LIKES AND DISLIKES

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...

How to say you like something

To like/ love + gerund.
‘I love skiing and my boyfriend likes climbing.’
Remember: ‘To like/ love + infinitive’ means that you think that something is a
good idea, not that you like it. For example:
‘Sophia likes to do her homework before dinner.’
To be a fan of something.
‘I am a fan of science fiction but I am not a fan of fantasy movies.’
To be mad/crazy about something.
‘My neighbour is crazy about video games. He spends all night playing them.’
To be keen on something.
‘My nephew is keen on football.’
To be fond of something/someone.
‘Both my children are fond of travelling.’
‘Invite Rachel to the dinner, we are very fond of her.’
To appeal to me /to be appealing to me.
‘Travelling in South East Asia appeals to me at the moment.’
Developing a passion for something
To get into something – to develop a passion.
‘My aunt is getting into salsa dancing, she takes a class every week.’
To be into something – to have a passion.
‘My sister is into yoga, she has been doing it for years.’
Liking food
To be partial to something.
‘I am partial to chocolate after a meal.’
To talk about a future desirable event
To look forward to + gerund
‘I am looking forward to going on holiday.’
To not be able to wait to do something.
‘I can’t wait to see you this weekend! We’re going to have lots of fun.’
Ways to say that you don’t like something
To not like/hate + gerund.
‘I hate driving in the dark!’
To not be able to stand – a way to say ‘you don’t support something.’
‘I can’t stand travelling in rush hour.’
To loathe – a very strong way to say ‘hate.’
‘She loathes cheese. Don’t give her any or she’ll vomit.’
To detest – a very strong way to say ‘to hate.’
‘I detest graffiti on national monuments. It’s so disrespectful.’
Lighter ways to say you don’t like something
It’s not my cup of tea – a British saying to say that something ‘is not for you.’
‘You go and play tennis if you want to, but it’s not my cup of tea.’
(Alternatives: ‘It’s not my thing’, ‘it’s not for me.’)
To be not a big fan of something.
‘Actually, I am not a big fan of Japanese food. Can we order something else?’
Liking and disliking people
To get on well with someone – to have a good relationship with someone.
‘I get on well with my teacher.’
To get on like a house on fire – when two people meet and really like each other
in a friendship way (not romantic).
‘My girlfriend met my sister and they got on like a house on fire.’
To fall out – to have an argument and stop liking someone.
‘My two best friends have fallen out over money. What a shame.’
To fight like cat and dog – to constantly argue with someone.
‘My kids are fighting like cat and dog at the moment.’ ‘What do you expect,
they’re teenagers!’
To get together with someone – to start a romantic relationship or meet someone
to do something.
‘Let’s get together on Friday.’
‘My sister got together with her boyfriend at a party.’
To get back together – to break up with someone and then form a romantic
relationship again.
‘He got back together with his girlfriend.’