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Prepositions after verbs

Taste like vs taste of

Taste like compares flavours. Taste of suggests a noticeable flavour. Taste in belongs to a different expression.

Quick answer

How do taste like, taste of, and taste in differ?

Use taste like to compare a flavour to something else. Use taste of when a flavour is present or noticeable. Taste in is used in the expression have taste in something, meaning judgement or preference.

This sauce tastes like garlic.
The soup tastes of fresh herbs.
She has good taste in furniture.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
taste like + food/flavour

Comparing flavours

Use taste like to compare one flavour with another thing.

The drink tastes like coconut.
2
taste of + ingredient

Showing a noticeable flavour

Taste of means a flavour is present in something.

The tea tastes of mint.
3
have taste in + area

Expressing judgement or preference

Taste in belongs to the noun taste, not the verb taste.

He has excellent taste in music.
4
taste + adjective

Describing flavour directly

Taste can also be followed by an adjective.

The curry tastes spicy.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
taste like
It tastes like lemon.
have a flavour similar to something
taste of
The bread tastes of butter.
contain or show a flavour
taste in
She has taste in art.
in follows the noun taste to describe judgement or preference
taste for
He developed a taste for jazz.
preference or liking for something

Common mistakes

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

Using taste in as a verb pattern

Taste in is normally connected to the noun taste, not the verb.

✕ The soup tastes in garlic. ✓ The soup tastes like garlic.

Confusing like and of

Like compares; of suggests an ingredient or noticeable flavour.

✕ The cake tastes of chocolate ice cream. ✓ The cake tastes like chocolate ice cream.

Forgetting adjective patterns

Taste can also be followed directly by adjectives.

✓ The sauce tastes sweet.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. This dessert tastes ___ vanilla.
2. The stew tastes ___ smoked herbs.
3. She has excellent taste ___ interior design.

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Frequently asked questions

Is taste of more formal than taste like?

Taste of can sound slightly more literary or descriptive, but both are standard.

Can I say taste as?

Not normally for flavour comparison. Use taste like instead.

What is the difference between taste and taste like?

Taste can be followed by an adjective, while taste like compares the flavour to another thing.

tackle by, in, for, with or on? tack-on-onto-to-across, as "tag with" or "tag in"? tailor to, for, from, toward or towards? "taint by" or "taint with"? "take into", "take in" or "take to"? "talk about" or "talk to"? tally with, in, for, up or at? "tap into" or "tap on"? target at, by, for, to or in? tarnish by, in, with, after or as? "tax at" or "tax on"?

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