How to explain: Would you like to play / would you like playing

[D3Rk]

Hi, I have got a question about the gerund, infintive and making an appointment. Our students are learned that they have to use a gerund (-ing form) after verbs such as 'to like'. Example: I like playing tennis.

Now my questions are as follows.
1. How can I easily explain what the difference is between 'I like playing tennis.' and 'I like to play tennis.'.
2. If they have to make questions such as 'Would you like to go out with me?' and 'Would you like going out with me?', what would be the best way to explain this?

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by D3Rk

Hi, I have got a question about the gerund, infintive and making an appointment. Our students are learned that they have to use a gerund (-ing form) after verbs such as 'to like'. Example: I like playing tennis.

Now my questions are as follows.
1. How can I easily explain what the difference is between 'I like playing tennis.' and 'I like to play tennis.'.
2. If they have to make questions such as 'Would you like to go out with me?' and 'Would you like going out with me?', what would be the best way to explain this?

The verb like can take either the gerund or the infinitive, usually with little to know difference in meaning. In some cases, the infinitive is a bit more theoretical than the gerund, but with eating ice cream or playing tennis, the difference is miniscule.

In your second sentence the difference starts to express itself. With the "to form", the question makes more sense. How could someone know if they would like going out with someone unless they have already tried it? The infinitive form makes it more of a concept than an experience. In that same fashion, if two people are already dating, only the gerund form will work: Do you like going out with me?

[mmefauveau]

Hi,
Here in France, kids are taught that after verbs that deal with tastes (love, hate, like, etc.) the following verbs automatically takes the gerund. We tell them they can find the infinitive but that they, as students, have to use the gerund.
Now, it is not the same with WOULD LIKE because WOULD LIKE is NOT considered as a "taste verb" but a "will verb" (verbe de volonté, in French), just like WANT, EXPECT, ASK, ALLOW, FORBID, INVITE, ADVISE, etc. Sentences with those verbs are called "infinitive propositions" which means they are always built with TO ( Will verb + TO + Verb).

Anyway, that's what we teach French kids, hope it helps.
Regards,

[D3Rk]

Originally Posted by mmefauveau

Hi,
Here in France, kids are taught that after verbs that deal with tastes (love, hate, like, etc.) the following verbs automatically takes the gerund. We tell them they can find the infinitive but that they, as students, have to use the gerund.
Now, it is not the same with WOULD LIKE because WOULD LIKE is NOT considered as a "taste verb" but a "will verb" (verbe de volonté, in French), just like WANT, EXPECT, ASK, ALLOW, FORBID, INVITE, ADVISE, etc. Sentences with those verbs are called "infinitive propositions" which means they are always built with TO ( Will verb + TO + Verb).

Anyway, that's what we teach French kids, hope it helps.
Regards,

You have a point there. But the children do find it quite difficult to deal with these compound verbs. As soon as they see 'like' in a sentence, the automatically link it to the gerund.

Nevertheless, thank you for the advise. It's of great help!

[Vkapankaj]

Originally Posted by MikeNewYork

The verb like can take either the gerund or the infinitive, usually with little to know difference in meaning. In some cases, the infinitive is a bit more theoretical than the gerund, but with eating ice cream or playing tennis, the difference is miniscule.

In your second sentence the difference starts to express itself. With the "to form", the question makes more sense. How could someone know if they would like going out with someone unless they have already tried it? The infinitive form makes it more of a concept than an experience. In that same fashion, if two people are already dating, only the gerund form will work: Do you like going out with me?