Like to vs like + ing

Question

Possible Duplicate:
“I like to do (be) something” vs “I like doing (being) something”

Hello,

Is there any difference of meaning between these sentences?

I like to get up early
I like getting up early

UPDATE

One teacher of mine suggested in his class that one of them (I can't remember which one) meant that "I like it and I do it" while in the other case "I like it but I usually don't do it". t was justt to see if this difference really existed.

Matthew Read · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-02T16:31:40.873

2

No. to get up is a full infinitive used as a noun phrase, whereas getting up is a gerund (also a noun phrase). Using the gerund is often considered more natural in this case, but it depends who you talk to. Either way, the meaning is the same.

Edit: In this particular case, I still think the meaning is the same. Someone would not say they appreciate getting up early without referring to some (implied) benefit ("I appreciate John getting up early"); they would only say "I like getting up early" if they actually do so themselves.

That said, your teacher is correct. For example, I like to ski always means that the speaker has skiied and enjoys it. I like skiing can mean the same thing, but can also mean I like to watch skiing or something similar. It all depends on context. If there's little context available, I would make it explicit which meaning you intend.

edited May 02 '11 at 16:31

answered May 02 '11 at 16:19

Matthew Read

3,345

Please, see my update – Juanillo May 02 '11 at 16:26
@Juanillo Updated. – Matthew Read May 02 '11 at 16:31
1

I agree with you. I like to ski means you enjoy the act of skiing. Whereas I like skiing could even mean you like the idea of skiing (or that you advocate skiing as a form of recreation, or many other things). – David Schwartz Oct 04 '11 at 01:52

Like to vs like + ing

1 Answers1