Lesson L1.5: Expressing Likes, Dislikes and Opinions
Once basic small talk, work talk, directions, and shopping feel comfortable, conversations naturally get a little more personal — sharing what you like, dislike, or think about something. This is where conversations start to feel like real connection rather than just information exchange, and it’s an important step toward more expressive English.
What you’ll learn
- Different ways to say you like or dislike something, from mild to strong
- How to share a simple opinion politely
- How to agree and disagree without sounding rude
- How to ask someone for their opinion or preference
- How to listen for someone’s opinion and respond appropriately
- Common mistakes learners make when expressing preferences
Two real-life scenarios
Scenario 1 — Choosing where to eat: A group is deciding on lunch, and someone asks, “What do you feel like eating?” Your answer, and how you phrase it, shapes the group’s decision.
Scenario 2 — A difference of opinion: A colleague shares an opinion you don’t fully agree with. You want to respond honestly, but without sounding dismissive or causing tension.
Expressing preferences and opinions is unavoidable in daily life — food, plans, work approaches, even small things like music or weather. Doing it smoothly, and disagreeing gracefully, is a real communication skill.
The building blocks
English has a range of phrases for liking something, from strong (“I love it”) to mild (“It’s alright”) to negative (“I’m not really a fan”). Softening language is especially useful when disagreeing, so opinions don’t come across as blunt or confrontational.
Key vocabulary
| Word / Phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I’m a big fan of… | Strongly liking something | I’m a big fan of Italian food. |
| I’m not really into… | A soft way to say you dislike something | I’m not really into spicy food. |
| It’s alright, I guess | A neutral, mild opinion | The movie was alright, I guess. |
| I see what you mean, but… | Softly disagreeing after acknowledging a point | I see what you mean, but I’d approach it differently. |
| I’d have to disagree | A polite way to disagree directly | I’d have to disagree — I think it works well. |
| What do you feel like…? | Asking about someone’s current preference | What do you feel like eating today? |
| To be honest… | Introducing a genuine opinion | To be honest, I preferred the earlier version. |
| Fair point | Acknowledging someone’s opinion respectfully | Fair point, I hadn’t thought of it that way. |
Sentence patterns you can reuse
Dialogue 1: Deciding where to eat
Dialogue 2: A polite disagreement at work
Listening practice
Audio script (read this aloud to yourself, or have a friend read it to you):
“To be honest, I’m not really into big crowded events — I’d rather have a small, quiet gathering. I see what you mean about wanting a big celebration, but maybe we can find a middle ground?”
Comprehension questions:
- What kind of event does the speaker prefer?
- Does the speaker completely reject the other idea?
- What does the speaker suggest at the end?
Practice it yourself
Speaking practice: Say three sentences out loud about things you like and dislike, using at least two different phrases from this lesson (not just “I like” / “I don’t like”).
Writing practice: Write a short exchange where two people disagree politely about a plan, using at least one softening phrase.
Practical activity: The next time you disagree with someone in conversation, try using “I see what you mean, but…” instead of jumping straight to your own opinion.
Common mistakes to avoid
| Instead of this | Say this |
|---|---|
| “I like very much this.” | “I really like this.” / “I’m a big fan of this.” |
| “No, you are wrong.” (too blunt) | “I see what you mean, but I’d have to disagree.” |
| “I don’t like” (used for everything, sounds repetitive) | Vary it: “I’m not really into it,” “It’s not really my thing.” |
| “What you like to eat?” | “What do you feel like eating?” |
| Only giving one-word opinions (“Nice.” “Okay.”) | Add a small reason: “It’s nice, I like how simple it is.” |
Today’s challenge
Share one genuine opinion today — about food, a plan, or an idea — using a phrase from this lesson instead of a plain “yes” or “no.”
Self-assessment
Check off what you can now do confidently:
- I can express liking or disliking something in more than one way.
- I can share a simple opinion politely.
- I can disagree with someone without sounding rude.
- I can ask someone else for their preference or opinion.
- I understood the listening script without reading it twice.
Quick quiz
1. Which is a mild way to say you dislike something?
2. Which is a polite way to disagree?
3. Which phrase asks about someone’s current preference?
4. Which correctly expresses strong liking?
5. What does “fair point” mean?
Lesson summary
You now have a range of ways to express likes, dislikes, and opinions — from strong to mild — plus the softening phrases needed to disagree respectfully. This adds real texture and personality to your conversations, moving beyond simple “yes/no” exchanges.