The word "like" gets special attention in this
level because it's a popular word in English. Understanding how to use "like"
is important.
1. "Like" expresses your happiness with something or someone:
I like this ice cream. / I
like my neighbors.
2. "Like" is used to make comparisons and
to ask questions about people and things:
- Question: What is it like to live
in Minnesota in January?
- Answer: It's like living in Siberia.
- Question: Why is he like that?
- Answer: I don't know. He's just naturally a mean person.
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A cantaloupe is like a honeydew melon.
or use kind of like:
kind of like = similar to
A honeydew melon tastes
kind of
like a cantaloupe.
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This video provides some more examples.
3. "Like" is
often used with "would" as a polite way of asking
what a person wants. You often hear this in restaurants:
Question: What would you like to
have for lunch? |
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Answer: I'd like a veggie sub, french
fries, and a coke.
(note the use of the contraction: I'd
like = I would like.) |
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4. "How do you like..." is used to ask if someone likes something. It's very similar to "Do you like _______?"
- Question: How do you like living in this city?
- Answer: It's great. I really like it.
- Question: How do you like your pizza?
- Answer: It's awesome!
This YouTube video offers additional examples and explanations for "How do you like _______?"
5. "Like" sometimes doesn't mean anything at all. Americans
use it in the same way they use "you know" and "uuhhhh...." Try to avoid doing this when you speak
English. It's a bad
habit. Teenagers use this "like" a lot.
- That movie was, like, so good.
- I was, like, really mad at my teacher because
he gave me a bad grade, and he was, like, "Here. you earned this."
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Warning: "I
like." The verb should
have an object somewhere after it. (The exception is example #5.)
- Question: Do you like this car?
- Answer:
Yes, I like. (incorrect!)
- Answer: Yes, I like it. (correct!) Or...I
like this car.
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