[fface]

Hi,

Can I say "I don't like to..." if I have never done it? For example,

"I have never played tennis and I don't like to do it."

Thanks.

[susan53]

No - if you've never done something, how can you know if you enjoy doing it or not? You're talking here about what you want to do - not about what you enjoy. So you can say :
I've never played tennis and I don't want to try.

but if you use like, you are making a hypothetical prediction, so you need would :
I've never played tennis and I wouldn't like to try.
The version with want sounds more natural however.

I suggest you change your mind though - it's a great game! Much better:
I've never played tennis but I'd love to try

[fface]

Hi susan,

question 1:
If someone has to do something that he doesn't like to do, can I use either sentence #1 or #2 here?

1.I don't like to talk to him but I have to.

2.I don't like talking to him but I have to.

question 2:
If someone can choose not to do something again if he doesn't like to do it, can I use either 1 or 2 here?

1. I don't like to talk to him. So I wouldn't like to talked to him again.

2. I don't like talking to him. So I wouldn't like to talked to him again.

question 3:

Can I use either sentence 1 or 2 here?

1. You have been a teacher for many years now. Do you like to be a teacher?

2. You have been a teacher for many years now. Do you like being a teacher?

Thank you a lot.

[susan53]

See my first reply here (would enjoy + v.ing ?)
before you read on.

As indicated there and in my other replies in this thread, when discussing the verb like you always need to decide first if you're talking about :
a) enjoyment (like + Ving)
b) whether you think it's a good idea to do something or not (like + to + infinitive)
c) whether it's something you do or don't want to do (would like + to + infinitive)

So:

1. Perhaps - 1/2 can certainly be interpreted as expressing enjoyment (so is possible). What would be the context for 1/1? It seems possible but without knowing the context, I can't be sure.

2. The verb in the second sentence of each example is incorrect. After would like to the infinitive must be used (that's a syntactic rule) - so I wouldn't like to talk to him again. As for the extract as a whole - I can't think of a context where 2/1 might be said, so can't give you an answer. Can you provide one? Remember - grammatical choices express meaning, and the meaning of a sentence always depends on the context and the speaker's intention in that context. Isolated sentences, devoid of context, are impossible to interpret or judge unless they break a clear syntactic rule (eg as in your second sentence here that to can't be followed by a past form verb). 2/2 can easily be interpreted as expressing enjoyment in the situation, so no problem.

3. 3/1 sounds strange to me. The meaning seems clearly "Do you enjoy..." rather than "Do you think it's a good idea...". Again, I can't think of a context which would produce it.

I would say that all these examples would probably refer to a context where the speaker is asking about the listener's feelings (of enjoyment/discomfort) rather than whether they think something is "a good idea" or not, so like + Ving is more probabale (in British English certainly)

[fface]

Hi susan,

The verb 'like' in the following sentences all mean 'enjoyment'.

1. Richard doesn't like to exercise because it's tiring for him, but he has to do it in order to keep in shape.

Does the sentence above make sense when you have to do something you don't enjoy? Can we also use 'doesn't like exercising' to mean the same thing here?

2. Richard doesn't like to run so he walks instead to keep in shape. Running is too tiring for him.

Does the sentence above make sense when you don't have to do something you don't enjoy and you can choose to do it or not? Can we also use 'doesn't like running' to mean the same thing here?

Thank you very much for your reply.

[susan53]

In British English both of those examples would more likely use the Ving form, especially the second. In the first, as it's "tiring" there's also the idea that it's not recommendable so it would be possible.
in American English, like + to + infinitive is more likely to be substituted for like +ving to express enjoyment.

I'm sure this has been discussed in a previous thread, but I'm afraid I can't find it now. If anyone can, please leave a link.