- Do you often confuse “like” with “as”?
- Are you unsure whether to say “I like swimming” or “I like to swim”?
- Have you ever felt your English sounds unnatural when using “like”?
Mastering English collocations is a cornerstone of fluency. It’s not just about knowing individual words, but understanding how they naturally combine with others. For a versatile word like ‘like,’ learning its common collocations will unlock more natural expression, reduce misunderstandings, and significantly boost your confidence in spoken and written English.
Common Collocations with LIKE as a Verb
As a verb, ‘like’ primarily expresses preference, enjoyment, or desire.
Expressing Preference and Enjoyment
This is the most common use of ‘like’ as a verb, often followed by a gerund (-ing form) or an infinitive (to + base verb).
- like + -ing / to infinitive: To enjoy doing something.
- Example: “I like reading mystery novels.” (focus on the activity itself)
- Example: “She likes to travel during the summer.” (focus on the habit/choice)
- like the idea of: To find a suggestion or possibility appealing.
- Example: “I really like the idea of a picnic this weekend.”
- like the sound of: To find a proposition or situation appealing, often based on initial information.
- Example: “Your new job sounds fantastic; I like the sound of it!”
- like nothing better than: To enjoy something above all else.
- Example: “After a long week, I like nothing better than a quiet evening at home.”
Expressing Desire or Request (Polite Form)
When used with ‘would’ or ‘should’, ‘like’ forms a polite request or desire.
- would like to do: A polite way to express a desire or request.
- Example: “We would like to invite you to our wedding.”
- Example: “I would like to order the pasta, please.”
- feel like doing: To have a desire or inclination to do something.
- Example: “I don’t feel like cooking tonight; let’s get takeout.”
Describing Appearance or Impression
Though often followed by ‘like’ as a preposition, these verb collocations describe how something appears or sounds.
- look like: To resemble someone or something in appearance.
- Example: “He looks exactly like his father.”
- sound like: To give the impression of something when heard.
- Example: “That storm sounds like it’s getting closer.”
- smell like: To have an odor resembling something.
- Example: “This perfume smells like roses.”
- taste like: To have a flavor resembling something.
- Example: “This soup tastes like chicken noodle.”
Essential Collocations using LIKE as a Preposition
As a preposition, ‘like’ is used to show similarity, comparison, or characteristic.
Showing Similarity or Comparison
- like a… (noun): Resembling or characteristic of a particular thing or person.
- Example: “She works like a machine, never stopping.”
- Example: “The new intern acts like a professional.”
- just like: Exactly similar to.
- Example: “Your new car is just like mine!”
- nothing like: Not at all similar to.
- Example: “The movie was nothing like the book.”
- something like: Approximately or roughly similar to.
- Example: “It cost something like a hundred dollars.”
- Example: “He said something like, ‘See you tomorrow.'”
- what is… like?: Asking for a description or opinion.
- Example: “What is the new manager like?”
- Example: “What’s your hometown like?”
Intensifying an Action or Feeling
- like crazy/mad/hell: To do something with great intensity or enthusiasm. (Informal)
- Example: “They were running like crazy to catch the bus.”
- Example: “I worked like hell to finish the project on time.”
Key Collocations with LIKE as a Noun
As a noun, ‘like’ refers to preferences or similar items/things, especially in modern usage.
Preferences and Related Items
- likes and dislikes: A person’s preferences and aversions.
- Example: “It’s important to understand your partner’s likes and dislikes.”
- the like (and the like): Similar things or others of the same kind. (Often used after a list)
- Example: “We discussed books, movies, and the like.”
- something of the like: Something similar to what has been mentioned or implied.
- Example: “I’ve never seen something of the like before.”
- (social media) likes: Expressions of approval or popularity on social media platforms.
- Example: “Her post received thousands of likes within minutes.”
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| like + -ing / to infinitive | Verb | To enjoy doing something. |
| would like to do | Verb | Politely express desire or request. |
| feel like doing | Verb | Have an inclination to do something. |
| look like | Verb | To resemble in appearance. |
| like a… (noun) | Preposition | Resembling or characteristic of. |
| just like | Preposition | Exactly similar to. |
| what is… like? | Preposition | Asking for a description. |
| like crazy/mad/hell | Preposition | With great intensity (informal). |
| likes and dislikes | Noun | Personal preferences and aversions. |
| the like (and the like) | Noun | Similar things or others of the same kind. |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
Avoid these common translation-based errors to sound more natural.
