Many a times, you are asked by your friends and new acquaintances about your likes and dislikes. Instead of narrating your royal preferences blandly, you can use the power of English phrases to state your choices with sophistication. The way you answer questions about choice makes way for interesting conversations. These kinds of dialogues are normally used when you want to know a person in more detail.

Things to remember when expressing likes and dislikes:

1. Complete the sentence

Whenever you are stating your likes and dislikes, you will always use 'very much' and 'a lot'. These complement the things that you like or dislike.

Example:

1.  I like chocolates very much.

2. I like listening to music a lot.

2. Use of I don't mind

Many people use the words, 'I don't mind', to state their preference. It should be avoided, as it is vague in its answer. It should be used sparingly and only when you neither like nor dislike anything.

Example: I don't mind tomatoes in my curry.

3. Verb formation

When expressing likes or dislike, the verb takes the form of 'verb+ing'.

Example:

1. I like driving.

2. I hate skiing.

Vocabulary for expressing likes and dislikes:

A. Saying your likes:

1. I adore

Example: I adore Madonna's music.

2. I like

Example: I like chicken kebabs

3. I love

Example: I love your drawing.

4. I am keen on

Example: I am keen on martial arts.

5. I am crazy/mad about

Example: I am crazy about you.

6. I prefer

Example: I prefer romantic movies.

B. Saying your dislike:

1. I dislike

Example: I dislike rock music.

2. I don't like

Example: I don't like curries.

3. I can't stand

Example: I can't stand air fresheners.

4. I abhor

Example: I abhor drugs.

5. I detest

Example: I detest terrorists.

6. I loathe

Example: I loathe onions.

7. I hate

Example: I hate bikes.

C. Combination of likes and dislikes:

1. Mad about but can't bear

Example: I am mad about football, but I can't bear cricket.

2. Adore but loathe doing

Example: I adore reading novels, but I loathe doing the homework.

D. Neither like nor dislike

1. Don't mind

Example: I don't mind driving you to the airport.

Sample Dialogues:

Situation: You have made a new friend Simon and he visits your home one day.

You: So Simon, which is your favorite sport?

Simon: I love football. What about you?

You: I adore football and watch every match.

Simon: Great! Let's watch a movie? Which type will you prefer?

You: I am mad about action movies but loathe horror ones.

You: I will bring something to eat. What do you want?

Simon: I am keen on spicy food but detest chips.

You: I, on the other hand, love chips.

The above examples show how to express your like or dislike in the appropriate way. There are free English speaking tutorials,which can guide you on the proper way for fluent English speaking. You can refer them with the help of an online English guide.

About eAgeTutor:

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- By Monika Agarwal

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