Expressing Likes and Dislikes

Welcome to Lesson 18 of our English for Travel course. In this lesson, we will focus on "Expressing Likes and Dislikes." Whether you are discussing your preference for local cuisine, describing the kind of hotels you prefer, or telling a tour guide which activities you enjoy, being able to articulate your tastes is essential for a personalized and comfortable travel experience.

To start, let's look at the most common verbs used to express preference. The most basic verb is "like." You can use it to describe general preferences or specific things you enjoy. When you feel more strongly about something, you can use "love." Conversely, if you do not like something, you can use "don't like" or "hate" for a stronger negative feeling.

Let's build your vocabulary. Here are the key words and phrases you will need for this lesson:

Now, let's look at the grammar. When expressing likes and dislikes, we often follow the verb with either a noun (a thing) or a gerund (a verb ending in -ing). For example, you can say "I like coffee" (noun) or "I like drinking coffee" (gerund). Both are grammatically correct and common in travel contexts.

Here is how to conjugate these verbs in the present simple tense for different subjects. Notice that for "he," "she," or "it," we add an "s" to the verb.

When you want to be more specific about your preferences, you can use adverbs of degree. For instance, adding "really" before "like" increases the intensity. "I really like this city" is stronger than "I like this city." Similarly, "I absolutely hate" is stronger than "I hate."

Let's see how these phrases work in a real-life travel dialogue. Imagine a traveler talking to a hotel concierge about dinner plans:

Concierge: "Would you like some recommendations for dinner?" Traveler: "Yes, please. I really love seafood, but I don't like spicy food." Concierge: "I suggest the bistro on the corner. They have great fish." Traveler: "That sounds perfect. I don't mind walking a few blocks to get there."

To practice, let's break down a few more natural phrases you can use while exploring a new destination:

[[pronounce:I love exploring old cities.:en]] [[pronounce:I don't like crowded museums.:en]] [[pronounce:I really enjoy local street food.:en]] [[pronounce:I hate waking up early for tours.:en]]

A key phrase for travelers is "I don't mind." This is used when you are neutral about something. If a tour guide asks if you prefer the bus or the train, and you have no preference, saying "I don't mind" tells them that either option is acceptable to you.

When discussing food, it is important to distinguish between a general dislike and an allergy. While "I don't like" describes a taste preference, "I am allergic to" describes a medical necessity. Always be clear when ordering at restaurants to ensure your safety.

Cultural Note: In many English-speaking cultures, people tend to be polite when expressing dislikes. Instead of saying "I hate this hotel," which can sound very aggressive, travelers often use "softeners." For example, "I'm not a big fan of this hotel" or "It's not really my style" is a more polite way to express dissatisfaction.

Finally, remember that when you ask someone else about their preferences, you use "Do you...?" For example: "Do you like the weather here?" or "Do you enjoy hiking?" Using these questions is a great way to start conversations with fellow travelers or locals.