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| I like as you. | I am like you. / I am similar to you. |
| I like to eat pizza always. | I like eating pizza. / I enjoy eating pizza. |
| He works as a slave. | He works like a dog. / He works like a slave. (using “like” for comparison, “as” for role) |
| My mood is like cooking. | I feel like cooking. |
| What is the weather as? | What is the weather like? |
Last week, during our team meeting, Sarah suggested a new marketing campaign. I immediately liked the idea of it, especially because it sounded like a fresh approach. When she finished explaining, the whole team seemed to like the sound of it. Even Mark, who usually doesn’t feel like trying new things, looked engaged. He said, “I’d like to see the full proposal soon. We need to boost our social media likes and this campaign could make us work like crazy to achieve that!” Everyone agreed, feeling that we’d found something impactful, nothing like our previous, less effective strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions about Like Collocations
What’s the difference between “like” and “as”?
While often confused, “like” and “as” have distinct roles. “Like” is generally used as a preposition to mean “similar to” or “in the manner of.” For example, “He sings like an angel” means his singing is similar to an angel’s. “As” is typically used as a conjunction (meaning “in the way that”) or as a preposition to refer to a role or function. For example, “He works as a teacher” indicates his profession, and “Do as I say” means “do in the way I say.”
When should I use “like + -ing” versus “like + to infinitive”?
Both forms are often interchangeable when expressing general enjoyment or preference, especially in American English. For instance, “I like swimming” and “I like to swim” both mean you enjoy the activity. However, “like + -ing” often emphasizes the activity itself and the pleasure derived from it (e.g., “I like cooking, it’s relaxing”). “Like + to infinitive” can sometimes imply a habit, a preference, or a choice (e.g., “I like to wake up early when I’m on vacation”). With verbs of thinking (e.g., “like to think”), the infinitive is usually preferred.
Is “I would like” always more polite than “I like”?
Yes, “I would like” (or “I’d like”) is a more polite and softer way to express a desire, request, or intention compared to “I like.” “I like” states a general preference or enjoyment. For example, if you’re ordering food, “I would like the chicken, please” is more polite than “I like the chicken.” In social situations, “I would like to invite you” is much more courteous than “I like to invite you.”
Can “like” be used informally as a filler word or for direct quotation?
Yes, informally, especially in spoken American English, “like” is often used as a discourse marker (a filler word) to introduce a quotation or an approximation, or simply to pause. For instance, “She was like, ‘I can’t believe it!'” or “It was like, twenty degrees below zero.” While common in casual conversation, it’s generally best to avoid this usage in formal writing or professional settings as it can sound imprecise or immature.
What prepositions commonly follow “like”?
When “like” acts as a verb, it typically doesn’t take a direct preposition after it when followed by an object or gerund/infinitive. However, when “like” functions as a preposition, it directly precedes a noun, pronoun, or gerund phrase to make a comparison. For example: “She looks like her mother” (preposition + noun), “It feels like a dream” (preposition + noun phrase). Some collocations use “like” followed by other prepositions as part of a larger phrase, such as “like nothing better than” (+ noun phrase).
I'm confused about 'just like.' Is that a collocation too?
As a native speaker, I find it fascinating how we use these rules without thinking. This is a great breakdown for learners.
The example 'I really like the idea of a picnic' helps me understand how to be more descriptive. Usually, I just say 'I want a picnic.'
Is 'not like' different? Can I say 'I don't like to wake up early' or should it be 'waking'?
Can I use 'like' with 'how'? Like 'I like how she sings'?
I used 'I like the sound of that' when my boss suggested a raise. It worked! Thanks for the tip.
In Spanish, we just say 'me gusta.' English is so much more complex with all these different structures after the verb!
Does 'I would like' always require 'to'? For example, 'I would like to order a coffee'?
What about 'look like' and 'sound like'? Are these considered collocations or phrasal verbs?
I'm an English teacher in Delhi and I'll definitely share this with my students. The 'sound of' vs 'idea of' section is very clear.