Lesson 24: Expressing Likes and Dislikes

Welcome to Lesson 24 of our Basic English A1 course for beginners. In this lesson, we will focus on expressing likes and dislikes. Being able to communicate what you enjoy or do not enjoy is essential in everyday conversations. It helps you connect with others, share experiences, and find common interests.

1. Vocabulary for Likes and Dislikes

Before we dive into sentence structures, let's look at some common vocabulary words and phrases that you can use to express your likes and dislikes:

• Like: enjoy, love, adore, be fond of, be keen on
• Dislike: dislike, hate, detest, can't stand, loathe

These words can help you vary your expressions and make your conversations more interesting.

2. Basic Sentence Structures

To express likes and dislikes, you can use simple sentence structures. Here are some examples:

2.1. Expressing Likes

• I like + noun/gerund (verb + ing): "I like pizza." / "I like swimming."
• I love + noun/gerund: "I love reading books."
• I enjoy + noun/gerund: "I enjoy playing football."
• I am fond of + noun/gerund: "I am fond of music."
• I am keen on + noun/gerund: "I am keen on hiking."

2.2. Expressing Dislikes

• I dislike + noun/gerund: "I dislike loud noises."
• I hate + noun/gerund: "I hate getting up early."
• I can't stand + noun/gerund: "I can't stand waiting in line."
• I detest + noun/gerund: "I detest doing homework."
• I loathe + noun/gerund: "I loathe cleaning the house."

3. Asking About Likes and Dislikes

It's also important to know how to ask others about their preferences. Here are some common questions you can use:

• Do you like + noun/gerund?: "Do you like coffee?" / "Do you like dancing?"
• What do you like + noun/gerund?: "What do you like doing on weekends?"
• Are you fond of + noun/gerund?: "Are you fond of traveling?"
• What are you keen on + noun/gerund?: "What are you keen on learning?"

4. Responding to Questions

When someone asks you about your likes or dislikes, you can respond in several ways:

4.1. Positive Responses

• Yes, I like it.
• Yes, I love it.
• Yes, I enjoy it.
• Yes, I'm fond of it.
• Yes, I'm keen on it.

4.2. Negative Responses

• No, I don't like it.
• No, I hate it.
• No, I can't stand it.
• No, I detest it.
• No, I loathe it.

5. Practice Exercises

Let's practice expressing likes and dislikes with some exercises:

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in parentheses:

1. I ______ (like) chocolate ice cream.
2. She ______ (enjoy) playing the piano.
3. They ______ (hate) watching horror movies.
4. We ______ (be fond of) hiking in the mountains.
5. He ______ (can't stand) waiting in traffic.

Exercise 2: Create Your Own Sentences

Create five sentences expressing your likes and dislikes. Use different verbs from the vocabulary list.

6. Cultural Insights

Understanding likes and dislikes can also give you insights into different cultures. For example, in some cultures, people might have a strong preference for certain foods or activities. Sharing these preferences can be a great way to learn more about cultural differences and similarities.

In English-speaking cultures, it's common to express likes and dislikes openly. People often use these expressions in social settings to find common ground with others. Being able to express your preferences can help you build relationships and engage in meaningful conversations.

7. Conclusion

In this lesson, we explored various ways to express likes and dislikes in English. By learning these expressions, you can enhance your communication skills and make your conversations more engaging. Remember to practice using different verbs and sentence structures to become more comfortable with these expressions.

As you continue to learn English, try to notice how native speakers express their likes and dislikes in conversations, movies, and TV shows. This will help you understand the nuances and variations in expressing preferences.

Thank you for participating in this lesson. We hope you enjoyed it and found it helpful. Keep practicing, and soon you'll be able to express your likes and dislikes with confidence!

If you have any questions or need further clarification, feel free to reach out. Happy learning!