When we can use the word would you like

Выражение would like очень часто используется как в разговорной, так и в официальной речи. Оно помогает нам вежливо попросить то, что мы хотим. С помощью would like вы можете сделать заказ в ресторане, забронировать отель, попросить принести воды. Это одно из самых часто используемых выражений во время путешествий.

В статье мы рассмотрим:

• Как правильно использовать would like в английском языке?
• Как задавать вопросы с would like в английском языке?
• Как задавать специальные вопросы с would like?

Как правильно использовать would like в английском языке?

Would like переводится как «хотел бы». Это выражение является вежливым вариантом слова want (хочу). Поэтому чаще всего оно используется при разговоре с незнакомыми людьми или при общении в официальной обстановке.

Есть два варианта использования would like в английском языке.

1. Когда мы говорим, что хотим какой-то предмет.
Например: «Я хотела бы воды».

В этом случае мы ставим то, что хотим, после нашего would like. Обратите внимание, перед предметами чаще всего должен стоять артикль. Схема построения такого предложения будет следующей:

Действующее лицо + would like + a/the предмет.

Примеры

2. Когда мы говорим, что хотим сделать что-либо.
Например: «Я хотела бы посмотреть вон ту сумку».  

Для этого мы после нашего would like ставим to и действие, которое бы хотели сделать. Схема предложения будет следующей:

Действующее лицо + would like + to + действие.

Примеры

Как задавать вопросы с would like в английском языке?

Would like является вежливым способом спросить, хочет ли человек чего-либо. Мы можем спрашивать про предмет или действие. Для этого нам нужно поставить would на первое место в предложении.

1. Спрашиваем про предмет.

Схема образования такого предложения будет следующей:

Would + действующее лицо + like + a/the предмет?

Примеры

2. Спрашиваем про действие.

Схема образования такого предложения будет следующей:

Would + действующее лицо + like + to + действие?

Примеры

Как задавать специальные вопросы с would like?

Мы можем задавать вопросы, чтобы узнать конкретную интересующую нас информацию, со следующими словами:

• what — что;
• where — где;
• who — кто;
• which — какой;
• why — почему;
• how — как.

Для этого нам нужно поставить эти слова на первое место, а далее предложение строится как в обычном вопросе. Схема предложения будет следующей:

Вопросительное слово + would + действующее лицо + like + to действие?

Примеры

Итак, would like является вежливой формой слова «хочу» и используется при разговоре с незнакомыми людьми и в официальной обстановке. Мы рассмотрели теоретическую часть, а теперь давайте закрепим на практике. 

Задание на закрепление

Переведите следующие предложения на английский язык.

1. Вы хотели бы яблоко?
2. Она бы хотела прочитать договор.
3. Они хотели бы пойти в кино?
4. Что вы хотели бы съесть?
5. Я хотела бы позвонить. 
6. Он хотел бы стакан воды. 
7. Когда вы бы хотели встретится?
8. Они хотели бы купить тур. 

Свои ответы оставляйте в комментариях под статьей.

Would you like переводится как «хотел бы» или «хотели бы». Можно сказать, что это вежливая форма глагола “want”. Мы часто будем использовать это выражение в общении с малознакомыми людьми и в официальном общении.

Would you like … ? = Do you want … ?

Would you like a chocolate?

Не хотите ли конфету?

Мы будем использовать Would you like … ? что бы, что-то предложить:

• Would you like some coffee? – Хотите ли вы кофе?
  No, thank you. – Нет, спасибо.
• Would you like a chocolate? – Хотите ли вы шоколад?
  Yes, please. – Да, пожалуйста.
• What would you like, tea or coffee? – Что бы вы хотели, чай или кофе?
  Tea, please. – Чай, пожалуйста.

