ENGLISH
REFERENCE

I would like

fixed phr..
A1 Beginner Oxford

fixed phr.. A polite way to say 'I want'. You use it when you ask for something, for example in a shop or restaurant.

fixed phr.. A polite, conventional formula used to express a desire or make a request, functioning as a more formal and less direct alternative to 'I want'.


SIMPLE

I would like a coffee, please.

CONTEXTUAL

At the hotel reception, he said, 'I would like a room with a view of the sea.'

COMPLEX

I would like to propose an alternative solution that addresses the long-term structural issues we have been discussing.

Usage

It is often contracted to 'I'd like' in speech and informal writing.

Teaching tip

Contrast 'I would like' with 'I want' to teach politeness and register; 'I want' can sound demanding, while 'I would like' is softer.

Pitfall

I would like have a coffee.I would like to have a coffee.After 'I would like', use 'to' before a verb, or just use a noun directly.

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