Page 337 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

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like + infinitive: choices and habits
We can use like + infinitive to talk about choices and habits. I like to do the shopping early on Saturday mornings. When I'm pouring tea I like to put the milk in first.
Not like to can mean 'think it better not to'.
Why didn't you tell me before? - I didn't like to disturb you at home.
Like + object + infinitive is possible.
She likes the children to go to bed early during the week.
would like
We use would like + jnfinjtive as a polite way of saying 'want'. especially in requests and offers.
I'd like two kilos o f tomatoes, please.
Would you like to dance? - Yes, OK. (NOT WBuld}'6u like datteing? ...) Do you like ...?is not used in this way.
(NOT D6}'6u like S6me rI'lBt'e ooffeen
Would like to can be used instead of repeating a whole infinitive (see 182).
How about playing tennis? - I'd like to.
Polite requests often begin Ifyou would like ... ; the following clause is sometimes dropped.
Ifyou would like to take a seat, I'll see ifMr Smithers is free.
Ifyou would like to come this way ... Would is sometimes dropped in this structure.
Ifyou like to come this way ...
For wO/lld like with a perfect infinitive (e.g. I wo/lld like 10 hove seen that.), see 28B.
ifyoulikeetc
When we offer people a choice, we often use like to mean 'want (to), in subordinate clauses. Note that to is not used.
Can I go now? - Ifyou like. (NOT /f}'6U like lB.) Do it any way you like. Come when you like. You can sit wherever you like.
like and as: similarity, function
We can use like or as to say that things are similar. We can also use as to talk about function - the jobs that people or things do.
like (similarity): like me
Like can be a preposition. We use like, not as, before a noun or pronoun to talk
about similarity.
like + noun/pronoun
My sister looks like me. (NOT ••• tfS me.)
He ran like the wind. (NOT ••• tfS the ltfintl.) Like his parents, he is a vegetarian.
We can use very. quite and other adverbs of degree before like. He's very like his father.
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