Talking about likes and dislikes

Expressing likes and dislikes

To talk about your likes and dislikes, you can use these expressions.

Expressing likes:

• I like…
• I love...
• I adore…
• I ‘m crazy about…
• I’m mad about…
• I enjoy…
• I’m keen on…

Expressing dislikes:

• I don’t like…
• I dislike...
• I hate…
• I abhor…
• I can’t bear...
• I can’t stand…
• I detest...
• I loathe...

 Examples of likes and dislikes :

I'm mad about basketball, but I can’t bear ice hockey.
I adore reading poetry, but I loathe doing the housework.

If you neither like nor dislike something:

"I don't mind doing the housework."

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."

I like	VERB+ING
I detest
I don't mind

2. Note that" very much" & " 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 you use "I don't mind..."
Examples:

"Do you mind playing football?"
"No, I don't mind."(Although it's in a negative form, it means that it's ok for me. I neither love it nor hate it.)

Dialogue:

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

Steve:	Hello, darling. Do you fancy watching a film tonight?
Girlfriend:	Oh, no thanks, I don't really feel like watching a film tonight. How about going out instead.
Steve:	OK. Do you feel like going to the theater?
Girlfriend:	Oh, no. I hate it. Do you like eating at the new Chinese restaurant?
Steve:	I don't mind. The Chinese cuisine is alright.
Girlfriend:	Well I really love it. Let's go.