Native speakers, why do you use 'better' for the verb 'like'?
I like sushi better than tempura.
I love sushi more than tempura.

I think you usually use 'better' when you say you prefer something to something else. However, you seem to use 'more' with the verb 'love', even though 'like' and 'love' are not very different in meaning.

Could anyone tell me why?Thank you. But don't you say:
Which do you like better, sushi or tempura?
I like sushi better.
We learn sentences like these at school.

Question

Native speakers, why do you use 'better' for the verb 'like'?
I like sushi better than tempura.
I love sushi more than tempura.

I think you usually use 'better' when you say you prefer something to something else. However, you seem to use 'more' with the verb 'love', even though 'like' and 'love' are not very different in meaning.

Could anyone tell me why?Thank you. But don't you say:
Which do you like better, sushi or tempura?
I like sushi better. 
We learn sentences like these at school.

Answer

I would say:

I like sushi more than tempura.
I love sushi more than tempura.
I think sushi is better than tempura.

I wouldn't say:

I like sushi better than tempura.
I love sushi better than tempura.

I cannot tell you exactly why, but the last two don't sound right.

Answer

"better" (used as an adverb) can mean "To a greater extent or degree: better suited to the job; likes it better without sauce."
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/better

Answer

We say something is better than something else.
This means that we see some part of A is better on some scale than some part (or all) of B.
"I like A better than B" seems to say that it is better that I like A rather than B, which is not what I am trying to say.
"I like A more than B" makes more sense because it means that the degree I like A is more (greater) than the degree to which I like B.

Complicated, I know.  I had to look at it a while to say it the right way.

Answers · 3

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