英文文法請教：I like to eat.. / I like eating...

mimi1234

I like to eat apples.  I like to read story books.

I like eating apples.  I like reading story books.

是否一樣？

wtfa

Should be:-

I like eating apples/I like reading story books is correct.

leschelems

Grammar books state that the verb "like" taking either TO-infinitive complement or gerund -ING complement is grammatical.  

Meaning-wise, they also show a great overlap.  In the ordinary cases of "eating apples" and "reading story books", it's hard to show the difference.  

However, linguistic survey did make a contrast in some rare cases.  Consider the following sentences:

(1) John likes to fly spaceshuttles./John likes to go bungee-jumping.

(2) John likes flying spaceshuttles./John likes going bungee-jumping.

For (1), native speakers of English usually interpret that John hasn't tried "fly spaceshuttles" and "go bungee-jumping".   It seems they are just the wishes of John.  For (2), it seems John did have the experience of "flying spaceshuttles" and "going bungee-jumping".

From teaching's perspective, the contrast is still indistinct.  Unless those rare cases show up, we are advised against giving this partial explanation.

sng

What about the case :

If someone holding an apple in hand and already eating, any different for him / her to say :
1) I like to eat apple
2) I like eating apple

Does  no. 2) sound more appropriate ?

wtfa

No. 2 " I like eating apple" is correct.

uncleedward

The first sentence should be: I'd like to eat an apple.

The second sentence should be: I like eating apples.

heiheikeikei

不一樣

" like / hate / love / prefer " + infinitive
( to express a conditional / present / future action )

" like / hate / love / prefer " + -ing
( to express a habit 習慣)

e.g.       
a)         I hate to see my children quarrel. ( conditional action )
b)         My brother loves / likes to swim. ( future action )
c)         I hate going to bed late at night. ( habit )
d)         I prefer swimming to climbing the mountain. ( habit )
e)         I like camping. ( habit

uncleedward

"b) My brother loves / likes to swim. ( future action )"

For students, it is better to write "My brother would love/like to swim."

jojoplanet

In this situation, No. 1 is correct.

(1) = you have a choice
(2) = is a habit

If someone show you apple and orange and asks...what would you like to eat?
then you should say "I would like to eat apple"
If someone asks....what kind of fruit do you like to eat?
then you should say "I like eating apple"

sng 寫道:
What about the case :

If someone holding an apple in hand and already eating, any different for him / her to say :
1) I like to eat apple
2) I like eating apple

Does  no. 2) sound more appropriate ?

cheungll

I agree with this explanation. There's much overlap between "I like eating apples" and "I like to eat apples" in ordinary cases. Both should be acceptable grammatically.

One thing to note, though, is that we should remember to say apple"s" in "I like eating apples"; and don't forget the article "an" in "I would like to eat an apple" if we're offered some fruits.

leschelems 寫道:
Grammar books state that the verb "like" taking either TO-infinitive complement or gerund -ING complement is grammatical.  

Meaning-wise, they also show a great overlap.  In the ordinary cases of "eating apples" and "reading story books", it's hard to show the difference.  

However, linguistic survey did make a contrast in some rare cases.  Consider the following sentences:

(1) John likes to fly spaceshuttles./John likes to go bungee-jumping.

(2) John likes flying spaceshuttles./John likes going bungee-jumping.

For (1), native speakers of English usually interpret that John hasn't tried "fly spaceshuttles" and "go bungee-jumping".   It seems they are just the wishes of John.  For (2), it seems John did have the experience of "flying spaceshuttles" and "going bungee-jumping".

From teaching's perspective, the contrast is still indistinct.  Unless those rare cases show up, we are advised against giving this partial explanation.

joy116

Both sentences are correct and grammatical but they should be used in different situations.  

First, the sentence 'I like eating candies' indicates my preference in general, or as what the other members have stated 'habit'.  

