like
Level Six
Lesson 66: Like
There are many different ways to use the word “like.” It’s usually used as a verb, but it can also function as a preposition, as a noun, as part of an adjective, as a conjunction, and as a word that serves to fill in gaps in conversation.
- What do you like? (verb)
- No one does it like he does. (conjunction: like = as)
- That’s, like, so unfair. (filler)
- This video has a lot of likes. (noun)
- We will never see the likes of him again. (noun)
- You can have this if you like. (if you like = if you want that)
He likes his job.
He likes working.
66. like - preferences
Use “like” to talk about things that you enjoy. You want something because you think it’s good. You can use “like” for people and things.
- Sophia really likes her class.
- Mark likes to eat corn.
- What do you like?
- What are some thing that you don’t like?
- Mario doesn’t like spinach.
- He doesn’t like eating spinach. (The word “eating” is a gerund.)
- She doesn’t like to work on the weekends. (An infinitive, “to eat,” appears after the verb.)
- Who(m) do you like?
- I like the people that I work with.
Note: The verb “like” is transitive. That means an object of some kind is used after the verb. Don’t say, “I like.” Instead, “I like it.”
66. like - preferences
- I like ice cream.
- Do you like ice cream?
- What do you like to eat?
- She doesn’t like going to the dentist.
66. like = similar to
A comparison can provide information about a person or a thing. You can use “like” to do this. In this instance, “like” functions as a preposition: like = similar to.
- What is she like?
- That dog looks like a lion.
- She looks like Jennifer Lopez.
- He can run like the wind.
- This tastes like chicken.
- They’re acting like fools.
- That seems like a good idea.
66. like = similar to
- The moon looks like a big marble in the sky.
- This looks like a neighborhood Abdi once lived in as a boy.
66. like = as if; as
You can also use “like” as a type of conjunction: as if or as. The meaning is comparable to it’s conjunctive function.
- It felt like the ground was shaking during the thunderstorm.
- It’s like the whole country has gone mad.
- She looked unhappy, like she didn’t want to be there.
- You look like you are angry.
- Like I was saying….
- John was running around the kitchen like his hair was on fire.
66. like = as if; as
- This park in Chicago sounds like an interesting place to visit.
- They look like they are having fun. (like = as if)
66. would + like
In Lesson 67, you will learn more about how to use “would ike,” but it’s worth looking a right now because it’s different from like. A person who would like something does not have it now or yet.
- Edgar would like to get a job. (He doesn’t have one now.)
- Yolanda likes her job. (She has a job now.)
- Wendy would like some coffee. (She’s going to get it. She does not have it yet.)
- I would like a good night’s rest. (Lately it’s been hard to sleep at night because it’s been so hot!)
- Would you like to go to the park today? (I’m making plans for the future.)
66. would + like
- They would like to continue their relationship.
- Protestors who stand up for themselves are often confronted by the police.
66. how + do + like
There are two main reasons for using “how + do/does + subject + like.” The first reason is to ask for a preference in preparation. How do you like…?
- A: How do you like your steak? (This is a preference in the amount of cooking the meat receives.)
- B: I like it medium rare.
- A: How does she like the furniture to be arranged? (How does she want it arranged?)
- B: She likes everything to be well organized.
- A: How do you like your pizza? (What kind of pizza do you like?)
- B: I like a thin crust with a lot of cheese!
The second reason for using “how do you like” is to prove a person’s reaction to a situation. An actual response is not always necessary.
- Well how do you like that?
- How do you like your choice for President now?
- How do you like all this hot weather we’ve been having?
66. how + do + like
- A: How do you like your coffee?
- B: I like it black–no cream or sugar.
- A: How do they like their jobs?
- B: They’re both happy about where they work and what they do.
66. Use "like" as a noun.
Thanks to the internet and social media, the word “like” is a common noun for a positive response online.
- My video received over 300 likes?
- Her comment didn’t get as many likes as she had hoped.
- How many likes does this post have?
As a noun, “like” can also mean “equal” or “comparable.”
- We had never seen the likes of him before.
- Heavy rain–the likes of which the people had never seen before–flooded the entire city.
- He listens to a lot of pop and rock music and the like. (Notice “like” in this kind of an example appears at the end of the sentence.)
66. Use "like" as a noun.
- This video is getting a lot of likes.
- It was a time the likes of which we will never experience again.
66. like = uh / you know
In spoken English, it’s common for someone to use “like” when trying to think of something to say. In this case, “like” really has no meaning. It’s just a filler. This is a hard thing to grasp unless you talk with people in English every day or regularly; however, the prevalence of “like” is essential to be aware of because you might misinterpret its usage.
- That was, like, really intense.
- Like, what do you mean?
- This is like, really really nice.
- So she was, like, what are you talking about? And I was, like, you know what I’m talking about. And then she, like, got super mad and walked away. (In this example, “like” introduces a direct quotation. This is not a recommended method for professional speech, but it is appropriate for communications among teenagers.)
6g. like = uh / you know
- I want to, like, get some information.
- So, she’s, like, thinking about changing what she’s studying in college.
- This is, like, a really big decision fo her.
Note: The use of “like” in this manner is usually discouraged by English teachers, but if you want to use it, go ahead.
In Lesson 67, you will learn how to use “would like.”