Мы будем использовать Would you like to… ? что бы, кого-то пригласить:

• Would you like to go for a walk? – Хотите пойти на прогулку?
• Would you like to lunch with us on Saturday? – Хотите пообедать с нами в субботу?
  Yes, I’d love to. (= I would love to lunch with you) – Да, я хотел бы. (= Я хотел бы пообедать с вами)
• What would you like to do this evening? – Что бы вы хотели сделать этим вечером?

I would like / I’d like

I’d like это вежливый способ сказать “I want”. I’d like это сокращение от I would like.

• I’m thirsty. I’d like a drink. – У меня жажда. Я бы хотел что-нибудь выпить.
• I’d like some information about this car, please. – Мне нужна информация об этой машине, пожалуйста.
• I’m feeling tired. I’d like to stay at home this evening. – Я чувствую усталость. Я хотел бы остаться дома этим вечером.

Отличие от Do you like…?

Выражение Would you like – это предложение чего-либо. Его можно заменить на вопрос “Do you want” – ты хочешь это?
Do you like – задает вопрос нравится ли тебе это или нет.

Would you like some tea? = Do you want some tea?	Do you like tea? = Do you think tea is nice?
Would you like to go to the cinema tonight? (= do you want to go tonight?)	Do you like going to the cinema? (in general)
I’d like an orange, please. (= can I have an orange?)	I like oranges. (in general)
What would you like to do next weekend?	What do you like to do at weekends?

I would like (I’d like) = Я бы хотел(а)
Would you like…? = Вы бы хотели…?

Мы используем would like вместо want, если ситуация требует вежливого и формального общения, например, с персоналом в ресторане, отеле, аэропорту, на деловой встрече и т.д.

Would является модальным глаголом, поэтому would like не изменяется в зависимости от лица и числа. 

После would like может стоять как существительное, так и глагол (в таком случае нужно добавить частичку to):

• would like something — хотел бы что-то
• would like to do something — хотел бы сделать что-либо

Для отрицания мы ставим not после would.

В вопросах would и подлежащее меняются местами. Если есть вопросительное слово (where, what, how…), оно идёт в начало предложения.

The other answers are not incorrect. They are technically correct, which is the best kind of correct.

However, there are cases that can blur the lines between the two. Consider the following instances:

Bob: Man, I’m starving.

Alice: Do you like pizza?

In this case, Alice is asking «do you like» but because Bob has already said he’s looking to have some food, it is implied that Alice has some pizza to alleviate Bob’s hunger.

This can also be unsolicited, such as

Alice grabs plate of nachos and motions them towards Bob

Alice: Do you like nachos?

Here Alice still has something to offer Bob, using «Do you like». There’s a number of replies. A simple «no» would be inappropriate: Bob should indicate whether he is stating he doesn’t like nachos, or whether he just doesn’t want any right now.

These are both technically incorrect on Alice’s part. (Get it together, Alice!) However, they’re common enough that I wouldn’t consider them fringe cases.

When you go to a restaurant or a shop, it doesn’t sound good if you say: I want this and that. Children talk like that.

The polite way to ask for things is with “I’d like.”

The “’d” stands for “would.”

If you would like something, it means you want something.

You could say:

I’d like orange juice, please.

I’d like the steak, please.

I’d like a cheese omelette.

I’d like this shirt in a size M.

I’d like to try these trousers/pants.

If someone else would like something, you can shorten the sentence or the question with “’d.” (The same as with I.)

You can use you’d, she’d, he’d, we’d, they’d.

Examples:

You’d like a croissant.

She’d like that silver necklace.

He’d like to pay cash.

We’d like a pair of leather gloves.

They’d like these shoes in another colour.

For questions you can’t shorten the “would.”

Examples of questions with “would:”

Would you like to charge your credit card?

Would he like one or two eggs?

What would you like to order?

What would they like for lunch?

Neal Fowler

Exercise:

In this super easy exercise you’re going to make sentences and questions with “Would.”

Put the words in the right order.

Example:

coffee He’d in like sugar his.

