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Prepositions after verbs

Like in or like about

Like about is a standard pattern for discussing qualities you appreciate. Like in is usually not a fixed combination after the verb like.

Quick answer

Which phrase is correct?

Use like about to ask or explain what someone appreciates about a person or thing. Like in usually belongs to another structure, such as like in the movie, where in introduces a place or example.

What do you like about this restaurant?
I like about half of the songs on the album.
The scene was like in the original film.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
like about + noun

Asking what someone appreciates

Like about is common in questions and explanations about positive qualities.

What do you like about your new job?
2
what do you like about + subject

Requesting reasons or opinions

This structure invites someone to explain their preferences.

What do you like about living there?
3
like in + place or example

Using in as a separate preposition

In may introduce a location or comparison, not form a fixed verb-preposition pair.

It feels like in a dream.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
like about
She likes everything about the design.
appreciate qualities or features
like in
The weather was like in summer.
in belongs to the following noun phrase, not to the verb like
like + noun
I like this song.
enjoy or appreciate something
like to + verb
They like to travel.
enjoy doing an activity

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Treating like in as a fixed pattern

Like does not normally take in directly to express preference.

✕ What do you like in the book? ✓ What do you like about the book?

Using about when no explanation is needed

Use plain like before a direct object when you simply state preference.

✕ I like about this cafe. ✓ I like this cafe.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. What do you ___ the new manager?
2. I really ___ jazz music.
3. The castle looked ___ a fairy tale.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I say what do you like in it?

Yes, but it changes the meaning. It asks what specific things are inside or included in it.

Is like about informal?

No. It is standard in both spoken and written English.

Do I always need about after like?

No. About is used when discussing qualities or reasons, not with every object.

label, as, label, with lag behind, in, from, on or by? "land on" or "land in"? languish in, at, on, for or near? last for, from, until, in or through? "latch onto" or "latch on"? laugh at, with, about, in or for? launch in, by, on, at or into? "lay on" or "lay in"? lead to, by, up, in or from? "leak to" or "leak from"? lean on, towards, against, toward or to?

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