Why “My Mom Likes Drinking Wine” Is More Than Just a Gerund
Language does not exist in a vacuum.
Sometimes a sentence is grammatically flawless — and socially explosive.
A child writes:
My mom likes drinking wine.
The grammar teacher says:
“Gerund used perfectly. 10/10.”
But something feels off.
Not linguistically.
Socially.
And this is where language stops being grammar — and starts being reality.
The Structure Is Correct
Let’s be precise.
In English, after like, we can use:
- like + gerund (V-ing)
- like + infinitive (to + verb)
So:
- My mom likes drinking wine.
- My mom likes to drink wine.
Both are grammatically correct.
No mistake.
No violation.
The gerund after like is standard English.
But They Are Not Exactly the Same
There is a subtle difference.
1️⃣ Like + gerund
Often suggests a general habit, a repeated activity, something characteristic.
She likes drinking wine.
Sounds like a recurring behavior.
2️⃣ Like + infinitive
Often sounds more neutral, more abstract, less habitual.
She likes to drink wine.
More about preference than pattern.
In everyday speech, the difference is small.
But psychologically, it exists.
The Real Problem Is Not the Gerund
The real issue is context.
When a child publicly writes:
My mom likes drinking wine.
This is not a grammar exercise anymore.
This becomes a public statement about the mother.
Language carries consequences.
This is the part grammar textbooks never explain.
Correct Does Not Mean Safe
In teaching, I constantly see this confusion:
Students believe that if a sentence is grammatically correct — it is automatically appropriate.
That is false.
Language has at least three layers:
- Grammar
- Meaning
- Social impact
Most courses stop at level one.
Real language begins at level three.
Why This Matters in Real Life
Imagine similar examples:
- “My boss enjoys shouting at employees.”
- “My husband likes flirting with other women.”
- “My teacher enjoys humiliating students.”
All grammatically correct.
All potentially explosive.
If we only train grammar — we train half a speaker.
A real speaker understands implication.
The Illusion of “10/10 Grammar”
When someone says:
“Gerund used perfectly! 10/10!”
I hear something different:
“We evaluated structure.
We ignored consequence.”
Language is not Lego blocks.
It is reputation, perception, relationships.
And sometimes damage.
The Deeper Lesson
The real lesson here is not about gerunds.
It is about awareness.
When you speak English — you are not just building sentences.
You are building impressions.
Grammar gives you tools.
Judgment gives you safety.
And that difference —
is what separates a student from a thinking speaker.
Author: Tymur Levitin
Founder & Director, Levitin Language School
Language. Identity. Choice. Meaning.
© Tymur Levitin