Your answer:

He’d like sugar in his coffee.

Do this quiz online here.

1.  like Would this you try to on ?

2.  with pay like Visa to I’d .

3.  another tie in I’d this colour like .

4.  the Caesar . like salad She’d

5.  pizza . like small He’d a

6.  would like breakfast they for What ?

7.  I’d cream strawberry ice some . like

8.  please bag , the I’d red .

9.  cream you like your some with cake Would ?

For more quizzes and articles about would, have a look here:

The Difference between Would and Could. 

Will or Would?

Everything You’ve Wanted to Know about Could, Should and Would

Would or Could

The Difference between Like and Would Like

like love hate can’t bear enjoy dislike mind can’t stand
These verbs and expressions all mean ‘like’ or ‘not like’. They are often followed by ~ing:
* Ann hates flying.
* Why do you dislike living here?
* I don’t like people shouting at me. (= I don’t like being shouted at.)

After love, hate and can’t bear, you can also use to … So you can say:
* I love meeting people. or I love to meet people.
* She can’t bear being alone. or She can’t bear to be alone.

But after enjoy/dislike/mind/can’t stand, we use only ~ing (not ‘to …’):
* I enjoy being alone. (not ‘I enjoy to be’)
* Tom doesn’t mind working at night. (not ‘mind to work’)

Like
You can say ‘I like doing something’ or ‘I like to do something’. Often it doesn’t matter which you use, so you can say:
* I like getting up early. or I like to get up early.

In British English, there is sometimes a difference between ‘I like doing’ and ‘I like to do’.
‘I like doing something’ means ‘I enjoy it’:
* Do you like cooking? (= do you enjoy it?)
* I like living here. (= I enjoy it)

‘I like to do something’ means ‘I think it is good or right +() do it’:
* I like to clean the kitchen as often as possible. (This doesn’t mean that I enjoy it; it means that I think it is a good thing to do.)
* Mary likes people to be on time.

Would like/would love/would hate/would prefer are usually followed by to … (infinitive):
* I would like to be rich.
* Would you like to come to dinner on Friday?
* I’d love (= would love) to be able to travel round the world.
* Would you prefer to have dinner now or later?

Compare I like and I would like:
* I like playing/to play tennis. (= I enjoy it in general)
* I would like to play tennis today. (= I want to play today)
Note that would mind is followed by ~ing (not to …)
* Would you mind closing the door, please?

You can also say ‘I would like to have done something’ (= I regret now that I didn’t or couldn’t do something):
* It’s a pity we didn’t see Val when we were in London. I would like to have seen her again.
* We’d like to have gone on holiday but we didn’t have enough money.

You can use the same structure after would love/would hate/would prefer:
* Poor old Tom! I would hate to have been in his position.
* I’d love to have gone to the party but it was impossible.

EXERCISES
57.1 Complete the sentences with likes… or doesn’t like… + one of the following (in the correct form):
be kept waiting do nothing drive fly solve mysteries take photographs take risks work in the open air
1. George is a detective. He enjoys his work. He _likes solving mysteries._
2. Ann very rarely travels by plane. She _doesn’t like flying._
3. Rose always carries her camera with her. She —
4. Christine doesn’t use her car very often. She —
5. Dave is a gardener. He likes his job. He —
6. Jennifer is a very cautious person. She —
7. Ted is extremely lazy. He —
8. Helen is very impatient. She —

57.2 Write sentences about yourself. Say whether you like or don’t like these activities. Choose one of these verbs for each sentence: (don’t) like love hate enjoy don’t mind
1. (flying) _I don’t like flying._
2. (playing cards)
3. (doing the ironing)
4. (going to museums)
5. (lying on the beach all day)

57.3 How would you feel about doing these jobs? In your sentences use one of these:
I’d like/I wouldn’t like I’d love I’d hate I wouldn’t mind
1. (a teacher) _I wouldn’t like to be a teacher._
2. (a dentist)
3. (a hairdresser)
4. (an airline pilot)
5. (a tourist guide)

