[fface]

Hi susan,

What's the difference between

'I like to swim.'
'I like swimming.' and
'I like to go swimming?

Thanks a lot.

[susan53]

People often use like + Ving and like to+ infinitive interchangeably to express enjoyment. I think like to + inf is slightly more usual in US English.

However, like to +inf can also be used to express the idea "I think it's a good idea". Look at the following:
I don't like going to the dentist, but I like to go about every six months because that way there's never too much to be done.

I don't like going to the dentist = I don't enjoy going to the dentist
I like to go to the dentist about every six months = I think it's a good idea to go to the dentist... (etc)

For the second part of your question - as in the examples above, it would be dependent if the concept of "going somewhere" were relevant or not. Eg:

I like to swim in fairly shallow water - never out of my depth. Where she "goes" swimming is irrelevant. It's the depth of the water that she's talking about.
But I like to go swimming at the lake - not in the sea. Here she's talking about the place where she "goes" in order to swim so might choose to say go swimming

But as always, these aren't "rules", but speaker choices dependent on what concept is uppermost in their minds and what they want to express.

[fface]

Quote susan53

I don't like going to the dentist = I don't enjoy going to the dentist

Hi susan,

Can I say "I don't like to go to the dentist." to mean the same as "I don't like going to the dentist." if I want to express that I don't enjoy going to the dentist?

Thank you very much.

[susan53]

Yes - look at the first sentence in the post above.

People often use like + Ving and like to+ infinitive interchangeably to express enjoyment. I think like to + inf is slightly more usual in US English.

[fface]

Hi susan,

Can I use like to+ infinitive to express that I like an activity which I've never had a chance to do it or I haven't done it for a long time? For example,

I like to go fishing but I've never had a chance to do it.
I like to go fishing. I haven't done that in ages.

Thank you very much.

[susan53]

It doesn't matter whether you do it regularly or rarely - the use of the structures is the same. You're saying that when you do it you enjoy it. Frequency is irrelevant.

But if you've never done an activity, then how do you know you like it? It's impossible. What you're saying in that context is that it would interest you to try it . So :
I'd like to go fishing, but I've never had a chance to do it.

[fface]

Quote susan53

However, like to +inf can also be used to express the idea "I think it's a good idea".

Hi susan,

Is it possible to say "1. I like to fish" to express that I think it's a good idea as above you said in the quote without doing the activity actually?

Can I also use these two sentences to express that I think it's a good activity but without actually doing it.

2. I like fishing.
3. I like going fishing.

Thank you very much.

[susan53]

No, no and no. If you don't actually do it, how can you say "I" like... Think about the literal meaning of the words.

[fface]

Hi susan,

I have deleted the message.

[fface]

1.

Quote susan53

However, like to +inf can also be used to express the idea "I think it's a good idea". Look at the following:
I don't like going to the dentist, but I like to go about every six months because that way there's never too much to be done.

I don't like going to the dentist = I don't enjoy going to the dentist
I like to go to the dentist about every six months = I think it's a good idea to go to the dentist... (etc)

Hi susan,
It's not correct to say "I don't like going to the dentist, but I like going about every six months because that way there's never too much to be done." here, right?

2. Do you think that the statement below is true?

"Personally I could say that I like going to the theatre, although I haven't been in years. I still have an affection for it. I couldn't say that I like to go to the theatre because that would suggest that it is one of my current pastimes."

Source:https://forum.wordreference.com/thre...ng-form.74694/

Thank you very much.

[susan53]

1. No. Like + Ving = enjoyment only. So I like going every six months because (etc) makes no sense. Look at the reply I wrote on October 5th. it's explained there.

2. I think you mean is it correct rather than is it true. Possibly, though I wouldn’t use it like that myself. As I said in a previous post, different varieties of English use the to + infinitive structure in different ways

[fface]

Hi susan,

1."I like to play tennis on Sunday mornings."

Does this mean I enjoy playing tennis on Sunday mornings or I think it's a good idea to play tennis on Sunday mornings?

2. Is it correct to say "I like playing tennis on Sunday mornings"?

Many thanks.

[susan53]

I think if you look back through the thread you'll find I've said this several times before, but....

1. Either. It depends on what variety of English you speak and the context in which you say it.

2. Yes - again if the context was such that you meant I enjoy playing...