Would like: How and When to Use in English
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Would like
I would like or I'd like (to do something) is a polite way to express a wish or desire:
What would you like? - I would like a cup of tea. What do you want to drink? - I want a cup of tea.
Would like is always followed by an infinitive with to:
Would you like to come with us? Do you want to come with us?
He would like (or He'd like) to join the sales team. He wants to join the sales team.
I'd like you to tell me the truth. I want you to tell me the truth.
Exercise 1
Philip: Hey Susie, how's it ? Would you like out for drinks tonight?
Susie: I already plans. Why don't you by yourself?
Philip: Ok.
Susie: I already plans. Why don't you by yourself?
Philip: Ok.
Philip: Hey Susie, how's it going 1? Would you like to go 2 out for drinks tonight?
Susie: I already have 3 plans. Why don't you go 4 by yourself?
Philip: Ok.
Susie: I already have 3 plans. Why don't you go 4 by yourself?
Philip: Ok.
1 going: 'How's it going?' (or 'How is it going?') uses the 'ING' form of the verb 'to go'. Philip asks about Susie's current state, so we use the present progressive form of the verb. 'How's it going?' is an English expression synonymous with 'How are you?' or 'How are you doing?'
1 go: 'Go' is incorrect. The interrogative phrase 'how's it...' needs a verb ending in 'ing' to follow it. The question asks about the current state of a person, and so we use a present progressive verb using the 'ING' form to correctly pose the question.
1 gone: We cannot use 'gone', the past participle form of 'to go', in this sentence. The interrogative construction 'how's it...?' must be followed by a verb ending in 'ing', and not a verb in the past tense.
2 to go: The interrogative construction 'would you like' is always followed by the full infinitive form of a verb (to go). The same is true with declarative statements using 'would like': I would like TO GET a drink tonight. 'Would you like...?' poses a polite question using the conditional form.
2 go: We must use the full infinitive form of the verb following 'would you like'.
2 going: The 'ING' form of the verb can't follow the 'would like' construction.
2 will go: We never use the future tense of a verb following 'would like'.
3 have: 'Have' expresses possession in this sentence. Susie is telling Philip that she can't go out with him tonight because she already has something planned.
3 has: 'Has' cannot be used in the first person form of the present tense. 'To have' is an irregular verb.
3 had: Had is the past simple form of the verb 'to have'. It has no place in this construction, which requires the simple present tense.
3 to have: This verb must be conjugated. Leaving it in its infinitive form is grammatically incorrect.
4 go: Susie is suggesting that Philip 'go' to the restaurant by himself (alone or without her). In this case, the verb 'to go' should be put in its infinitive form (without 'to') following the interrogative construction 'Why don't you...'. As a general rule, verbs following auxiliaries are always put in their infinitive form without 'to'.
4 to go: The full infinitive form of the verb (with 'to') can't follow the interrogative construction 'why don't you...'.
4 will go: The future tense of a verb cannot be used following the interrogative construction 'why don't you...'.
4 going: The 'ing' form of a verb cannot be used the interrogative construction 'why don't you...'.
Exercise 2
Conjugate the following verbs when necessary. At least 1 of these verbs MUST be conjugated. If the verb does not need to be conjugated, write out the infinitive form again. You must write something in each blank!
Icarus: I'd like to Bruno, please.
Polly: Would you mind for a minute? I'll check if he's free.
Icarus: Never mind, I'll come back tomorrow.
Polly: It will just take a second, Icarus. I expect him available.
Icarus: Aaahgh! I didn't anticipate this long. I'm sorry Polly. Goodbye!
Icarus: I'd like to Bruno, please.
Polly: Would you mind for a minute? I'll check if he's free.
Icarus: Never mind, I'll come back tomorrow.
Polly: It will just take a second, Icarus. I expect him available.
Icarus: Aaahgh! I didn't anticipate this long. I'm sorry Polly. Goodbye!
Conjugate the following verbs when necessary. At least 1 of these verbs MUST be conjugated. If the verb does not need to be conjugated, write out the infinitive form again. You must write something in each blank!
Icarus: I'd like [not done] to speak 1 to Bruno, please.
Polly: Would you mind [not done] sitting down 2 for a minute? I'll check if he's free.
Icarus: Never mind, I'll come back tomorrow.
Polly: It will just take a second, Icarus. I expect him [not done] to be 3 available.
Icarus: Aaahgh! I didn't anticipate [not done] waiting 4 this long. I'm sorry Polly. Goodbye!
Icarus: I'd like [not done] to speak 1 to Bruno, please.
Polly: Would you mind [not done] sitting down 2 for a minute? I'll check if he's free.
Icarus: Never mind, I'll come back tomorrow.
Polly: It will just take a second, Icarus. I expect him [not done] to be 3 available.
Icarus: Aaahgh! I didn't anticipate [not done] waiting 4 this long. I'm sorry Polly. Goodbye!
1 to speak: The expression 'I would like' expresses a polite, conditional desire. In this case Icarus wishes to speak with Bruno, but does not yet know if it is possible. We use the full infinitive form of all verbs following the construction 'I would like'.
2 sitting down: The verb 'to mind' is generally followed by another verb in the gerundive (ING) form. 'Would you mind...' is a polite, conditional request for someone to do something. In this case, Polly is requesting that Icarus 'sit down' while she checks if Bruno has time to meet with him. In general, verbs which express consideration or reflection (to mind, to consider, to think about, to anticipate) are always followed by the 'ING' form of another verb.