57.4 Put in a suitable verb in the correct form, ~ing or to … Sometimes either form is possible.
1. It’s nice to be with other people but sometimes I enjoy _being_ alone.
2. I’m not quite ready yet. Do you mind — a little longer?
3. When I was a child, I hated — to bed early.
4. I don’t enjoy — letters. I can never think what to write.
5. I need a new job. I can’t stand — here any more.
6. I would love — to your wedding but I’m afraid it isn’t possible.
7. Caroline never wears a hat. She doesn’t like — hats.
8. ‘Would you like — down?’ ‘No, thanks. I’ll stand.’
9. When I have to catch a train, I’m always worried that I’ll miss it. So I like — to the station in plenty of time.
10. Have you got a moment? I’d like — to you about something.

57.5 Write sentences like those in Section above. Use the verb in brackets.
1. It’s a pity I couldn’t go to the wedding. (like)
I would like to have gone to the wedding.
2. It’s a pity I didn’t see the program. (like)
3. I’m glad I didn’t lose my watch. (hate)
4. It’s a pity I didn’t meet Ann. (love)
5. I’m glad I wasn’t alone. (not/like)
6. It’s a pity I couldn’t travel by train. (prefer)

57.1

3 likes taking/to take photographs.

4 doesn’t like driving/to drive.

5 likes working/to work in the open air.

6 doesn’t like taking/to take risks.

7 likes doing/to do nothing.

8 doesn’t like being/to be kept waiting.

57.2 Example answers:

2 I don’t mind playing cards.

3 I hate doing the ironing.

4 I enjoy going to museums.

5 I don’t like lying on the beach all day.

57.3 Example answers:

2 I wouldn’t like to be a dentist.

3 I’d like to be a hairdresser.

4 I’d hate to be an airline pilot.

5 I wouldn’t mind being a tourist guide.

57.4

2 waiting 3 going/to go

4 writing 5 working/being

6 to come to go

7 wearing to wear

8 to sit 9 to get

10 to talk/to speak

57.5

2 I would like/I’d like to have seen the program.

3 I would hate to have lost my watch.

4 I would love to have met Ann.

5 I wouldn’t like to have been alone.

6 I would prefer to have travelled by train

The simple word would has a lot of jobs in English. It’s a modal auxiliary verb*, which basically means it modifies other verbs to create different effects. Would is used to express:

1. polite requests;
2. invitations or offers;
3. reported speech;
4. repeated actions in the past;
5. willingness in the past;
6. hypothetical situations;
7. conditional sentences;
8. wishes;
9. talk about preferences; and, finally,
10. opinions.

That’s a lot to cover in one blog post! I’ll mostly give you examples so you can see how it works.

1. Make polite requests

It’s always a good idea to ask for things politely in English. If you say, «Close the window», to someone, you’ll sound very demanding. Even if you add, «please», it will still sound like you’re ordering them to do something.  

DEMANDING:

A. Close the window, please.
B. You’re not the boss of me! Close it yourself!

Instead, we use would to ask politely.

POLITE:

A. Would you close the window, please?
B. Sure, I’d be happy to.

Notice that the structure is would + you + base verb.

2. To make invitations or offers

Let’s say you want to invite someone to come to your home for tea. Since you’re inviting them, not ordering them to come, you’ll want to say it politely. Again, we use would:

A. Would you like to come over for tea tomorrow?
B. Oh, that would be lovely! 

Here the structure is would + you + like + to-infinitive verb.

3. In reported speech

The trick to using would in reported speech is simply to substitute it for the verb will in direct speech.

Your friend Maria says to you: Yes, I will come over for tea tomorrow.
You tell someone else: Maria said she would come over for tea tomorrow.

The structure is simply would + verb (previously used with will).

4. To talk about repeated actions in the past

If you want to talk about an action done repeatedly in the past but not anymore, use would.

