Quick Answer
“I would like to” is correct. “I will like to” is a common mistake that non-native speakers make, and it should be avoided in both speech and writing.
The two phrases look similar because “will” and “would” are related modal verbs, but they do different jobs. “Will” states a fact about the future. “Would” softens a request or a wish, which is exactly what you’re doing when you say you’d like something.
| Correct | Incorrect | |
|---|---|---|
| Example | I would like to speak with you. | I will like to speak with you. |
| Why | “Would” politely expresses a present desire. | “Will” wrongly predicts a future certainty. |
What “I Would Like To” Means (and Why It’s Grammatically Correct)
“I would like to” is a polite way of saying “I want to.” You use it to express a wish, a preference, or a request without sounding blunt or demanding.
The reason it works comes down to what the modal verb “would” actually does. According to Cambridge Dictionary’s grammar reference, “would” functions as a more polite, less direct alternative to “will,” and “would like” specifically is used to say what you want in a courteous way, especially when making offers and requests.
That’s why “I would like to” fits naturally into a job interview, a customer service call, or an email to your manager. It signals a wish, not a command.
Example: I would like to reschedule our meeting to Thursday.
Why “I Will Like To” Sounds Wrong
“I will like to” sounds off because “will” isn’t built to express a present wish — it’s built to state what’s going to happen.
The Role of “Will” vs. “Would” as Modal Verbs
“Will” is used for future certainty, promises, and willingness. It tells the listener something is going to happen: I will call you tomorrow.
“Would” is used for hypothetical situations, polite requests, and preferences. It softens what you’re saying instead of stating it as fact.
When you attach “like” to “will,” you get a sentence that tries to predict how you’ll feel later (“I will like [something] in the future”) rather than express what you want right now. That mismatch is why “I will like to attend the meeting” reads as unnatural — you’re not predicting a future feeling; you’re expressing a current preference, which calls for “would.”
The one place “will like” works correctly is in a genuine future-tense statement, such as: You will like this restaurant. Here, “will” is doing its normal job — predicting a future reaction — and “like” is a plain verb, not part of a request.
“I Will Like To” vs. “I Would Like To” at a Glance
| Feature | “I Would Like To” | “I Will Like To” |
|---|---|---|
| Grammatical status | Standard, correct | Non-standard, avoid |
| What it expresses | A present wish or polite request | An attempted future prediction |
| Common use | Requests, offers, preferences | Rarely appropriate in this structure |
| Formality | Works in formal and informal contexts | Sounds awkward in any context |
| Example | I would like to order the soup. | I will like to order the soup. (incorrect) |
Is “I Will Like To” Ever Correct?
Rarely, and only when “will” is doing separate work as a true future-tense verb, not as a substitute for “would” in a polite request.
For example, “I will like the outcome” can work in the narrow sense of predicting your own future reaction to something (“I’m confident I’ll be pleased with the result”). But this is unusual phrasing even then — most speakers would still say “I think I’ll like the outcome” or simply “I’ll be happy with the outcome.” In everyday requests and preferences, “I will like to” should be treated as an error to correct, not a stylistic option.
What Comes After “Would Like To”? (Verb Form Rules)
The verb that follows “would like to” always takes the base form — the plain infinitive without “to” attached a second time.
- Correct: I would like to visit Rome.
- Incorrect: I would like to visiting Rome.
- Incorrect: I would like to visited Rome.
This matches how Cambridge Dictionary describes the pattern: verbs following “would like” appear in the to-infinitive form (to + base verb), not the “-ing” form or a past tense.
“I’d Like To” — Using the Contraction Correctly
“I’d like to” is simply the contracted form of “I would like to.” The two are interchangeable in meaning, but “I’d” is more common in speech and casual writing, while “I would” is more typical in formal writing.
Example: I’d like to confirm my reservation for Friday.
One thing to watch: don’t confuse the contraction “I’d” (I would) with “I’d” as a contraction of “I had” in other sentences. Context usually makes the meaning clear, since “I’d like to” only makes sense as “I would like to.”
Examples of “I Would Like To” in a Sentence
- I would like to schedule a follow-up call next week.
- She would like to know more about the refund policy.
- We would like to thank everyone who attended the conference.
- I would like to apply for the marketing position.
- They would like to visit the museum before it closes.
Using “I Would Like To” in Different Settings
The phrase adjusts easily across formal and casual situations, which is part of why it’s so widely used.
Emails and Professional Requests
In written business communication, “I would like to” keeps requests polite without sounding stiff.
Example: I would like to request an extension on the project deadline.
Ordering or Asking in Person
At a restaurant, a hotel desk, or a store counter, this phrase is the standard polite way to ask for something.
Example: I would like to try the daily special, please.
Everyday Conversation
Among friends or family, the shorter contraction fits more naturally than the full form.
Example: I’d like to grab coffee before the movie starts.
Common Mistakes Learners Make
Mistake: I will like to ask a question. Correction: I would like to ask a question. Explanation: “Will” doesn’t soften a request the way “would” does; it turns a polite wish into an odd future prediction.
Mistake: I would like to going to the party. Correction: I would like to go to the party. Explanation: The verb after “to” must be in its base form, not the “-ing” form.
Mistake: I would like speak with the manager. Correction: I would like to speak with the manager. Explanation: The word “to” is required between “like” and the base verb — it’s easy to accidentally drop.
Mistake: I would to like visit Japan. Correction: I would like to visit Japan. Explanation: Word order matters — “like” comes directly after “would,” and “to” comes after “like,” not before it.
