Hi lrb,
I would like to have seen someone take a stab at this, but nobody has, as of yet. So I will give you an opinion. I would have liked to give a professional answer, but I am only a 'web guy', not an English professor.
In the 'would like' instance, the thought is appealing right now, but something prevented the course of action, i.e. “I would like to have taken a hike. Unfortunately, I was run over by a truck earlier in the day.”
The other instance—'would have liked'—tells me that the course of action would have been enjoyable under normal circumstances but something circumvented the enjoyment, i.e. “I would have liked to take a hike. Unfortunately, Bob insisted on walking upwind from me, farting all the way, making the trip quite miserable.” As you can see, I would have liked the trip, but I had such a rotten time that I now regret going.
Well—that's my story and I'm stickin' with it. One of the real grammarians may wag a finger at me. In the very least, you got an answer. I wonder how much of this I actually got right. I'll wager 50/50.
-MrB |
