"my mother likes to cook." vs "my mother has liked to cook."

Question

"my mother likes to cook." vs "my mother has liked to cook."

The phrase 'my mother likes to cook.' is correct and commonly used to express a present habitual action. On the other hand, 'my mother has liked to cook.' is not commonly used and sounds awkward. It seems like the intention was to express a past habit, but the correct form for that would be 'my mother liked to cook.'

Last Updated: March 15, 2024

This phrase is used to talk about a general truth or a habit that continues in the present. It indicates that the action of cooking is something your mother enjoys and does regularly.

Examples:

My mother likes to cook healthy meals for the family.
She likes to cook Italian dishes on weekends.
My mother likes to cook with fresh ingredients.
He likes to cook for his friends when they come over.
She likes to cook new recipes she finds online.

The phrase 'my mother has liked to cook.' does not sound natural in English. To express a past habit or action that is no longer true, it is more appropriate to use the simple past tense, as in 'my mother liked to cook.'

Alternatives:

My mother liked to cook.
My mother used to like cooking.
My mother enjoyed cooking.
My mother was fond of cooking.
My mother was a fan of cooking.

Answer 1

my mother likes to cook.

This phrase is correct and commonly used to express a present habitual action.

Answer 2

my mother has liked to cook.

This phrase is not commonly used and sounds awkward. The correct form to express a past habit would be 'my mother liked to cook.'

"my mother likes to cook." vs "my mother has liked to cook."

my mother likes to cook.

my mother has liked to cook.

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