Lesson Thirteen: Like

The word “like” gets special attention in this level because it’s a popular word in English. Understanding how to use “like” is important.

 1. “Like” expresses your happiness with something or someone:

I like this ice cream. / I like my neighbors.

 2. “Like” is used to make comparisons and to ask questions about people and things:

• Question: What is it like to live in Minnesota in January?
• Answer: It’s like living in Siberia.
• Question: Why is he like that?
• Answer: I don’t know. He’s just naturally a mean person.

A cantaloupe is like a honeydew melon. or use kind of like: A honeydew melon tastes kind of like a cantaloupe.

This video provides some more examples.

 3. “Like” is often used with “would” as a polite way of asking what a person wants. You often hear this in restaurants:

Question: What would you like to have for lunch?
Answer: I’d like a veggie sub, french fries, and a coke. (note the use of the contraction: I’d like = I would like.)

 4. “How do you like…” is used to ask if someone likes something. It’s very similar to “Do you like _______?”

• Question: How do you like living in this city?
• Answer: It’s great. I really like it.

• Question: How do you like your pizza?
• Answer: It’s awesome!

This YouTube video offers additional examples and explanations for “How do you like _______?”

 5. “Like” sometimes doesn’t mean anything at all. Americans use it in the same way they use “you know” and “uuhhhh….” Try to avoid doing this when you speak English. It’s a bad habit. Teenagers use this “like” a lot.

• That movie was, like, so good.

• I was, like, really mad at my teacher because he gave me a bad grade, and he was, like, “Here. you earned this.”

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Warning: “I like.” The verb should have an object somewhere after it. (The exception is example #5.)

• Question: Do you like this car?
• Answer: Yes, I like. (incorrect!)
• Answer: Yes, I like it. (correct!) Or…I like this car