Examples of Verbs to Express Likes and Preferences in English

There are different verbs, phrases and expressions that are used to talk about tastes and preferences in English. (like, prefer, hate). These verbs express the attitude of the speaker towards an activity, hobby or object, with a certain level of intensity. For example: Yo sees it swimming./ I love swimming.Yo can't stand the rain. / I can't stand the rain.

Attention: The order of the elements in the sentence to express likes and preferences in English is: Subject + verb + object. For example: I like tennis.

• See also: Sports in English

What verbs are used to express likes and preferences in English?

The verbs that are used to talk about likes and preferences in English in a general way are conjugated in present simple. These are:

• I like(I like it). For example: Yo like watching TV./ I like to watch tv.
• I love(I love, I love) For example:Yo sees it running in the park./ I love running in the park.
• I enjoy(I enjoy). For example: Yo enjoy getting together with friends./ I enjoy getting together with my friends.
instagram story viewer
• I preferred(prefer). For example: Yo prefer heat to cold weather./ I prefer the heat to the cold.
• I don't mind(I don't care, it doesn't bother me). For example: Yo don't mind cleaning. / I don't mind cleaning.
• I don't like(I don't like). For example: Yo don't like board games./ I don't like board games.
• I hate(hate). For example: Yo hate going to bed early. / I hate going to bed early.
• I can't stand(I do not tolerate). For example:Yo can't stand horror movies./ I don't tolerate horror movies.

Careful: I likeeither I don't likeThey express a general taste or preference. To express a particular preference (what the speaker wants at the moment) we use I would like either I don't want. For example:I would like some ice cream, please. (And not: I like some ice cream.)

More expressions to talk about likes and preferences in English

• I quite like(I like a lot). For example: Yo remove like hockey./ I quite like hockey.
• I like … a lot(I like it a lot). For example: Yo like the beach a lot./ I really like the beach.
• I really like(I really like it). For example: Yo really like reading manga./ I really like to read manga.
• I'm into(I like it). For example: YoI'm into soccer. / I like football.
• I'm fond of(I like it, I enjoy it). For example: YoI'm fond of skiing. / I like skiing.
• I adore(I like). For example:Yo adore dogs./ I adore dogs.
• I'm a big fan of(I'm a big fan of). For example:Yo'm a big fan of Coldplay./ I'm a big fan of Coldplay.
• i think … es …(I think it is…). For example: i think surfing es dangerous./ I think surfing is dangerous.
• I guess … es …(I guess… is…). For example: I guess cooking is fun./ I guess cooking is fun.
• … it's fun / amazing / cool / great.(… it's fun, incredible, great, terrific). For example: Parkour is great fun. / Parkour is a lot of fun.
• … is ok.(… I like it, but not too much). For example: school is ok for me./ School is not bad for me.
• I found … boring / interesting. (...it seems boring / fun to me). For example: I found collecting stamps boring. / Collecting stamps seems boring to me.

Sentence structure about likes and dislikes

The verbs used to express likes and preferences in English follow the structure:

• verb + noun. For example: I like riddles./ I like riddles.
• verb + -ing. For example: i like solveding riddles./ I like solving puzzles.

Any subject can be used (and not just Yo) to talk about other people's likes and dislikes. For example: She likes walking long distances./ She likes to walk long distances.

Attention: The verb prefer can be followed by -ing either to + infinitive. The verblike can be followed by-ing either to + infinitive, with minimal difference in meaning. For example:I like to have a cup of coffee in the afternoon. I like having a cup of coffee in the afternoon.

• It can help you: Simple present in English

How to express preferences in English?

There are verbs and constructions that are used to express both general and particular preferences, depending on the context:

verb or expression	overall preference	individual preference
prefer(I prefer, I would prefer)	Expresses a preference in general. Yo prefer summer to winter.	Express a particular preference. Yo prefer the steak, please.
would rather(I prefer, I would prefer)	Expresses a preference in general. Yo would rather live here than somewhere else.	Express a particular preference. Yo would rather watch another movie tonight.
Would prefer(I'd prefer)	–	Express only a particular preference. Yo would prefer to go out.
would like (I would, I would, I would)	–	Express only a particular preference. Yo would like Some orange juice, please.
wanted (wanna)	–	Express only a particular preference. Yo wanted soda, please.

