Like to do and like doing: What’s the difference?

Some verbs in English can be followed by either a gerund (-ing verb) or infinitive (‘to’ verb), and ‘like’ is one of them. So what’s the difference between like to do and like doing, and how do you know when to use each one?

When you’re unsure whether to use like doing or like to do, the good news is that they mean more or less the same thing.

However, there are some subtle differences in meaning that you should be aware of. You also need to be sure your grammar is correct when using the verb ‘like’.

Like doing vs Like to do

Incorrect ways to use like to do and like doing

We wouldn’t usually jump in with a list of mistakes, but it’s very common for non-native English speakers to say things like:

• I like play badminton.
• I like to watching TV and listen to music.
• Do you like eat out in restaurants?
• He likes to riding his bike every evening.

None of these are correct grammatically. You must use either a gerund or infinitive, but you mustn’t use both together and you can’t omit ‘to’ when using the base verb.

Here are the correct versions of the sentences above using either like to do or like doing:

• I like to play badminton. / I like playing badminton.
• I like to watch TV and listen to music. / I like watching TV and listening to music.
• Do you like to eat out in restaurants? / Do you like eating out in restaurants?
• He likes to ride his bike every evening. / He likes riding his bike every evening.

With this clear, let’s examine some of the subtle differences in meaning between these two constructions.

What’s the difference between like to do something and like doing something?

Any differences are very subtle and in some contexts there may be no distinction at all between the two. No wonder they are so easily confused!

This is unlike stop to do and stop doing, which have distinctly different meanings.

This said, you should consider the following when deciding whether to use the infinitive (like to do) or gerund (like doing).

Habits

We generally use the infinitive form when talking about habits and actions that we do regularly. For example:

• When I get home on Fridays, I like to run a bath and pour myself a glass of wine.
• I like to play golf with my friends at the weekend.
• She used to like knitting, but now she prefers scrapbooking.

Check our article about used to do and used to doing if you need help understanding the construction of the last sentence in the list above.

Outcome

If the focus is on the outcome of the action rather than pleasure in the action itself, then use an infinitive. For example:

• I like eating healthily. (I get pleasure from eating healthy food.)
• I like to eat healthily. (I think it’s important to take care of my body and eating healthy food helps with this.)
• I like doing my homework as soon as I get it. (Because I just love doing homework and I’m so excited when I get it.)
• I like to do my homework as soon as I get it. (Because then it’s finished and I don’t have to worry about it.)

Frequency

Combining the two points above, often the infinitive is used with a frequency to indicate pleasure from maintaining the habit rather than from the action itself. For example:

• I like getting my hair cut. (I get enjoyment from being in the salon and the process of getting my hair cut)
• I like to get my hair cut once a month. (I make an effort to maintain my appearance by doing this)
• I like reading the news. (I get enjoyment from reading the news)
• I like to read the news every morning. (I maintain this habit so that I can stay informed about current affairs)

In these sentences, ‘like to’ could be replaced by ‘make an effort to’ or ‘think it’s important to’ to convey a similar meaning. That’s not to say that these people get no enjoyment from the action itself, but their main reason for doing it is for the long-term benefit of repeating the action regularly.

‘Try to do’ is another phrase that implies effort, but you should learn when to use try to do or try doing to be sure your meaning is clear.

Negative sentences work in the same way with frequencies:

• I don’t like eating chocolate. (I don’t like the taste of chocolate)
• I don’t like to eat chocolate too often. (I like chocolate but I know it’s unhealthy to eat too much so I limit the amount I eat)

However, the verb ‘dislike‘ is always followed by a gerund verb:

• I dislike attending meetings early in the morning. (CORRECT)
• I dislike to attend meetings early in the morning. (INCORRECT)
• Everybody in our house dislikes washing the dishes. (CORRECT)
• Everybody in our house dislikes to wash the dishes. (INCORRECT)

Lists

If you’re listing things that you like doing, for example hobbies, make sure that the verb form you use is consistent:

• I like playing tennis, watching movies and going shopping.
• Duncan likes to eat dinner, have a shower, and play video games in the evening.
• I don’t like doing yoga, swimming, or going to the beach.

Would like to do or would like to doing?

‘Would like’ is a polite way to say ‘want’. This phrase has a specific construction and is always followed by an infinitive:

• I would like to have pizza for dinner. (CORRECT)
• I would like having pizza for dinner. (INCORRECT)
• He would like to go to the cinema tomorrow. (CORRECT)
• He would like going to the cinema tomorrow. (INCORRECT)

Feel like doing or feel like to do?

This is another phrase you might use when talking about what you would like to do. But, confusingly, it follows the opposite rule. ‘Feel like’ is always followed by a gerund:

• I feel like having a picnic for lunch. (CORRECT)
• I feel like to have a picnic for lunch. (INCORRECT)
• Emily said she doesn’t feel like joining us. (CORRECT)
• Emily said she doesn’t feel like to join us. (INCORRECT)

Enjoy doing or enjoy to do?

The verb ‘enjoy’ is similar in meaning to ‘like’, but it is only followed by a gerund verb:

• She enjoys having her grandchildren over to stay. (CORRECT)
• She enjoys to have her grandchildren over to stay. (INCORRECT)
• They enjoy playing hockey together. (CORRECT)
• They enjoy to play hockey together. (INCORRECT)

We hope this has helped clear up the difference between like to do and like doing for you. If you’re not sure which one to use in a particular sentence, you can leave a comment below.

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