Learn Like / Want + Noun or Infinitive in English
Use like and want followed by a noun or to + infinitive.
Grammar Focus
The verbs like and want are two of the most common verbs in everyday English. Both can be followed by a noun (or pronoun) or by a to + infinitive (also called a to-infinitive). Understanding how to use these two patterns correctly will help you express your preferences, desires, and wishes clearly and naturally.
- Use like or want + noun to talk about what you enjoy or desire as a thing: "I like coffee." / "She wants a new phone."
- Use like or want + to + base verb to talk about what you enjoy or desire as an activity: "I like to read before bed." / "He wants to travel next summer."
- For he / she / it, remember to add -s or -es to like or want: "She likes music." / "He wants to leave."
- The negative uses do not (don't) or does not (doesn't) before like or want: "They don't want to wait."
- Questions are formed with do or does: "Do you like tea?" / "Does she want to come?"
Form & Structure
Like / Want + Noun
Like / Want + Infinitive
Questions with Like / Want
Common Mistakes
Using 'want' without 'to' before the infinitive
Tip: Always use 'to' between 'want' and the base verb. The structure is: want + to + base verb.
Forgetting -s/-es for third person singular
Tip: Add -s to 'like' and 'want' when the subject is he, she, or it: likes, wants.
Using 'wanting' as a main verb in a simple statement
Tip: 'Want' is a stative verb. Use the present simple, not the present continuous: 'I want', not 'I am wanting'.
Why This Grammar Matters
Ordering food and drinks
Talking about hobbies and preferences
Making plans and expressing wishes
Asking about someone's preferences
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This lesson content was created with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.
Quick Summary
| Use | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Like / Want + Noun | Subject + **like/want** + noun/pronoun | I **like** chocolate. |
| Like / Want + Infinitive | Subject + **like/want** + **to** + base verb | I **like to swim** in the morning. |
| Questions with Like / Want | **Do/Does** + subject + **like/want** + noun/to+verb? | **Do** you **like** pizza? |
Two of the most useful and frequently used verbs in the English language are 'like' and 'want.' From the moment you begin learning English, you will encounter these verbs in everyday conversations — ordering food, talking about hobbies, making plans, and expressing preferences. Because they appear so often, mastering how to use them correctly is essential for any beginner learner. Both 'like' and 'want' can be followed by either a noun or a to-infinitive. This means that you can say 'I like music' (noun) or 'I like to listen to music' (infinitive), and both sentences are grammatically correct. Similarly, you can say 'She wants a coffee' (noun) or 'She wants to have a coffee' (infinitive). Understanding this flexibility gives you a powerful tool for expressing a wide range of ideas with confidence. For beginners, these two patterns — verb + noun and verb + to + infinitive — are among the first grammar structures worth practising carefully. Getting them right early on will prevent common errors that many learners carry into intermediate and advanced stages of their English journey. Once you understand the patterns and know how they change in negatives and questions, you will be able to use 'like' and 'want' naturally across a huge range of real-life situations. In this article, you will find a complete and practical guide to using 'like' and 'want' in English. We will explain the two main structures, show you how to form negative sentences and questions, highlight the most common mistakes learners make, and explain the important difference between 'want' and 'would like.' By the end, you will have a thorough understanding of these essential verbs and be ready to use them with confidence in everyday English.
Using Like and Want in English Grammar
The verbs 'like' and 'want' are core vocabulary in English and they follow a consistent grammatical pattern. Both verbs can be used with a noun directly after them, or with a to-infinitive (to + base form of the verb). This makes them flexible and extremely useful for expressing preferences and desires. In affirmative sentences, the structure is simple: subject + like or want + noun/pronoun or to-infinitive. For example: 'I like tea,' 'She wants help,' 'They like to exercise,' 'He wants to sleep.' These sentences follow a predictable, easy-to-remember pattern. An important rule to remember is the third person singular: when the subject is he, she, or it, you must add -s to make 'likes' or 'wants.' This is the same rule as for all verbs in the present simple. For example: 'She likes spicy food,' 'He wants a new job,' 'It wants attention' (said of a pet, for example). Both 'like' and 'want' are stative verbs, which means they describe a state of mind or feeling rather than a physical action. Because of this, they are almost always used in the present simple, not the present continuous. You should say 'I like this film' and 'I want some water,' not 'I am liking this film' or 'I am wanting some water.' Stative verbs like these do not typically take the -ing form in standard English grammar.
