Welcome to our English lesson on talking about likes and dislikes! This is a super useful topic for everyday conversations. When you can share what you enjoy and what you don’t, you can connect with people and make friends. This lesson is perfect for English beginners (A1 level), so let’s get started!

Why is Talking About Likes and Dislikes Important?

Imagine meeting someone new. One of the first things you might talk about is what you both enjoy. Knowing how to express your preferences in English helps you:

• Start conversations: “Do you like coffee?” is a simple way to begin talking.
• Make friends: Finding common interests is key to building relationships.
• Avoid things you don’t like: Politely telling someone “I don’t like spicy food” is important!
• Understand others: When someone tells you what they like, you learn more about them.

So, learning to talk about likes and dislikes is a fundamental part of basic English conversation. It’s practical and you can use it immediately!

How to Talk About Likes

Let’s start with the positive! Here are some simple and common ways to express your likes in English:

Using “Like”

The most basic way is using the verb “like”. Here’s the structure:

Subject + LIKE + Noun/Verb-ing

Let’s break it down:

• Subject: This is who is doing the liking (I, You, He, She, We, They).
• LIKE: This is the verb. Remember, for “He/She/It”, it becomes “LIKES”.
• Noun/Verb-ing: This is what you like. It can be a noun (like “cats”, “chocolate”) or a verb ending in “-ing” (like “reading”, “swimming”).

Examples:

• I like cats. (Noun)
• You like pizza. (Noun)
• He likes playing football. (Verb-ing)
• She likes listening to music. (Verb-ing)
• We like watching movies. (Verb-ing)
• They like ice cream. (Noun)

Other Ways to Say “Like”

To make your English more interesting, you can use other phrases to express liking things. Here are a few:

• Love: This is stronger than “like”. Use it for things you really, really enjoy! Example: “I love chocolate!”
• Enjoy: Similar to “like”, but often used for activities. Example: “I enjoy reading books.”
• Be into: This means you are interested in something or it’s a hobby. Example: “I’m into photography.”
• Be a fan of: This is used for people, bands, teams, etc. Example: “I’m a fan of BTS.”

Remember to use these in the same sentence structure as “like”:

Subject + LOVE/ENJOY/BE INTO/BE A FAN OF + Noun/Verb-ing

How to Talk About Dislikes

Now let’s talk about things you don’t like! It’s just as important to express your dislikes politely.

Using “Don’t Like” and “Doesn’t Like”

To say you don’t like something, we use “don’t like” or “doesn’t like”.

Subject + DON’T/DOESN’T LIKE + Noun/Verb-ing

• Use “don’t like” with I, You, We, They.
• Use “doesn’t like” with He, She, It.

Examples:

• I don’t like spiders. (Noun)
• You don’t like waiting in line. (Verb-ing)
• He doesn’t like coffee. (Noun)
• She doesn’t like getting up early. (Verb-ing)
• We don’t like watching scary movies. (Verb-ing)
• They don’t like rainy days. (Noun)

Other Ways to Say “Dislike”

Here are some other ways to express dislike, ranging from mild to strong:

• Dislike: This is a more formal way to say you don’t like something. Example: “I dislike crowded places.”
• Don’t enjoy: Similar to “don’t like”. Example: “I don’t enjoy eating fast food.”
• Hate: This is a very strong word for dislike. Use it for things you really, really cannot stand! Example: “I hate mosquitoes!”
• Can’t stand: Similar to “hate”. Example: “I can’t stand loud music.”

Again, use these in a similar sentence structure:

Subject + DISLIKE/DON’T ENJOY/HATE/CAN’T STAND + Noun/Verb-ing

Polite Ways to Express Dislikes

Sometimes you need to be polite when saying you don’t like something. Here are some softer ways:

• “I’m not a big fan of…” Example: “I’m not a big fan of spicy food.” (This is gentler than “I don’t like spicy food.”)
• “It’s not really my thing.” Example: “Classical music? It’s not really my thing.” (This is a very casual and polite way to say you don’t prefer something.)

Let’s Practice!

Now it’s your turn to practice! Fill in the blanks to complete these sentences about likes and dislikes.

1. I ________ (like) chocolate ice cream.
2. She ________ (enjoy) reading books in her free time.
3. They ________ (not like) going to the beach when it’s crowded.
4. He ________ (hate) waking up early on Mondays.
5. We ________ (be into) playing video games on weekends.
6. You ________ (not be a fan of) horror movies, right?

Answers:

1. I like chocolate ice cream.
2. She enjoys reading books in her free time.
3. They don’t like going to the beach when it’s crowded.
4. He hates waking up early on Mondays.
5. We are into playing video games on weekends.
6. You aren’t a big fan of horror movies, right?

Try this! Think about your own likes and dislikes. Make a list of 5 things you like and 5 things you dislike. Use the phrases we learned in this lesson to write sentences about them. For example:

• I love drinking tea in the morning.
• I don’t like waiting for the bus.
• I enjoy listening to pop music.
• I’m not a big fan of cold weather.
• I can’t stand noisy restaurants.

Speaking Practice with Lingofrnd

Want to practice speaking about your likes and dislikes? Lingofrnd.com is your AI spoken English teacher! You can practice everyday English conversations, including talking about your preferences. Lingofrnd helps you improve your spoken English and build confidence in speaking. It’s perfect for practicing what you’ve learned in this lesson!

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Visit Lingofrnd.com to learn more and practice now!

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Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve learned how to talk about likes and dislikes in English. This is a fundamental skill for English for beginners and will help you in many everyday situations. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be confidently sharing your preferences with everyone you meet! Remember to use Lingofrnd.com to practice your speaking and improve your English pronunciation tips. Keep learning and have fun!