How to ask about tastes and preferences?

tastes in general

To ask about tastes in general, questions are used with the verbs like, enjoy, love. For example:

• What do you like doing in your free time?
  What do you like to do in your free time?
• What kind of books do you enjoy?
  What books do you enjoy?
• Do you love skating / sports?
  Do you like skating / sports?
• Are you into video games?
  You like video games?
• What do you do for fun?
  What do you do for fun?

preferences or offers

To ask about preferences and to offer something, questions are used with the verbs: prefer, want, would prefer, would like, would rather. For example:

• What would you like to drink?
  What would you like to drink?
• Do you prefer strawberries or raspberries?
  Do you prefer strawberries or raspberries?
• Do you want to go out or stay here?
  Do you want to go out or stay here?
• Which restaurant do you prefer for dinner tonight?
  What restaurant do you prefer for dinner tonight?
• Would you rather stay home or eat out tonight?
  Would you rather stay home or dine out tonight?
• Which destination would you prefer to travel to: London or New York?
  Which destination would you prefer to travel to: London or New York?

Careful: The question Do you like… ? expresses tastes in general, so it cannot be used to ask about particular preferences.

• See also: Questions with "que”

Examples of sentences to express tastes in English

1. Yosees it playing soccer.
   I love playing soccer.
2. I quite like thrillers.
   I quite like suspense movies.
3. Yojust love traveling.
   I really love to travel.
4. I really like painting.
   I really like to paint.
5. Yosees it chocolate.
   I love chocolate.
6. I'm fond of chess.
   I like chess.
7. I'm really into art.
   I really like art.
8. I'm a big fan of water sports.
   I am a big fan of water sports.
9. i think cycling is great.
   I think riding a bike is great.
10. backpacking es a cool activity.
    Backpacking is a great activity.
11. I suppose card games are ok.
    I guess card games aren't bad.
12. I don't like billiards.
    I don't like billiards.
13. I can't stand soap operas.
    I can't stand TV soap operas.
14. I hate watching TV all day long.
    I hate watching TV all day.
15. My father You see it carpentry.
    My dad loves carpentry.
16. Mary really enjoys singing.
    Mary really enjoys singing.
17. my grandmother You see it her garden.
    My grandmother loves her garden.
18. Peter enjoy cooking.
    Peter enjoys cooking.
19. My boyfriend and I sees it hiking.
    My boyfriend and I love hiking.
20. Doyoulike jogging?
    Do you like to run?

Examples of sentences to express preferences in English

1. Yo prefer soccer or rugby.
   I prefer soccer to rugby.
2. Yo would like the steak well-cooked, please.
   I'd like the steak well-done, please.
3. Yo would prefer the white shirt to the black one.
   I would prefer the white shirt to the black one.
4. Yo wanted a coffee.
   I want a coffee.
5. Yo prefer living in an apartment to living in a house.
   I prefer living in an apartment to living in a house.
6. Yo prefer to take vacations in the summer rather than in winter.
   I prefer to take vacations in summer rather than winter.
7. Yo’d rather not go out tonight.
   I would rather not go out tonight.
8. Yo prefer to go dancing tomorrow.
   I prefer to go dancing tomorrow.
9. Yo’d like to rest a little bit.
   I would like to rest a bit.
10. Yo prefer not to have social media.
    I prefer not to have social networks.
11. Yo’d prefer to live in a big city.
    I would rather live in a big city.
12. We’d like to order now.
    We would like to place our order.
13. They prefer to come over tomorrow.
    They prefer to come home tomorrow.
14. Mark prefers a quiet life by the sea.
    Mark prefers a quiet life by the sea.
15. my mother would prefer to have a bigger house.
    My mom would prefer to have a bigger house.
16. My friends always prefer to go to that pub.
    My friends always prefer to go to that pub.
17. Tare would like to change jobs.
    Tara would like to change jobs.
18. We prefer fish to beef.
    We prefer fish to beef.
19. Yo wanted to talk to you now.
    I want to talk to you now.
20. John prefers pop to rock.
    John prefers pop to rock.

Follow with:

• Questions with "which”
• Questions with "do" and "does”
• Sentences with "would rather»
• Verbs with «-eng» either "to infinitive»

Interactive test to practice