VERBS OF PREFERENCE

Verbs of preference are verbs that express likes, dislikes, interests, and
preferences. These verbs help us communicate how we feel about various
activities, objects, or situations. Common verbs of preference include like, love,
enjoy, prefer, dislike, hate, and detest.
Examples of Verbs of Preference:
1. Like - I like pizza.
2. Love - She loves reading books.
3. Enjoy - They enjoy playing soccer.
4. Prefer - He prefers tea over coffee.
5. Dislike - I dislike loud music.
6. Hate - She hates waking up early.
7. Detest - He detests doing homework.
Using Verbs of Preference in Sentences
When using these verbs, we often follow them with a noun, pronoun, or a verb
in the gerund form (verb + ing), however, some preference verbs sometimes are
followed by TO – infinitive verbs.
  Like: I like swimming. (I like it.)
 Love: She loves dancing. (She loves it.)
 Enjoy: We enjoy hiking. (We enjoy it.)
 Prefer: He prefers running to walking. (He prefers it.)
 Dislike: I dislike cooking. (I dislike it.)
 Hate: They hate cleaning. (They hate it.)
 Detest: She detests washing dishes. (She detests it.)
Using Verbs of Preference with Gerunds and Infinitives
1. Like/Love/Prefer/Hate/Enjoy/Dislike/Can't Stand + Gerund
o Examples:
 I like reading books.
 She loves swimming.
 They prefer walking.
 He hates running.
 We enjoy cooking.
 I dislike cleaning.
  She can't stand waiting.
2. Like/Love/Prefer/Hate + Infinitive
o Examples:
 I like to read books.
 She loves to swim.
 They prefer to walk.
 He hates to run.
 The differences in meanings when the verbs "like," "love," "prefer,"
and "hate" are followed by a gerund or an infinitive:
Verb Followed by Gerund (Verb+ing) Followed by Infinitive (to + Verb)
General enjoyment: Refers to Specific occasion: Indicates
enjoyment of an activity in general. preference for an activity in a specific
Like
<br> Example: "I like reading situation or habit. <br> Example: "I
books." like to read books before bed."
General passion: Refers to a Specific occasion: Indicates a strong
strong affection or enjoyment of an preference for an activity at a specific
Love
activity in general. <br> Example: time or habit. <br> Example: "She
"She loves swimming." loves to swim in the mornings."
Specific choice: Indicates a
General preference: Refers to a
preference in specific situations or
general preference for one activity
Prefer when comparing actions. <br>
over another. <br> Example: "They
Example: "They prefer to walk rather
prefer walking to driving."
than drive."
Hate General dislike: Refers to a strong Specific occasion: Indicates a strong
dislike of an activity in general. aversion to doing something in a
<br> Example: "He hates running." particular situation. <br> Example:
Verb Followed by Gerund (Verb+ing) Followed by Infinitive (to + Verb)
"He hates to run early in the
morning."
Key Differences:
 Gerund (Verb+ing): Used to express a general sense of enjoyment,
passion, preference, or dislike towards an activity.
 Infinitive (to + Verb): Used to specify a preference, habit, or dislike in
particular situations or instances.
Examples for Clarity:
1. Like:
o Gerund: "I like reading." (General enjoyment of reading)
o Infinitive: "I like to read before bed." (Specific preference or habit)
2. Love:
o Gerund: "She loves dancing." (General passion for dancing)
o Infinitive: "She loves to dance at parties." (Specific situation or habit)
3. Prefer:
o Gerund: "We prefer eating at home." (General preference for eating at
home)
o Infinitive: "We prefer to eat at home when we have guests." (Specific
preference in a particular situation)
4. Hate:
o Gerund: "He hates cleaning." (General dislike for cleaning)
o Infinitive: "He hates to clean on weekends." (Specific aversion in a
particular situation)