Read the full grammar guide
Like and Want Followed by a Noun
The simplest pattern with 'like' and 'want' is when they are followed directly by a noun or pronoun. This structure is used constantly in everyday English to talk about things we enjoy, need, or desire. With 'like,' the noun that follows describes something you enjoy or find pleasant on a general level. For example: 'I like coffee,' 'She likes classical music,' 'We like Italian food,' 'He likes sport.' These sentences describe ongoing preferences — things that are generally true about the person. With 'want,' the noun that follows describes something you desire, need, or are asking for at a particular moment or in a general sense. For example: 'I want a sandwich,' 'She wants a new bag,' 'Do you want a drink?' 'They want more time to decide.' This pattern is especially useful in everyday situations such as ordering at a café ('I want a large coffee, please'), shopping ('She wants the red dress'), or expressing wishes ('He wants a dog for his birthday'). The noun can be singular or plural, and it can be a concrete thing (food, drink, objects) or an abstract thing (help, time, information). Practising this pattern with everyday vocabulary is one of the best ways to build confidence quickly as a beginner learner.
Like and Want Followed by an Infinitive
Both 'like' and 'want' can also be followed by a to-infinitive — that is, 'to' plus the base form of a verb. This pattern is used when the thing you like or want is an activity rather than a thing. Mastering this structure will allow you to talk about what you enjoy doing and what you hope to do. With 'like,' the to-infinitive pattern expresses something you enjoy as an activity: 'I like to read,' 'She likes to cook,' 'They like to travel,' 'He likes to go for a walk in the morning.' Note that 'like + verb-ing' is also correct and equally common in British English: 'I like reading,' 'She likes cooking.' The to-infinitive form is more formal or standard, while the -ing form is conversational, but both are grammatically accepted. With 'want,' however, the pattern is strictly 'want + to + base verb.' You cannot say 'I want going' or 'She wants cooking.' The only correct infinitive form with 'want' is with 'to': 'I want to go,' 'She wants to cook,' 'They want to leave early,' 'He wants to speak to the manager.' This distinction is important: 'like' can be followed by either to-infinitive or -ing form, while 'want' can only be followed by the to-infinitive. For example: 'I like swimming' and 'I like to swim' are both correct. But 'I want swimming' is incorrect — you must say 'I want to swim.' In negative sentences, 'don't' or 'doesn't' comes before 'want' or 'like': 'She doesn't want to leave,' 'I don't like to argue.' In questions, 'do' or 'does' comes before the subject: 'Do you want to join us?' 'Does he like to cook?' Learning to use this structure in all four forms — affirmative, negative, question, and short answers — is the key to mastering this grammar point.
Common Mistakes with Like and Want
Even though 'like' and 'want' follow clear patterns, beginner learners often make a small number of predictable errors. Being aware of these mistakes from the start will help you avoid them. The most frequent mistake is forgetting 'to' between 'want' and the following verb. Learners commonly say 'I want go to the cinema' instead of the correct 'I want to go to the cinema.' Remember: 'want' must always be followed by 'to' before a base verb. This 'to' is not optional — it is required every time. A second common mistake is forgetting to add -s to 'like' or 'want' for the third person singular. 'She like chocolate' and 'He want a coffee' are both incorrect. The correct forms are 'She likes chocolate' and 'He wants a coffee.' This error is the same mistake many learners make with all present simple verbs, but it is especially noticeable with high-frequency verbs like these. A third mistake involves using 'like' in questions with a missing auxiliary verb. Learners sometimes say 'You like tea?' or 'She like pizza?' as questions. In English, you must use 'do' or 'does' to form a question: 'Do you like tea?' 'Does she like pizza?' Finally, some learners use the present continuous with 'want': 'I am wanting a coffee.' This is incorrect. Because 'want' is a stative verb, it does not take the -ing form in standard usage. Always use the simple present: 'I want a coffee.' Keeping these four points in mind will make your use of 'like' and 'want' significantly more accurate and natural.
