what does he like doing

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "What does he like doing?" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this sentence when asking someone what activities they enjoy participating in. For example, "Tom loves to travel, so what does he like doing when he visits new places?".

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

What are his interests, what does he like doing and what things do you have in common with him?

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

If the guy is your friend you can easily ask him things like what does he like, does he play a sport, does he play an instrument, etc. Don't ask him if he doesn't know you very well, this will just make things a lot more strange and might creep him out if he's not into you.

WikiHow

For my children, I know that they will never have to ask about their father, "Who was he, where did he travel, what did he like doing?" And they will never need to ask how I cherished the moments I spend with them -- they are forever captured in the data stream that follows us, through the fabric of our lives.

Huffington Post

So what does he like to do best?

The New York Times

What does he like to do?

Vice

Find out what his favorite type of food is, what kinds of movies he likes, what does he like to do for fun?

WikiHow

What outfit does he like seeing you in, does he prefer your hair up or down, where are his favorite restaurants/bars?

WikiHow

What kind of things does he like to do? Make him feel like he's special.

WikiHow

He can come here with no shackles and do what he likes doing.

The Guardian - Sport

He will now have several months to do what he likes doing best: exercise his rhetorical gifts before a national audience.

The Economist

All of which is great news for the international trade secretary, Liam Fox, as it means he can do what he likes doing best – flying round the world doing not very much.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When asking about someone's hobbies or interests, use the phrase "what does he like doing" to encourage a broad range of responses, not just a list of activities.

Common error

Avoid limiting your understanding of "doing" to only active hobbies. "What does he like doing" can also include relaxing activities like reading or listening to music.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what does he like doing" functions as an interrogative clause used to elicit information about a person's preferred activities. As shown in the Ludwig examples, it's used in general inquiries.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Wiki

40%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "what does he like doing" is a common and grammatically correct way to ask about someone's interests and preferred activities. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's suitable for various contexts, ranging from informal conversations to more formal inquiries. The phrase functions as an interrogative clause with the purpose of gathering information and initiating conversation. While it is most frequently encountered in Wiki and News & Media contexts, its usage extends to other domains as well. When using this phrase, remember that "doing" can encompass both active hobbies and more relaxing activities. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "what are his hobbies" or "what are his interests".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what does he enjoy

Uses "enjoy" as a synonym for "like", simplifying the question.

what does he do for fun

Directly asks about fun activities.

what are his interests

Asks about general interests without specifying activities.

what are his favorite activities

Emphasizes favorite activities, suggesting a stronger preference.

what kind of things does he like

Broadens the question to include any kind of thing he likes.

what are his hobbies

Focuses specifically on hobbies as preferred activities.

what are his pastimes

Uses a more formal word, "pastimes", for activities.

how does he spend his free time

Focuses on free time, implying leisure activities.

what occupies his time

Focuses on what fills his time, implying regular activities.

what is he passionate about

Highlights strong interests and passions.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "what does he like doing"?

You can use alternatives like "what are his hobbies", "what does he enjoy", or "what are his interests" depending on the context.

Is "what does he like to do" the same as "what does he like doing"?

Yes, both phrases are grammatically correct and convey essentially the same meaning. The choice between them often comes down to personal preference or stylistic considerations.

Can I use "what does she like doing" instead of "what does he like doing"?

Yes, simply replace "he" with "she" to ask the same question about a female individual. The grammatical structure remains the same.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "what does he like doing"?

This phrase is suitable in informal settings, conversations, or when trying to get to know someone better. It's a general way to inquire about their interests and preferred activities.