Second, the one that goes like this 'I like to eat candies' refers to my decision in one particular situation.  I know it is a bit confusing but the following example may give you some help:

Say, I am a meat-lover but I now have some pain in my stomach and thus I prefer some green salad for my lunch today; I then will say: I like eating steaks but I like to eat green salad today.    The first structure 'like + ~ing' states my general usual preference; while the second structure 'like to + basic form' indicates my decision in one particular or special situation.  Hope this can be of some help to you all.  

PS There is one more point about the use of 'eat'.  It sounds a bit Chinglish to say "I like to eat apples/I like eating apples."  Usually, native speakers of English will not use 'eat' in this way.  They tend to skip the word and put it like this: I like apples.  Some may also put it like this: I like having apples/ I like to have apples.  After all, we will never say 'I like to eat lunch'.  Right?

jojoplanet

joy116

your explanation is very clear but I have one question re "have lunch" and "eat lunch". As you said we will say "having lunch" and NOT "eating lunch" but I used to read a book of a primary student. It uses "eat lunch". I have never came across this but English book shouldn't be wrong...

can you explain on this?

joy116

I am sorry to say so but some of the local English textbooks for primary students, if not all, are written by non-native speakers of English.   It is not uncommon to find Chinglish expressions or even wrong structures in these learning materials.  We can understand these simply because we are Chinese.  Sometimes it is not a matter of grammar but a matter of usage.   I have also come across phrases like 'eat lunch/breakfast/dinner' but these sound weird and unnatural to native speakers.   Maybe they will understand what you want to put across but these ways are just not good enough.   Another example can also be used to illustrate the issue of common usage here.  Well, some people may say: Let's go out to have dinner.  We all understand this perfectly.  Right?  But there is a better or less Chinglish way of putting it: Let's dine out.  Both are grammatical but the latter one is more appropriate and natural.   Hope the little sharing here can give you some help.

joy116

BTW, I am not a native speaker of English and my sharing here may not be correct.  Pardon me if I have made any mistakes and let me know what the mistakes are.  This is the way we can improve ourselves and that we can help our kids.  Right?

monkeybbb

joy116
I agree with you.
Both are correct and it depends on your hidden meaning.
I like reading books = general situation, seems that it is a kind of habit
I like to read this book = a bit specific, for one occassion or it is not a kind of hobby

The usages of gerund and to-finite can show different meanings in the sentences.

For example,
I stop to smoke.
I stop smoking.
They have distinctive meanings.

The first one - Maybe I stop working and I want to smoke.
The second one - I stop the action, i.e. smoking.

sudoku

    

sudoku

Unfortunately, all Primary schools are used the local English books.

joy116 寫道:
I am sorry to say so but some of the local English textbooks for primary students, if not all, are written by non-native speakers of English.   It is not uncommon to find Chinglish expressions or even wrong structures in these learning materials.  We can understand these simply because we are Chinese.  Sometimes it is not a matter of grammar but a matter of usage.   I have also come across phrases like 'eat lunch/breakfast/dinner' but these sound weird and unnatural to native speakers.   Maybe they will understand what you want to put across but these ways are just not good enough.   Another example can also be used to illustrate the issue of common usage here.  Well, some people may say: Let's go out to have dinner.  We all understand this perfectly.  Right?  But there is a better or less Chinglish way of putting it: Let's dine out.  Both are grammatical but the latter one is more appropriate and natural.   Hope the little sharing here can give you some help.

monkeybbb

I don't think that non-native speakers are not good. Native speakers may also use informal English very often.
"Have lunch" and "eat lunch" are also ok!
The first one is more formal than the second one.
We will teach our kids to use formal English often, especially at school.

jojoplanet

one more thing for sharing...

I used to watch a chapter of the Disneyland English kit. It uses "little cup" but I have never came across "little cup" and it should be "small cup". So I looked at the dictionary and it explains "small" is to describe 死物 and little is to describe living creature eg. little dog..

It is very strange that this kit uses the wrong word. The only explanation is this chapter is to teach the word "little"...little dog, little bird...etc. for a small kid, they don't need to distinguish between the usage of word like to describe 死物 or living creature....