aimer = love or like?

Question

I used to be on Duolingo, and whenever this question came up, the experts always said "aimer means love for people&pets, like for things". Laura Lawless' article agrees, with examples like "Aimes-tu le tennis? Oui, j'aime ça - Do you like tennis? Yes, I like it". But this lesson has aimer=love even for things. What am I to believe?

Accepted Answer

Bonjour Joakim,
Here it's a question of intensity. When you use aimer for things, most of the time, you are correct, you would use 'to like' in English. However, sometimes you do say "I love pasta!": to mark the intensity, you can still use aimer, or adorer.
I updated the lesson to hopefully put that point across, please let us know what you think:https://french.kwiziq.com/revision/grammar/how-to-use-aimer-to-express-loving-and-liking-something-someone
A bientôt !

Answer

I was talking with a native French friend and telling her about the fine points of distinction between aimer/aimer beaucoup/aimer bien. She said that in everyday situations the way HOW you say it and your body language overrides most of the rules given here. She agreed that "aimer" for people can mean loving someone but also liking someone, depending on how you say it and under which circumstances. For things "aimer" always means "like", she said.

I can't shake the feeling that this lesson is, maybe, overstressing the point?

-- Chris.

Answer

I'm puzzled here. Why do you value your friend's opinion more ?