"I like eating ice cream." and "I like to eat ice cream."

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hello,

I have always thought that these two sentences are a little bit different in meaning:

I like eating ice cream= “I usually enjoy eating ice cream”
I like to eat ice cream= " I would like to eat ice cream"

but recently I read on the internet that the two sentences have the same meaning.
“I like eating ice cream.” = “I like to eat ice cream.”

I would like to know Which is right, “I like eating ice cream.” = “I like to eat ice cream.”
or “I like to eat ice cream.”= " I would like to eat ice cream."

Thank you very much.

2

Everything is fine.

Alan

3

Oh, I now see. thank you very much, sir.

4

I also want to know about this but after click on that link i did n’t get it so plz anyone can explain me this again.

5

The sentence in red explains your problem.

So, you would use one more “would” if you “would like to”.

6

The two sentences are identical in meaning.

“I like to eat ice cream” is more formal. You should use the “to eat” construction for formal writing such as an instructional manual or formal conversation such as a job interview.
“I like eating ice cream” is less formal." You can use either construction in casual conversation or informal writing such as a forum post.

The “to eat” construction is not so formal that it can not be used in casual conversation. The “to eat” construction is never incorrect for any context.

7

Thank you very much E2e4 and Jrod3737.
By the way, I’m afraid there is one thing I don’t understand about the last line which E2e4 wrote. Could you please explain it to me?
I’m sorry I’m poor at English.

And Rachanaagarwal01,
I am not good at English to explain something. I’m very Sorry…

8

I don’t understand it either, Nekozuki, so please don’t be too concerned about it.

9

Hi, I don’t agree that

I like to eat ice cream= " I would like to eat ice cream"

I would say that

I like to eat ice cream. = “I like to eat ice cream in general.”

and

I would like to eat ice cream. =" I want to eat ice cream now." or “I want to eat ice cream some time in the future because I have never had it before.”

I am not a teacher, so this is just my opinion.

10

Hi Nekozuki, I’ll try to explain what I thought when I said it.

  1. I like to eat ice cream. ~ In general, I enjoy eating ice cream.

  2. I would like to eat ice cream. ~ If this sentence was compared with #1, one more word, “would”, would be found.

“like to” from #1 has been changed to “would like to”.

And “would” has completely changed the meaning of #1.
If I say #2, it means something should happen in the very close future to fulfil my wish. Nothing’s general any more.

“would” is a modal. Modals work that way. And due to their possibilities #1 and #2 can not mean the same.

Thanks

11

Thank you Beeesneees^^
I hope I could speak English fluently someday.

And E2e4,
You gave me a long explaination. Thanks again^^

Luschen, Thank you for your reply^^