When I was a child, I would stay on my grandparents’ farm every summer.

But this is only for action verbs. For state verbs, use «used to» or the past simple.

used to: I used to feel lonely a lot when I was younger.
simple past: I felt lonely a lot when I was younger.

5. To talk about willingness in the past

If you want to say how willing or happy someone was to do something in the past, you can use would. This is typically a negative statement, however, so in that case, it’s wouldn’t.

She said she had a plan, but she wouldn’t tell me what it was.

Just add not to the structure we’ve looked at before: would + not + base verb.

6. In hypothetical situations

When you talk about an unreal, or imaginary situation, the structure is would + base form, and you can talk about both actions and states of being. 

action: He would give you whatever you needed.
state: He would love to get a job that paid better.

7. In conditional sentences

Both the second and third conditionals use would in their construction. Conditionals have two clauses: an if clause, and a then clause. 

Each conditional form is used for a different purpose.

• Second conditional: to express an unlikely or impossible outcome in the present.
  • if clause: if + subject + past simple.
  • then clause: (then) + subject + would + base form. Often, then is implied without being written.

If I had enough room in my house, (then) I would get a piano.

You can put the if and then clauses in either order in the sentence. When the if clause comes first, you must put a comma after it, before the then clause. When then comes first, you don’t need a comma.

I would get a piano if I had enough room in my house.

• Third conditional: to talk about a hypothetical situation in the past. We usually use this in the negative to talk about something that might have had a different outcome. Sometimes the outcome is positive, and sometimes negative.

positive result: If she hadn’t gone to the dance, we would never have met!
negative result: They would have found the restaurant if they had followed my directions.

The structures here are a bit more complex: 

• if clause: if + subject + past perfect
• then clause: subject + would have + (not/never) + past participle

8. To express wishes

If someone is annoying me, I might say, «I wish they would stop doing that!» We use this structure a lot to talk about a hypothetical situation that we don’t expect to come true.

I wish it would stop raining.
Hedda wishes she could have chocolate for breakfast every day.

«Wish» statements are constructed like this: [subject + wish] + [subject + would/could + base form]. 

9. To talk about preferences

(We’re almost there! Only one more after this.)

When there is more than one option available, you express your preference with subject + would rather + base form.

A. We have either salmon or chicken for dinner.
B. I would rather have the salmon.

The options aren’t always spelled out, but the preference is still clear.

A. It’s cold here!
B. Yeah, I’d rather live in the south.

Another way to say the same thing is would prefer. The only difference in structure is that the verb following «prefer» is a to-infinitive: subject + would prefer + to-infinitive.

«Prefer» is generally more formal than «rather». In a casual conversation, you will most likely hear and use «rather».

You can ask someone’s preference using the same phrases, but the structure changes slightly: would + subject + rather/prefer + base form/to-infinitive.

A. Would you prefer salmon or chicken for dinner?
B. Salmon, please.

10. To give opinions

(Finally! The last one!)

Using would when giving your opinion can either be simply polite, or it can express that you aren’t sure you’re correct.

There are some common phrases used in these situations:

• I would think…
• I would imagine…
• I would guess…

A. Should we go ahead and publish the article?
B. I would think we need to wait and make sure the editor is okay with it. [more polite than «I think we need to…»]

A. She looks really tired.
B. I would imagine it’s been exhausting with the new baby at home.

A. What do we do now?
B. I’d guess he’d want us to call his mom for help.

And there you have it—10 ways to use the word would in English. You can review this lesson with a video about «would» on the English with Lucy YouTube channel.
—
*modal auxiliary verb [part of speech]—modifies another verb to express different aspects of meaning. For more on modals, see our blog post, «Grammar essentials: Introduction to modals».
You’re not the boss of me! [idiom]—a response to someone ordering you to do something that you don’t want to do; based on the idea that a «boss» gives orders that must be followed.