3 to be: The verb 'to expect' is always followed by the full infinitive form of another verb.
4 waiting: 'Waiting' is the correct term here. The verb 'to anticipate' is always followed by another verb in the gerundive (ING) form.
Exercise 3
Complete the sentences below with the appropriate term: 'would' or 'had'.
I be pleased to meet your daughter.
I been expecting to see your daughter, but now that you've arrived, you might as well stay.
I like to get to know you a little better.
I liked the director's films up until now.
I be pleased to meet your daughter.
I been expecting to see your daughter, but now that you've arrived, you might as well stay.
I like to get to know you a little better.
I liked the director's films up until now.
Complete the sentences below with the appropriate term: 'would' or 'had'.
I would 1 be pleased to meet your daughter.
I had 2 been expecting to see your daughter, but now that you've arrived, you might as well stay.
I would 3 like to get to know you a little better.
I had 4 liked the director's films up until now.
I would 1 be pleased to meet your daughter.
I had 2 been expecting to see your daughter, but now that you've arrived, you might as well stay.
I would 3 like to get to know you a little better.
I had 4 liked the director's films up until now.
1 would: We use 'would' to form the conditional tense here. 'I would be pleased...' is a polite way to express one's contentment or satisfaction at the idea of doing something (meeting someone's daughter).
1 had: As an auxiliary, 'had' is used with the past participle of the verb to form the past perfect tense. The past perfect tense is used to indicate an action which occurred at an unspecified moment in the past in relation to another action (before, after, until). Using 'had' here is grammatically incorrect as the term cannot be followed be a verb in its infinitive form.
2 had: We use the past tense auxiliary 'had' here to form the past perfect continuous (or progressive past perfect) tense (had been expecting), which indicates an action which is ongoing (or continuous) in the past tense in relation to another past action (before you arrived). The progressive past perfect tense is formed with 'had been' + the 'ING' form of the main verb. You can recognize that 'had' is necessary here as it is followed by the past participle of the verb 'to be'.
2 would: Using 'would' here is grammatically incorrect. 'Would' is never followed by the past participle of a verb. When forming the conditional tense, 'would' is generally followed by the infinitive form of a verb (without 'to'). For example: I wouldn't recommend that movie. It was terrible.
3 would: We use 'would' here to create the conditional tense. 'Would' is followed by the infinitive form of the verb 'like' (without 'to') to express the speaker's desire (to get to know you better).
3 had: Using 'had' in this construction is grammatically incorrect. As an auxiliary, 'had' is used with the past participle of the verb to form the past perfect tense. The past perfect tense is used to indicate an action which occurred at an unspecified moment in the past in relation to another action (before, after, etc.). Using 'had' here is grammatically incorrect as the term cannot be followed be a verb in its infinitive form.
4 had: We use 'had' here to create the past perfect tense. The past perfect tense is used to indicate an action which took place in the past in relation to another action. 'I had liked' indicates that the speaker used to like the films of the director until the most recent film, which changed their opinion.
4 would: Using 'would' here is grammatically incorrect. 'Would' is never followed by a conjugated verb. However, we could write 'I would have liked to see you at my party', which is a conditional statement that uses the past perfect tense.
Exercise 4
1. I would like you a story about a man who lost his ability to smell.
2. Would you like me your back?
2. Would you like me your back?
1. I would like to tell 1 you a story about a man who lost his ability to smell.
2. Would you like me to massage 2 your back?
2. Would you like me to massage 2 your back?
1 to tell: 'To tell' is the correct choice here. The construction 'would like' must be followed by a verb in its full infinitive form with 'to', in order to express a desire to do something. 'Would like' can also be followed directly by a noun, to describe the desire for an object (example: 'I would like a beer').
1 telling: The construction 'would like' cannot be followed by a verb in the '-ing' form.
1 tell: The construction 'would like' cannot be followed by an infinitive without 'to'.
1 told: The construction 'would like' cannot be followed by a verb conjugated in the past tense.
2 to massage: This is correct. The construction 'would you like' must be followed by a verb in its full infinitive form with 'to', in order to express a desire to do something. Here's another example: 'Bruno would like to talk to us all this afternoon'. 'Would like' can also be followed directly by a noun, to describe the desire for an object (example: 'I would like a bear').
2 massaged: This is grammatically incorrect. 'Would you like..' cannot be followed by a verb in the past tense.
2 massage: This is grammatically incorrect. 'Would you like..' is followed by a verb in the FULL infinitive form, with 'to'.
2 massaging: This is grammatically incorrect. 'Would you like..' is never followed by a verb in a progressive tense.
Exercise 5
Philip: you like to come for a drink with me tonight?
Susie: Not if you were the last man on Earth.
Susie: Not if you were the last man on Earth.
Philip: Would you like to come for a drink with me tonight?
Susie: Not if you were the last man on Earth.
Susie: Not if you were the last man on Earth.
Would: 'Would' is the term we were looking for here. The construction 'would you like to...' is a polite way of asking someone if they want to do something. More examples: 'Would you like to see my bedroom?', 'Would you like a cup of tea?'.
Are: Sorry, but this is not grammatically correct. 'Are you like (your brother)?' means 'are you similar to (your brother)?'. This question can't be used as an invitation.
Do: Sorry, but this is not grammatically correct. 'Do you like (cake)?' is a way of asking someone if they enjoy or are a fan of something.
Is: 'Is you like...?' is grammatically incorrect. In the second person present tense, the verb 'to be' is conjugated as 'you are'. Also, we do not need the verb 'to be' here.
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