Like means to find someone or something pleasant; love means to like very much, and it's stronger. In both cases the person who has the feeling comes first: I like this city. This city likes me would mean the city is fond of you. About food, music and activities, love sounds natural in conversation, not over the top: I love this song.
like or love — can you pick the right one?
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person + like/love + noun/-ing; I'd like to + verb (polite); I'd love to + verb (eager)
- I like my colleagues, but I wouldn't call them close friends.
- My grandmother loves gardening and spends every morning with her roses.
- I'd love to come to your party, but I'm working that night.
What changed
First versionThis city likes me a lot.
RevisionI like this city a lot.
In some languages, a sentence about liking starts with the thing that is liked. Carry that word order into English, and you get This city likes me. In English, the person who does the liking always comes first: I like this city.
In invitations and replies, both verbs are polite but sound different. Would you like to join us? is a polite invitation, and the reply I'd love to! means you're really happy to. I'd like to is also correct as a reply, but it sounds more reserved.
Your turn
I've been married to Sarah for twenty years, and I still ___ her more than anything.
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love — Twenty years of marriage and more than anything mean a strong feeling for a person, which is love. Like about your wife would sound as if you merely find her pleasant, far too weak for that kind of declaration.
Describe an activity you like and one you love. Use like and love and explain why the second means more to you.
I like cooking on weekdays, but I love baking bread on Sundays because the whole flat smells amazing.
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