The rule, as people use it

"Feel like" is how people talk about what they're in the mood for, right now. It's softer than "want", because it's about a feeling that could change in an hour. "I feel like pizza" doesn't mean pizza is your favorite food. It means pizza sounds good tonight.

After "feel like" you put a noun or a verb with -ing, never "to". I feel like a swim. I feel like swimming in the lake. Not "I feel like to swim".

The negative is very common and very useful. "I don't feel like a big night out" is a gentle way to say no, because it's about your mood, not about the other person's plan. The question "Do you feel like ...?" makes an invitation sound relaxed: "Do you feel like getting some dinner?"

Be careful: "I feel like" plus a full sentence means something else. "I feel like nobody listens to me" is an opinion or impression, close to "I think".

Examples

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Fill the gap

Type the missing words, then check. The full sentence plays when you get it.

  1. 1

    I feel like (take) a long nap this afternoon.

  2. 2

    Do you feel (like / a walk) after dinner?

  3. 3

    She doesn't feel like (go) to the gym today.

  4. 4

    What do you feel like (eat) tonight?

  5. 5

    (you / feel like) coming with us to the market?

  6. 6

    Kavya (not / feel like) cooking, so they ordered in.

  7. 7

    I feel like (a cold drink) after all that walking.

  8. 8

    We (feel like / dance), so we stayed late.

Practice · 3 min

Write five things you feel like doing and three you don't feel like doing this week. Say them out loud, then invite someone with one of them.

  • Right now I feel like ___ .
  • This weekend I feel like ___ -ing.
  • Tonight I don't feel like ___ -ing.
  • Invite a friend: Do you feel like ___ -ing on ___ ?

Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.