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| 8-L) Like: verb & preposition |
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UNIT 8 lesson L |
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The word LIKE can be a verb or a preposition. Read the explanations and then watch the other videos below.
- Tell me what you just said. (said = past of "say")
- I, I like you when you give me cookies.
- You like me when, when I give you cookies, but you don't like me all the time?
- Yeah, no.
- Why?
- Because I like you... only like you (when you give me) cookies, mummy.
- Oh, so, only when I give you cookies do you like me*.
- Yeah
- Oh, Ok. I love you.
- I love you too but I, I don't like you all the time.
- Oh, Ok. Thanks.
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Just out of curiosity:
* In this sentence she uses "do you like" but it is not a question. If you start a sentence with the word "only" you must make an inversion the same as in questions (but don't worry about this now).
LIKE can be two different words, a verb or a preposition.
LIKE AS A VERB
You saw before the verb LIKE in Unit 4 (click here to see it). It is similar to "love", but not so strong.
- I like bananas very much.
- I love you very much. And she likes me, but she doesn't love me.
Like + verb
Like is usually followed by -ing
- I like playing computer games
- He doesn't like watching television
In American English we can use -ing or infinitive with "to":
AmE
I like playing football = I like to play football
In British English we can use it with infinitive with "to" but the meaning changes.
BrE I like to brush my teeth three times every day (= I think it's a good thing)
We can use WOULD LIKE + infinitive with "to". This is the same as WANT but more polite.
- I want a glass of water =
- I'd like a glass of water, please (more polite)
- I want to buy a hamburger =
- I'd like to buy a hamburger (more polite)
- Do you want to dance with me? =
- Would you like to dance with me? (much better)
LIKE AS A PREPOSITION
We can use the preposition "like" to make comparisons.
- You walk like your sister (= the way you walk is the same as the way your sister walks)
- He runs like the wind (= the wind moves very quickly and when he runs, he also moves very quickly)
- Kevin is like his father (Kevin and his father are similar)
Compare:
- Kevin likes his father in this sentence, "like" is a verb
In these sentences the word LIKE is a preposition of comparison, not the verb:
- What is the weather like? (asking for a description of the weather)
- What does you father look like? (asking for physical appearance)
More videos from this lesson
