Like 用法详解
Li: Hello Callum.
Callum: Are you ready for today's question?
Li: Yes, certainly, let's hear it.
Callum: Today's question is from Maja who emailed us with a question about 'like': "Hi, could you clarify the difference between like + ing
and like + the infinitive? I thought there was a difference. However,I've recently come across several cases in which competent English
speakers seemed to mix up these two ideas."
Li: 嗯,这位听友希望我们能讲解一下在动词like 也就是喜欢这个词之后应该用什么形式的短语,应该是动名词,也就是'ing' 呢? 还是动词不定式呢?The infinitives呢? Callum, 你说,到底应该是哪一个呢?
Callum: Ah, well, what a good question! As in many cases, it depends!
Li: 两者的区别到底是什么?
Callum: Technically, if you are being very strict, then there is a difference.You could hear a sentence like this and it would be correct:
Example
I like to do the laundry every week but I don't like doing it.Li: I like to do the washing every week but I don't like doing it! 这两句话到底有什么区别?
Callum: Well let's look at it in a bit more detail. If you use 'like' followed by the –ing form, then we are talking about enjoyment, taking
pleasure in an activity.
Li: 也就是说动名词ing 表示欣赏和喜欢做什么,那么Callum, could you tell me some of the things you like doing?
Callum: Well, I like cycling, I like cooking, I like spending time with my family... how about you?
Li: I like swimming and I like walking in the country and I like presenting programmes with you.
Callum: Ah! So that is like + ing.
Li: 那什么时候使用动词不定式the infinitives 呢?
Callum: Well that can have the same meaning – so I can say I like to cycle,I like to cook and I like to spend time with my family – they all
mean that I enjoy that activity, too. Let's hear your examples...
Li: I like to swim, I like to walk in the country and I like to present programmes with you. 这么说,使用动名词like doing something 和不
定式like to do something没有任何区别, 对吗?
Callum: Well, there can be a difference. The verb 'like' is also used to talk about your habits and the choices you make. Note here that we're not talking about what we enjoy, but what we choose to do, what we think is a good idea to do. And with this use, we only use the infinitive:
I like to visit the dentist twice a year.
I like to do the washing-up before I go to bed.
I like to go to the gym three times a week.
Li: 也就是说在表示一些日常的和惯例性的事情的时候,我们可以使用动词不定式the infinitive.
Callum: Yes, that's right. So if we go back to the sentence we had at the beginning:
Example
I like to do the laundry every week but I don't like doing it.
Callum: This should now make sense.
Li: Yeah, it does. 我明白了。I like to do the laundry every week 这句话表示我喜欢每个星期洗一次衣服,但是实际上我并不喜欢洗衣服这件事I
don't like doing it.
Callum: That's it exactly.
Li: 那我们如何判断呢?如何才能知道一个人是在谈论他喜欢做的事还是谈一种习惯呢?
Callum: Often when talking about things we enjoy, we would use different words instead of like, words such as love, enjoy, adore. So rather that saying I like cooking, in conversation I might say I really enjoy cooking or I love cooking. These words aren't used to talk about our habits. But sometimes it can just come down to understanding the context.
Li: 所以说要搞清上下文,这个十分重要。Is that right?
Callum: Yes, that's always very important. Also, British speakers will tend to use like + ing more for when talking about enjoying something.
Li: 这么说,如果一个英国人说, He likes doing something 那就是说明他喜欢做那件事, 没错吧?
Callum: Yes, I'd say so.
Li: So let's just go back to Maja's question and summarise today's answer.
Callum: Of course. There can be a difference between like + ing and like + the infinitive, but not always. The context will tell you which is
which.
Like followed by the ing form means we enjoy that activity: I like cooking. Like followed by the infinitive also means we enjoy an activity: I like to cook. Like followed by the infinitive can mean that something is your habit or choice and is not about how much we enjoy it: I like to get my hair cut regularly. So Maja I hope that helps to answer your question.
Li: Callum, 非常感谢你对《你问我答》节目的支持。You are a star! 谢谢收听我们下次节目再会。
Callum: And I like hearing that kind of thing. Thanks Li, you too! Bye!
Li: Bye.