There are several ways of answering this question: "Would you like to eat with us tonight?" 1.Yes. 2.(Yes) I would. 3.(Yes) I would love to. 4.(Yes) I would love to eat with you tonight. As you can see, #3, "I would love to" is a shortened form of the complete statement ( #4) . You cannot say "Yes, I would love" because this is incomplete. Here's similar example: "Do you want to leave?" 1.Yes. 2.(Yes) I do. 3.(Yes) I want to. 4.(Yes) I want to leave. Again, note that the one response which is not possible is just "I want" (omitting the 'to'). Here's a general rule to remember: The only types of verb which can stand alone in short responses are auxiliary verbs and modal verbs . Here are some examples of short answers with these: Do you speak English? Yes, I do. Will you speak English? Yes, I will. Can you speak English? Yes, I can. What you can't say is "Yes, I speak". This is because 'speak' is a full verb: it carries meaning, so we don't use it alone or as the final word in a short response. 'Love' and 'want' are also full verbs: this is why "I would love" or "I want" are incomplete responses. You have to either say less ( "I would") or more ( "I would love to"). I hope that's clearer now.

the whole sentence should be: I would love TO eat with you tonight. we always omit the words after TO. but English is my second language too, so my answer may be less authority. just to share my opinion. :)

Hi! It is a shorter way to answer the question. "I would love to (eat with you tonight)"

Read TO in small. Prepare dinner... the person has consented positively.

It is a shorter version of "I would love to eat with you tonight". "I would love" alone does not specify what you would love to do