Expressing Preferences in English: A Simple Guide for Everyday Use

Welcome to your English lesson on expressing preferences! Knowing how to talk about what you like and dislike is super important in everyday conversations. Whether you’re ordering food, choosing a movie, or making plans with friends, you’ll need to express your preferences clearly. This lesson is perfect for A2 English learners who want to improve their spoken English and learn useful English preferences vocabulary. Let’s get started!

Why is Expressing Preferences Important?

Imagine you are with a friend and they ask, “Do you want to watch a movie or go for a walk?” If you can’t express your preference, you might end up doing something you don’t really want to do! Learning to say what you like and dislike helps you:

Communicate clearly: People understand what you want.
Make choices: You can participate in decisions.
Build relationships: Sharing your preferences helps you connect with others.
Improve your spoken English: Practice makes perfect!
Use English for everyday use: This is practical English for real situations.

In this lesson, we’ll look at some easy ways to express your preferences in English. We will focus on simple phrases that you can use right away.

Key Phrases for Expressing Preferences

Here are some common and easy phrases to use when talking about your preferences. These are great for English for beginners and A2 English Functions.

“Like” and “Love”

We use “like” and “love” to talk about things we enjoy. “Love” is stronger than “like.”

I like coffee. (You enjoy coffee.)
She likes chocolate. (She enjoys chocolate.)
We like playing football. (We enjoy playing football.)

For “love“:

I love pizza! (You really enjoy pizza!)
He loves listening to music. (He really enjoys listening to music.)
They love going to the beach. (They really enjoy going to the beach.)

Remember to add “-s” to “like” and “love” when you use “he,” “she,” or “it” in the present simple tense. This is important for English grammar!

“Enjoy”

“Enjoy” is similar to “like,” but it often talks about activities or experiences.

I enjoy watching movies. (You like the activity of watching movies.)
She enjoys reading books. (She likes the activity of reading books.)
We enjoy spending time with friends. (We like the activity of spending time with friends.)

“Prefer”

“Prefer” is used when you have two or more options and you want to choose one. It’s a great way to express your preference between things.

I prefer tea to coffee. (Between tea and coffee, you choose tea.)
He prefers walking to driving. (Between walking and driving, he chooses walking.)
They prefer summer to winter. (Between summer and winter, they choose summer.)

You can also use “prefer” with “would prefer” to be more polite, especially when making requests or offers.

I would prefer to sit here, please. (Polite way to say where you want to sit.)
Would you prefer coffee or tea? (Polite way to ask about someone’s drink preference.)

“Don’t like” and “Hate”

To talk about things you dislike, we use “don’t like” and “hate.” “Hate” is stronger than “don’t like.” These are important for talking about like and dislike English.

I don’t like spicy food. (You dislike spicy food.)
She doesn’t like getting up early. (She dislikes getting up early.)
We don’t like watching scary movies. (We dislike watching scary movies.)

For “hate“:

I hate being late! (You really dislike being late!)
He hates doing housework. (He really dislikes doing housework.)
They hate cold weather. (They really dislike cold weather.)

Again, remember to use “doesn’t like” for “he,” “she,” and “it.” This is part of English grammar for beginners.

“Would like” and “Would love”

“Would like” and “would love” are used to express desires or wishes, often in a polite way. “Would love” is a stronger desire than “would like.”

I would like a glass of water, please. (Polite request for water.)
She would like to go to Italy. (Her wish is to go to Italy.)
We would like to travel more. (Our wish is to travel more.)

For “would love“:

I would love to come to your party! (You really want to come to the party.)
He would love to have a new car. (He really desires a new car.)
They would love to see that movie. (They really want to see that movie.)

“Would like” and “would love” are very useful in spoken English practice when making requests or accepting invitations.

Putting it Together – Example Conversations

Let’s see how we can use these phrases in conversations. These examples will help you with your spoken English preferences practice.

Example 1: Choosing a drink

Friend A: Would you like tea or coffee?

Friend B: I prefer coffee, please.

Example 2: Talking about hobbies

Friend A: Do you like playing sports?

Friend B: Yes, I enjoy playing football, but I love swimming!

Example 3: Making weekend plans

Friend A: What do you want to do this weekend? Go to the cinema or go shopping?

Friend B: I would prefer to go shopping. I don’t like crowded cinemas.

Example 4: Food preferences

Friend A: Do you like pizza?

Friend B: Yes, I like pizza, but I love pasta!

Friend A: What about spicy food?

Friend B: I don’t like spicy food at all. I hate it!

Let’s Practice!

Now it’s your turn to practice expressing preferences! Fill in the blanks below using the correct form of “like,” “love,” “enjoy,” “prefer,” “don’t like,” or “hate.”

Fill in the Blanks Exercise

I _______ (coffee) in the morning.
She _______ (read) books in her free time.
They _______ (go) to the beach in the summer.
He _______ (tea) to juice.
We _______ (watch) scary movies.
I _______ (be) late for appointments.
_______ you _______ (play) video games?
She _______ _______ (eat) vegetables.
_______ he _______ (go) for a walk or stay home?
They _______ _______ (visit) museums.

Answers

I like coffee in the morning.
She enjoys reading books in her free time.
They love going to the beach in the summer.
He prefers tea to juice.
We don’t like watching scary movies.
I hate being late for appointments.
Do you like playing video games?
She doesn’t like eating vegetables.
Would he prefer to go for a walk or stay home?
They don’t enjoy visiting museums. (or They don’t like visiting museums)

Practice Speaking with Lingofrnd

The best way to improve your spoken English and practice expressing preferences is to speak! But who can you practice with?

Meet Lingofrnd.com, your AI spoken English teacher! Lingofrnd is designed to help you practice real conversations anytime, anywhere. You can practice expressing your preferences in different situations and get instant feedback. It’s like having a friendly English tutor in your pocket!

Why use Lingofrnd?

Practice speaking anytime: No need to schedule lessons.
Get instant feedback: Improve your pronunciation and grammar.
Learn practical English: Focus on English for everyday use.
Boost your confidence: Speak English without fear of mistakes.

Ready to start practicing expressing preferences in English and improve your spoken English skills? Visit Lingofrnd.com today!

You can also Download App and practice on the go!

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Keep practicing, and you’ll become a pro at expressing your preferences in English! Good luck with your English learning journey!