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Talking about likes and dislikes in English

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Listen to Linda and her children talking about what their favourite subjects at school are. This lesson will give you some useful expressions of talkingĀ about likes and dislikes in English. You can use many ways to express likes and dislikes to improve your vocabulary. It is better to learn phrases than to learn words. Pay attention to how they say “like” and “don’t like”

LindaSo, is this your class at school, Adam?
AdamYes, it is. That’s me there with my friend, Martin. That’s Mrs Harris. She’s our Geography teacher. She’s really good. I like Geography. It’s my favourite subject.
LindaWhat other subjects do you like?
AdamOh, well, I like IT.
LindaWhat’s IT?
AdamInformation Technology – you know, computers and things.
LindaOh, I see. Well, there weren’t any computers when I was at school.
AdamOh, right. I like Art, too, but I don’t like Cookery, and I don’t like English very much.
LindaAnd what about you, Holly? What’s your favourite subject?
HolyWell, I like P.E., but my favourite subject is French.
LindaOh, are you good at languages?
HolyYes, I am.
LindaI was good at languages, too, when I was at school – French and German, but my favourite was Latin.
HolyLatin! Wow! Cool! We don’t do that at our school.
LindaAnd which subjects don’t you like?
HolyI don’t like Science. Well, Biology is OK – I like that, but I don’t like Physics and Chemistry.
LindaSo, what do you like, Joe?
JoeI like History and I like Music, too – oh, and P.E.
LindaWell, you’re good at sport.
JoeYeah, but History’s my favourite subject. I don’t like Maths. I’m not very good at it.


Language Notes:

When you want or don’t want something, you can use the expressions:

  • I like… (you want it)
    I like football.
  • I don’t like… (you don’t want it)
    I don’t like ice-cream.

There are many ways to talk about likes and dislikes in English, not only to use the verb “like”.

How to express likes in English?

  • I likeā€¦
    I like red roses.
  • I love…
    I love sunny days.
  • I adoreā€¦
    I adoreĀ fashion and more.
  • I ā€˜m crazy aboutā€¦
    I’m crazy about cycling.
  • Iā€™m mad aboutā€¦
    I’m mad about that boy.
  • I enjoyā€¦
    I enjoy listening to music
  • Iā€™m keen onā€¦
    I’m keen on doing difficult math exercises.

How to Express dislikes in English?

  • I donā€™t likeā€¦
    I don’t like cigarettes.
  • I dislike…
    I dislike crazy people.
  • I hateā€¦
    I hate seeing him at work.
  • I canā€™t bear…
    I can’t bear your constant complaining.
  • I canā€™t standā€¦
    I can’t stand that smoke from the factory.
  • I detest…
    I detest coming back to his house.

 

What is your favourite subject?

When you ask people what they like something more than any other, you can use the question “What is your favourite …?”

  • A: What is your favourite subject at school?
  • B: My favourite subject is English.
  • A: What are your favourite sports?
  • B: I like swimming, cycling and running.

Note: the adverbs “a lot” and “very much” usually stand after the verb “like” and the Object.

She likes speaking English very much/a lot.

NOT: She likes very much/a lotĀ speaking English.

 

Exercise

[rapid_quiz question=”Tony loves ____ cheese.” answer=”eating ” options=”eating |eat|eats” notes=”Correct answer: eating”]

[rapid_quiz question=”He hates _____ to the dentist’s.” answer=”going” options=”go|seeing|going” notes=”Correct answer: going”]

[rapid_quiz question=”Peter enjoys _____ to work.” answer=”driving” options=”drive|driving|drived” notes=”Correct answer: driving”]

[rapid_quiz question=”They don’t mind _____ in the heat.” answer=”walking” options=”walking|walks|walk” notes=”Correct answer: walking”]

[rapid_quiz question=”I don’t really like _____ exercise.” answer=”doing” options=”doing|playing|practicing” notes=”Correct answer: doing”]

[rapid_quiz question=”My father doesn’t like _____ Coca at all.” answer=”drinking” options=”drink|drinking|drinks” notes=”Correct answer: drinking”]

[rapid_quiz question=”The children love _____ TV.” answer=”watching” options=”watch|seeing|watching” notes=”Correct answer: watching”]

[rapid_quiz question=”They are crazy about _____ football.” answer=”playing” options=”played|playing|play” notes=”Correct answer: playing”]

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