Simple English Sentences for Talking About Likes and Dislikes
Expressing likes and dislikes is one of the most basic and important skills in English communication. Whether you are meeting new people, sharing your interests, or participating in a conversation, knowing how to talk about your preferences helps you communicate naturally and confidently.
In this comprehensive guide, you will learn many useful expressions, sentence structures, vocabulary variations, and real conversation examples to help you talk about what you like and dislike. All explanations are simple, clear, and easy to follow—perfect for English learners at all levels.
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- Why Learning to Express Likes and Dislikes Is Important
Talking about what you like or don’t like is a common part of daily conversation. People often ask questions like:
- “What do you like to do?”
- “Do you like this food?”
- “What are your hobbies?”
- “Do you like traveling?”
If you know how to respond confidently, you can connect better with others, start conversations easily, and express your personality.
This skill is also useful in classrooms, job interviews, and social interactions.
- Basic Sentence Structure for Likes and Dislikes
Let’s review the simplest structures:
- Affirmative (Like)
Subject + like(s) + noun/verb-ing
Examples:
- I like chocolate.
- She likes dancing.
- Negative (Dislike)
Subject + don’t/doesn’t like + noun/verb-ing
Examples:
- I don’t like spicy food.
- He doesn’t like swimming.
- Strong Like → Love
Subject + love(s) + noun/verb-ing
Examples:
- I love traveling.
- They love cooking together.
- Strong Dislike → Hate
Subject + hate(s) + noun/verb-ing
Examples:
- I hate waiting.
- She hates noisy places.
These structures are very commonly used by English speakers.
- Simple Expressions of Likes (Expanded)
Below are many ways to express liking something—from basic to advanced, formal to informal.
- Basic Expressions
- I like reading books.
- I like playing football.
- I like fruit juice.
- Stronger Expressions
- I love watching movies.
- I really enjoy hiking.
- I absolutely love music.
- I’m crazy about basketball.
- I’m a big fan of Korean dramas.
- Mild Expressions
- I kind of like it.
- I like it a little.
- It’s okay.
- I don’t mind it.
- Informal Expressions
- I’m into photography.
- I’m really into cooking.
- I’m fond of cats.
- Using “Prefer” to Show Choice
- I prefer tea to coffee.
- I prefer staying home on weekends.
- I prefer reading fiction books.
More Examples
- I enjoy learning new languages.
- I love spending time with my family.
- I like quiet places.
- I really enjoy night walks.
- I’m into online games lately.
- Simple Expressions of Dislikes (Expanded)
Now let’s look at many ways to express dislike politely and naturally.
- Basic Negative
- I don’t like cold weather.
- I don’t like crowded places.
- Strong Expressions
- I hate waiting for buses.
- I can’t stand loud noises.
- I seriously dislike rude people.
- Mild Dislikes
- I’m not a big fan of coffee.
- It’s not my favorite.
- I don’t really like spicy food.
- I’m not into horror movies.
- Polite Ways to Disagree
- I prefer something else.
- It’s not really my style.
- I’d rather not.
- I don’t enjoy it much.
More Examples
- I don’t enjoy driving at night.
- I hate cleaning the bathroom.
- I’m not into reality TV shows.
- I prefer not to eat junk food.
- I really don’t like being late.
- Using Questions to Ask About Likes and Dislikes
Here are common ways to ask someone about preferences.
- Basic Questions
- What do you like?
- What do you like to do?
- Do you like ice cream?
- Asking About Hobbies
- What are your hobbies?
- What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
- Strong Questions
- Do you love traveling?
- Are you into sports?
- Dislike Questions
- What do you not like?
- Is there anything you hate?
- Comparison Questions
- Which do you prefer, tea or coffee?
- Do you prefer studying at home or at school?
- Long List of Example Sentences (More Than 40 Examples)
Here are varied examples to help you sound natural:
- I like learning English every day.
- I love eating chocolate ice cream.
- I enjoy listening to jazz music.
- I prefer walking to driving.
- I’m really into drawing.
- I’m a big fan of action movies.
- I absolutely love traveling abroad.
- I like collecting stamps.
- I don’t like hot weather.
- I hate cleaning my room.
- I’m not into heavy metal music.
- I don’t enjoy long meetings.
- I can’t stand noisy places.
- I don’t mind helping you.
- It’s okay, but it’s not my favorite.
- I prefer tea over coffee.
- I like hanging out with friends.
- I love cooking Indonesian food.
- I really enjoy swimming at night.
- I’m fond of animals.
- I don’t like waking up early.
- I’m not a big fan of spicy noodles.
- I hate waiting for slow internet.
- I don’t enjoy cold showers.
- I prefer staying home on Sundays.
- I like learning new skills.
- I love buying books.
- I really enjoy playing guitar.
- I’m into fitness and exercise.
- I don’t really like sweet drinks.
- I can’t stand dishonest people.
- I hate traffic jams.
- I’m not into shopping malls.
- I prefer reading at night.
- I enjoy gardening.
- I love going to the beach.
- I like trying new foods.
- I don’t like cold drinks in the morning.
- I’m not a big fan of long movies.
- I hate insects.
- Expanded Sample Conversations (10 Conversations)
Conversation 1: Food Preferences
A: Do you like sushi?
B: Yes, I love sushi! How about you?
A: It’s okay, but I prefer ramen.
Conversation 2: Hobbies
A: What do you enjoy doing after work?
B: I enjoy painting. And you?
A: I’m into cycling these days.
Conversation 3: Music
A: Are you into jazz music?
B: Not really. I’m not a big fan of it.
A: I love it. It helps me relax.
Conversation 4: School Subjects
A: Which subject do you like the most?
B: I like English the most.
A: Really? I prefer Math.
Conversation 5: Daily Activities
A: Do you like waking up early?
B: No, I hate it!
A: Same here. I prefer staying in bed.
Conversation 6: Weekend Plans
A: What do you usually do on weekends?
B: I like watching movies.
A: Nice! I enjoy hiking.
Conversation 7: TV Shows
A: Do you enjoy watching horror movies?
B: Not at all. I can’t stand them.
A: I love them! They’re exciting.
Conversation 8: Exercise
A: Do you prefer running or walking?
B: I prefer walking. Running is too tiring for me.
A: I like both!
Conversation 9: Travel
A: Do you like traveling to new places?
B: Yes, I absolutely love it.
A: Me too! It’s my favorite activity.
Conversation 10: School Lunch
A: Do you like the food in the cafeteria?
B: Not really. I’m not into it.
A: Same. I prefer bringing my own lunch.
- Tips to Sound Natural When Talking About Likes and Dislikes
- Avoid using “hate” too often
It’s very strong and can sound rude.
- Use polite phrases when giving negative opinions
Try: “I prefer something else” or “It’s not my favorite.”
- Add adverbs to sound more fluent
- I really like…
- I absolutely love…
- I don’t really like…
- Practice with real topics
Talk about:
- hobbies
- food
- movies
- music
- sports
- travel
- Combine expressions
Example:
“I really enjoy traveling, but I don’t like crowded tourist spots.”
Conclusion
Talking about likes and dislikes is essential for everyday communication. By using simple structures like “I like…,” “I don’t like…,” “I prefer…,” “I’m into…,” and many variations, you can express your preferences clearly and confidently.