Would Like: Polite Wants and Offers

Level: A1. Would like is one of the most useful phrases in everyday English. It is the polite way to say what you want — in a shop, a café, or any conversation with someone you don’t know well — and Would you like…? is how you offer something or invite someone.

The rule

Would like means want, but it is more polite and gentle. It is followed either by a noun (a thing) or by a to-infinitive (to + base verb):

• I would like a coffee. (noun)
• I would like to book a table. (to + verb)

The form never changes with the subject — there is no -s. He would like, not he would likes. In speech and informal writing, would almost always contracts to ’d: I’d like, you’d like, she’d like, we’d like, they’d like.

To make an offer or invitation, turn it into a question: Would you like …?

• Would you like some water? (offer of a thing)
• Would you like to sit down? (invitation to do something)

You answer an offer with Yes, please or No, thank you — not just “yes” or “no”, which can sound rude.

The forms

Example sentences

Common mistakes

• ❌ I would like swimming. → ✅ I would like to swim. Would like takes to + verb, not the -ing form.
• ❌ I would like to coffee. → ✅ I would like a coffee. Before a noun, no to: just would like + noun.
• ❌ She would likes to go. → ✅ She would like to go. Would like never adds -s.
• ❌ Do you like a drink? → ✅ Would you like a drink? To offer, use would you like, not do you like (that asks about general taste).
• ❌ I’d like go home. → ✅ I’d like to go home. Don’t drop the to before the verb.
• ❌ Would you like to a coffee? → ✅ Would you like a coffee? Use to only before a verb, never before a noun.

A short conversation

Waiter: Good evening. Would you like a table for two? Guest: Yes, please. We’d like a table by the window. Waiter: Of course. Would you like to see the drinks menu? Guest: Yes, please. I’d like a glass of water to start.

Usage notes

• Would like vs like. I like coffee = a general preference (always true). I’d like a coffee = I want one now. Don’t confuse the two.
• Offers need “would”. Would you like…? offers or invites; Do you like…? asks about taste in general. A host says “Would you like some cake?”, not “Do you like some cake?”.
• Polite answers. Add please when you accept and thank you when you refuse. A bare “yes”/“no” can sound abrupt.
• No -s, no -ing. The form is fixed: would like + noun or to + verb, for every subject.

Compared with…

• Like + -ing is about general taste, not a present want: I like swimming (in general) versus I’d like to swim (I want to, now). The verb form flips from -ing to to + verb. See Like, Love, Hate + -ing.
• Can / Could for requests. Use would like for what you want (I’d like the bill); use Can / Could I…? or Could you…? to ask permission or ask someone to act (Could I have the bill? / Could you bring the bill?). See Making Requests: Can, Could, May I.

Quick recap before you practise.

Practice

Quiz

Recap cheat-sheet

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