Does This Rule Change in British vs. American English?
No. “I would like to” is the standard, correct form in both British and American English, and “I will like to” is considered incorrect in both varieties for the same reason: “will” doesn’t carry the polite, hypothetical meaning that “would” does.
Cambridge Dictionary’s grammar reference, which documents standard British and international usage, describes “would” as the more formal and polite alternative to “will” in requests — a description that lines up with how the phrase is taught and used in American English as well. The confusion around “I will like to” tends to come from direct translation habits in other languages rather than from any real regional split in English.
Similar Polite Expressions: “I’d Like To,” “I Want To,” “I’d Love To”
Several expressions overlap with “I would like to” in meaning but differ slightly in tone.
- I’d like to — the contracted, equally correct version of “I would like to.”
- I want to — direct and plain; fine informally, but can sound blunt in professional or customer-facing contexts.
- I’d love to — stronger enthusiasm than “I’d like to”; suggests genuine excitement rather than a neutral preference.
- I’m hoping to — softer and more tentative, often used when you’re unsure a request will be granted.
None of these are strictly interchangeable — the right choice depends on how strong or how formal you want to sound.
“Would Like To” vs. “Want To”: Which Sounds More Polite?
“Would like to” sounds more polite than “want to” because it uses “would” to hedge the request instead of stating it as a flat demand.
Compare: I want to speak with the manager versus I would like to speak with the manager. Both sentences ask for the same thing, but the second reads as more courteous, which is why “would like to” is the default choice in customer service, emails, and other situations where tone matters.
Tips to Remember the Difference
- Would = wish, will = fact. If you’re describing a wish or preference, reach for “would.” If you’re stating something that will definitely happen, “will” is correct — but that’s a different sentence altogether.
- Swap in “want to.” If you can naturally replace the phrase with “want to” and keep the same meaning, use “would like to,” not “will like to.”
- Read it as a request. Most sentences using this phrase are polite requests. Requests call for “would,” not “will.”
These are memory aids to help you choose the right word quickly — not formal grammar rules on their own.
Quick Practice: Choose the Correct Phrase
- I ___ like to order a large pizza. (will / would)
- She ___ like to schedule an appointment for Monday. (will / would)
- Correct this sentence: “I would like to attending the seminar.”
- Correct this sentence: “I would to like ask a favor.”
- Fill in the blank: “We ___ like to thank you for your patience.” (will / would)
- Choose the more polite option: “I want to speak with support” or “I would like to speak with support.”
- True or false: “I will like to” and “I would like to” mean exactly the same thing.
- Correct this sentence: “I would like meet you tomorrow.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “I will like to” grammatically correct? No. “I will like to” is not standard English. “Will” expresses future certainty, not a polite wish, so it doesn’t fit before “like to” the way “would” does.
Why is “would” more polite than “will” in requests? “Would” softens a statement by making it hypothetical rather than direct, which is why it’s used across many polite request patterns, not just with “like.” “Will” states things more bluntly, which can come across as demanding.
Can I say “I would like to” in a formal email? Yes. “I would like to” is appropriate for formal emails, job applications, and professional requests. It’s one of the most common polite phrases in business writing.
What’s the difference between “I would like to” and “I want to”? Both express desire, but “I would like to” sounds more polite and indirect, while “I want to” is more direct and can sound blunt in formal situations.
Is “I’d like to” the same as “I would like to”? Yes. “I’d like to” is simply the contracted form of “I would like to,” and the two mean exactly the same thing.
What verb form follows “would like to”? The base form of the verb, as in “I would like to go,” not “going” or “went.”
Is “I would like to” past tense? No. Even though “would” looks related to the past, “I would like to” describes a present wish, not something that happened in the past.
Can “will like” ever be correct in a sentence? Yes, but only in true future-tense statements, such as “You will like this movie,” where “will” is predicting a future reaction rather than softening a request.
Is “I would like to” used in British English too? Yes. It’s standard in both British and American English, and there’s no regional variation that makes “I will like to” acceptable in either.
What can I say instead of “I would like to”? Alternatives include “I’d like to,” “I want to,” “I’d love to,” and “I’m hoping to,” each carrying a slightly different level of formality or enthusiasm.
Why do non-native speakers often say “I will like to”? It often comes from directly translating request patterns from another language, where the future tense is used for polite wishes in a way that doesn’t map onto English.
Is “would like” a modal verb? “Would” is the modal verb; “like” is the main verb that follows it. Together, “would like” functions as a fixed polite expression for stating wishes and preferences.
The Bottom Line
“I would like to” is the correct, polite form for expressing a wish or making a request — “I will like to” is not standard English and should be avoided. The simplest way to remember the difference: “would” softens a wish, while “will” states a fact about the future. When in mind, ask yourself whether you’re making a polite request; if so, “would like to” is always the safer choice.
Practice Answer Key
- would — “I would like to order a large pizza.” (expressing a present wish)
- would — “She would like to schedule an appointment for Monday.”
- I would like to attend the seminar. (base verb form, not “-ing”)
- I would like to ask a favor. (“to” comes after “like,” not before “would like”)
- would — “We would like to thank you for your patience.”
- “I would like to speak with support” is more polite.
- False. They look similar, but “I will like to” is not standard English, while “I would like to” is the correct, accepted form.
- I would like to meet you tomorrow. (the word “to” was missing between “like” and “meet”)
