For example:

  • “I like using the internet” or “I like to use the internet.” have a similar meaning. 
  • “I want to use the internet.” is correct, but “I want using the internet.” is wrong.

Also, note the reduced negative clause:

‘I don’t want to‘ is the 7th most frequent 5-word Ngram in English. (iWeb 133,689)  It is also the most common Ngram with a lexical verb.

Here’s a full sentence example:

I don’t want to be here.

listen

Especially, in British English, the choice between using a to-infinitive or an -ing form after certain verbs can convey subtle differences in meaning. Let’s break down the distinction using the example “like to use” vs. “like using”:

  1. Like to Use: When you say “like to use,” you are emphasizing a preference or habit. This structure suggests that the subject (the person or thing doing the action) prefers using something, and it’s a regular or habitual action. For example, “I like to use my laptop for work” implies that using the laptop is a common or preferred way of working.  They don’t love writing so much, but if they have to write, then they prefer to use the laptop to do it.
  2. Like Using: On the other hand, “like using” places more emphasis on the action itself and the experience of doing it. It indicates that the subject derives enjoyment or satisfaction from the act of using something. For instance, “I like using my laptop for work” suggests that the act of using the laptop is enjoyable or satisfying.

In summary, the choice between a to-infinitive and an -ing form after a verb like “like” can reflect whether you want to emphasize:

  • To-infinitive: The preference, habit, or result of the action.
  • -Ing form: The action itself and the experience or enjoyment derived from it.

Both forms are correct, but they subtly shape the nuance of your statement.

In the English Grammar Profile, A1 point 2 in the category of VERBS/patterns is defined:

‘like’ followed either by a ‘to’-infinitive or an ‘-ing’ form, with no change in meaning

A1 point 6 in VERBS/patterns is defined as:

limited range of verbs followed by a ‘to’- infinitive.

*Note that there are other points for a wider range of verbs.  So something like ‘need to + infinitive’ is A2.

iWeb search for

like_V _VVG

1 LIKE USING 10657 2 LIKE WORKING 5316 3 LIKE PLAYING 4560 4 LIKE SEEING 4383 5 LIKE GOING 4133 6 LIKE GETTING 3949 7 LIKE MAKING 3439 8 LIKE TAKING 2693 9 LIKE WATCHING 2609

10 LIKE READING 2429

like|want to _VVI

1 WANT TO MAKE 269952

PELIC STUDENT EXAMPLES:

I strongly recommend finding a conversation partner if you want to make your foreign language just like your native language!

Chinese, Female, Level 4, writing class

*Note it is very hard to find this grammar, not ‘hidden’ under higher-level grammar.

2 WANT TO GET 237967

I want to get Japanese cosmetics because [these] they are better for my skin than American cosmetics.

Japanese, Female, Level 3, writing class

3 WANT TO KNOW 220209 4 WANT TO SEE 216622 5 WANT TO USE 191873

6 WANT TO GO 180546

7 LIKE TO SEE 167646

I like to see the movies in my free time.

Chinese male level 4 grammar class.

8 WANT TO TAKE 124269 9 WANT TO KEEP 101423

10 LIKE TO KNOW 87946 A2 

What would you like to know?

listen

11 WANT TO TRY 80336 12 WANT TO GIVE 78931 13 WANT TO ADD 71428 14 WANT TO LEARN 71362 15 WANT TO PLAY 63845 16 LIKE TO USE 63631 17 WANT TO HEAR 61920 18 WANT TO WORK 61412 19 LIKE TO THANK 60830 20 WANT TO SAY 59560 21 WANT TO LOOK 56658 22 WANT TO CONSIDER 55306 23 WANT TO SHARE 55272 24 WANT TO BUY 54354 25 WANT TO CHANGE 54214 26 WANT TO START 52064 27 WANT TO SPEND 51406 28 WANT TO HELP 51243 29 LIKE TO THINK 50888 30 LIKE TO GET 50539 31 WANT TO FIND 49231 32 WANT TO PUT 48987 33 WANT TO CREATE 48913 34 WANT TO TALK 48687 35 WANT TO CHECK 47189 36 LIKE TO MAKE 44931 37 WANT TO THANK 40406 38 LIKE TO SHARE 38650 39 WANT TO LIVE 37828 40 WANT TO LEAVE 37277 41 LIKE TO ADD 36677 42 LIKE TO TAKE 36429 43 WANT TO STAY 36191 44 LIKE TO SAY 35646 45 WANT TO READ 35481 46 WANT TO SHOW 34317 47 WANT TO AVOID 34273 48 WANT TO MISS 33830 49 WANT TO PAY 33081 50 WANT TO RUN 32252 51 WANT TO BUILD 30945 52 WANT TO MOVE 30532 53 LIKE TO HEAR 28891 54 LIKE TO KEEP 28613 55 WANT TO COME 28058 56 WANT TO SAVE 27343 57 LIKE TO GO 26864 58 LIKE TO TRY 26709 59 WANT TO LOSE 25160 60 WANT TO BRING 24943 61 WANT TO TELL 24786 62 LIKE TO WORK 23753 63 WANT TO WATCH 23435 64 WANT TO ASK 23412 65 WANT TO BECOME 23283 66 WANT TO SELL 23099 67 WANT TO SEND 23016 68 WANT TO CONTINUE 22437 69 WANT TO EAT 22358 70 WANT TO FEEL 21844 71 LIKE TO LEARN 20954 72 WANT TO WRITE 20511 73 WANT TO SET 20344 74 LIKE TO GIVE 19876 75 WANT TO ACHIEVE 19717 76 WANT TO ENSURE 19349 77 WANT TO CALL 19294 78 LIKE TO PLAY 18978 79 WANT TO THINK 18690 80 WANT TO LET 18577 81 WANT TO STOP 18272 82 WANT TO INCLUDE 17579 83 LIKE TO CALL 17406 84 WANT TO JOIN 17203 85 WANT TO REMOVE 17203 86 WANT TO FOCUS 16361 87 WANT TO IMPROVE 15985 88 WANT TO VISIT 15649 89 LIKE TO ASK 15636 90 WANT TO WAIT 15522 91 LIKE TO FIND 15306 92 LIKE TO TALK 15272 93 WANT TO WEAR 15148 94 WANT TO TURN 15146 95 WANT TO WIN 15017 96 LIKE TO READ 14381 97 WANT TO EXPLORE 14152 98 WANT TO MEET 13475 99 LIKE TO HELP 13458

100 WANT TO PROVIDE 13380