Like, love, hate, and prefer without would accept both the gerund and the infinitive with similar meaning, as in I like swimming or I like to swim. With would like, would love, would hate, or would prefer, only the infinitive is used, as in I would like to go to the beach.
Grammar Rule
Like/love/hate/prefer (without would) accept both the gerund and the infinitive. With would like/love/hate/prefer, only the infinitive is used.
Gerund vs Infinitive: Rules and Examples
| Verb | Accepted form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| like / love / hate / prefer | gerund or infinitive | I like swimming. / I like to swim. She loves reading books. / She loves to read books. We prefer walking to driving. |
| would like / love / hate / prefer | infinitive only | I would like to go to the beach. She would love to travel. |
Remember: would like/love/hate/prefer is always followed by the infinitive with to, never the gerund.
Practice Test
Instructions
Answer each question in the test below choosing correctly between the gerund and the infinitive. You will get a new random set of questions every time you retake the test, plus a downloadable results summary with your name and score at the end.
Gerund vs. Infinitive – Like, Love, Hate, Prefer
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can like, love, hate, and prefer be followed by both the gerund and the infinitive?
Yes, without would these verbs accept both forms with a similar meaning, as in I like swimming or I like to swim.
What form follows would like, would love, would hate, or would prefer?
Only the infinitive with to follows these would forms, as in I would like to go to the beach, never the gerund.
Is there a difference in meaning between the gerund and infinitive after love or prefer?
The meaning is generally the same in everyday use, though the infinitive can sometimes suggest a specific instance rather than a general preference.
What is a common mistake with would like?
A common mistake is using the gerund after would like, such as saying I would like going instead of the correct I would like to go.