like to & like --ing

[yamamoto]

Hello.

1) I like to smoke.
2) I like smoking.

I understand that the first sentence means "I would like to smoke, or I want to smoke." and the second one " I enjoy smoking."
Do I understand correctly? Or, are there any differences between the two.
Would you posssiblely explain it in detail?

[Ilki]

A good rule of thumb is to say that the infinitive is specific, and that the gerund is general.

Compare:
I like to smoke when no one is around.
I like smoking: it relaxes me.

[Tdol]

Though the general/specific distinction is not made in all variants- I believe there's little or no difference in AmE between the two.

[TheParser]

1) I like to smoke.
2) I like smoking.




NOT A TEACHER

(1) In Mesdames Celce-Murcia and Larsen-Freeman's acclaimed The Grammar Book (1983 edition, page 436), they cite other scholars (Professors Bolinger and So) who feel that there may be a subtle difference.

(a) Here is an example:

(i) I like camping in the mountains. (It's so peaceful here.) = more immediate, more vivid.

(ii) I like to camp in the mountains. ((It's so peaceful there.) = more remote, more objective.

(2) IF (a big "if"), we can use this idea with your sentences, then maybe (a big "maybe) we can interpret your sentences something like:

(a) I like smoking after dinner. (It's so relaxing here in the dining room.) Possibly you might say this if you were actually in the dining room this moment and smoking.

(b) I like to smoke after dinner. (It's so relaxing there in the dining room.) Possibly you might say this if you were still at work and telling a colleague about your feelings regarding smoking.

(3) The authors of the book admit that

"Most native speakers do not readily perceive [the subtle difference]."