Like vs Would Like: What's the Difference?
A question that often comes up for learners is the difference between 'like' and 'would like.' Both express a kind of preference or desire, but they are used in different ways and carry a slightly different meaning. 'Like' in the present simple expresses a general, long-term preference — something you enjoy as a habit or ongoing fact. 'I like coffee' means that coffee is something you generally enjoy drinking. It describes your taste or personality. This is a stable, permanent statement. 'Would like,' on the other hand, is more polite and is used to express a specific desire in a particular situation, especially when making requests or offers. 'I would like a coffee' means you want a coffee right now, in this moment. It is the equivalent of 'I want a coffee,' but softer and more polite — the kind of language you use in a restaurant, a business meeting, or a formal conversation. In question form, the difference becomes even clearer. 'Do you like coffee?' asks about your general preference — whether you enjoy coffee in general. 'Would you like a coffee?' is a polite offer of a coffee right now. These two questions have very different communicative purposes. Native speakers use 'would like' in offers and polite requests ('Would you like to sit down?' 'I would like to make a reservation') and 'like' when discussing tastes and preferences in general. For beginners, the key takeaway is: use 'like' for general preferences, and 'would like' for polite requests and specific desires.
Practice In This Page
1. I _____ chocolate.
Show answer
like
2. I _____ in the morning.
Show answer
like to swim
3. I want go to the cinema.
Show answer
I want to go to the cinema.
4. She like coffee and he want a sandwich.
Show answer
She likes coffee and he wants a sandwich.
5. I am wanting a glass of water.
Show answer
I want a glass of water.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can 'like' be followed by both a noun and a to-infinitive?
- Yes. 'Like' can be followed by a noun ('I like music') or by a to-infinitive ('I like to listen to music'). Both patterns are grammatically correct. 'Like' can also be followed by a verb-ing form ('I like listening to music'), which is equally correct and very common in everyday spoken English.
- Can 'want' be followed by a noun and a to-infinitive?
- Yes, but with one important rule. 'Want' can be followed by a noun ('She wants a new phone') or by a to-infinitive ('She wants to buy a new phone'). However, 'want' cannot be followed by a verb-ing form — you cannot say 'She wants buying a phone.' The only infinitive form with 'want' is 'to + base verb'.
- What is the correct form of 'like' and 'want' for he, she, and it?
- For the third person singular (he, she, it), you must add -s to both verbs: 'likes' and 'wants.' For example: 'He likes football,' 'She wants to study abroad,' 'It wants attention.' This follows the same rule as all verbs in the present simple tense.
- How do I make a negative sentence with 'like' and 'want'?
- To make a negative sentence, use 'do not' (don't) or 'does not' (doesn't) before 'like' or 'want.' Use 'don't' with I, you, we, and they. Use 'doesn't' with he, she, and it. For example: 'I don't like spicy food,' 'She doesn't want to go,' 'They don't want coffee.'
- How do I form questions with 'like' and 'want'?
- To form a yes/no question, put 'do' or 'does' before the subject, followed by 'like' or 'want' in the base form. For example: 'Do you like jazz?' 'Does he want to come?' For wh-questions, add a question word at the start: 'What do you like to do at weekends?' 'What does she want for her birthday?'
- What is the difference between 'like' and 'would like'?
- 'Like' expresses a general, long-term preference: 'I like Italian food' means you enjoy it as a general taste. 'Would like' expresses a specific desire or polite request in a particular situation: 'I would like a pizza, please' means you want one right now. 'Would like' is the more formal and polite alternative to 'want' and is commonly used when ordering, requesting, or making offers.