Talking About Likes And Dislikes In English

Introduction

This lesson is designed to enhance your ability to express preferences and dislikes effectively. Whether discussing your favorite activities or expressing disinterest, mastering the appropriate phrases for talking about likes and dislikes is essential for clear communication.

Talking About Likes And Dislikes

As a speaker of English, you’ll often find yourself in situations where you need to convey your preferences and dislikes. Below, we’ll explore a variety of expressions commonly used in English to express likes and dislikes.

Expressing Likes And Dislikes

To talk about your likes and dislikes, you can use the following expressions:

Expressing Likes:

• I like…
• I love…
• I adore…
• I’m crazy about…
• I’m mad about…
• I enjoy…
• I’m fond of…
• I’m passionate about…
• I have a soft spot for…
• I’m really into…
• I’m keen on…
• I’m a big fan of…

Expressing Dislikes:

• I don’t like…
• I dislike…
• I hate…
• I abhor…
• I can’t bear…
• I can’t stand…
• I detest…
• I loathe…
• I’m not keen on…
• I’m not a fan of…
• I have an aversion to…
• I’m not particularly fond of…
• I find it unpleasant…
• It’s not my cup of tea…
• I’m not crazy about…
• It rubs me the wrong way…

 Example Sentences Of Likes And Dislikes

Here are some example sentences of likes and dislikes

• I’m mad about basketball, but I can’t bear ice hockey.
• I adore reading poetry, but I loathe doing housework.
• I love hiking in the mountains, but I dislike camping in the rain.
• I’m crazy about Italian food, but I can’t stand spicy cuisine.
• I’m fond of watching movies, but I’m not keen on horror films.
• I enjoy playing the piano, but I’m not a fan of practicing scales.
• I’m passionate about traveling, but I have an aversion to flying.
• I have a soft spot for animals, but I find snakes terrifying.
• I’m really into photography, but I’m not particularly fond of posing for pictures.
• I’m keen on gardening, but I’m not crazy about weeding.
• I’m a big fan of cycling, but I’m not too enthusiastic about running.
• I’m not keen on crowded places, but I love exploring new cities.
• I’m not a fan of seafood, but I love sushi.
• I’m not particularly fond of spicy food, but I enjoy mild curries.
• It’s not my cup of tea to go to loud concerts, but I enjoy acoustic performances.

Expressing Disinterest

When you feel neutral about something, neither particularly liking nor disliking it, you can use the expression “I don’t mind.”

Examples:

• “I don’t mind doing the housework.”
• “I don’t mind going to the gym.”
• “I don’t mind eating leftovers.”
• “I don’t mind watching documentaries.”
• “I don’t mind taking the scenic route.”
• “I don’t mind attending meetings.”
• “I don’t mind waiting in line.”
• “I don’t mind running errands.”
• “I don’t mind listening to classical music.”
• “I don’t mind wearing casual clothes.”

Things To Remember About Likes And Dislikes

1. When these expressions are followed by a verb, the latter is put in the -ing form. Examples:

• “I like listening to music.”
• “I hate wearing sunglasses.”

Structure:

I like	VERB+ING
I detest
I don’t mind

2. Note that “very much” and “a lot” always come after the things you like. Examples:

• “I like basketball very much/a lot.” NOT “I like very much/a lot basketball.”

3. Be careful when using “I don’t mind…” Examples:

• “Do you mind playing football?”
• “No, I don’t mind.” (Although it’s in the negative form, it means that it’s okay for me. I neither love it nor hate it.)

Example Dialogue:

Steve is at home. His wife comes in. Notice how they express their likes and dislikes.

Related Pages:

• More Speaking Lessons