Feel like means to want: I feel like pizza, I feel like going out. If it's followed by a whole clause with its own subject, the meaning changes to seem or have the impression: I feel like it's going to rain. So I feel like pizza is about wanting something, not about how you feel.
Want to use feel like in conversation?
Write a sentence — we'll show the mistakes right away and suggest how to say it more naturally.
The check is taking longer than usual. Your feedback will appear here automatically.
feel like + noun/-ing (= want); feel like + subject + verb (= have the impression)
- I don't feel like cooking tonight, let's order something.
- I feel like we've met before. Were you at Anna's birthday party?
- It's so hot today, I feel like an ice cream.
What changed
First versionI don't feel like to go to the gym today.
RevisionI don't feel like going to the gym today.
After feel like, a verb takes the -ing form: feel like going. To creeps in because of similar phrases like want to and would like to. But like here works as a preposition, and after a preposition comes -ing: like going, not like to go.
Would like politely names what you want to get: I'd like a table for two, please. Feel like is about your mood, what you want right now: I feel like a walk. So in a restaurant you say I'd like…, and to a friend, I feel like…
Your turn
It's raining and I'm tired, so I don't feel like ___ out tonight.
Show the answer
going — Here feel like means want, and it needs the -ing form after it: don't feel like going out. To go isn't used after feel like, although it would be correct after want or would like.
It's Friday. Write to a friend about what you'd like to do this evening and what you really don't want to do.
I feel like watching a film at home tonight, but I don't feel like going to a noisy bar.
Learn to use new words without mistakes
Write phrases with the words you are learning. LetsWords shows mistakes in usage and grammar, suggests corrections and explains them, and review helps the words stick.