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General English · Speaking · A1

Talking about likes and dislikes

Share a preference and a small reason without rejecting another person's taste.

Lesson 5 · About 15 minutes

Learn: your objectives

  • Say what you like and do not like.
  • Ask about another person's taste.

Warm-up

Think about these questions. Say a short answer aloud.

  • What music do you like?
  • Do you like busy places?

Useful language

Sharing preferences

I like … because …

Add a simple reason.

I like this song because it's happy.

I don't really like …

Give a gentle negative preference.

I don't really like loud music.

What about you?

Return the same question to your partner.

I like quiet cafés. What about you?

Notice: model speaking

Read aloud. Notice how the speakers use the phrases and respond to each other.

Sara: Do you like this café?

Otabek: Yes. I like it because it's quiet. What about you?

Sara: I like the food, but I don't really like the music.

Otabek: Yes, it's very loud today.

Speaking strategy

Say ‘I’ when giving a preference. ‘I don't really like it’ describes your taste; ‘It's bad’ can sound like a judgement of everyone else's choice.

Pronunciation & fluency focus

Stress the contrasting idea: ‘I like the FOOD, but not the MUSIC.’ Do not make every word equally strong.

Teaching guidance, not an analysis of your voice.

Use: controlled practice

Choose a useful response for each situation. Check when all questions are answered. These are phrase exercises, not a speaking assessment.

1. Choose a preference with a reason.
2. Your friend likes a song. You dislike it. Choose the gentlest reply.
3. You answered ‘I like tea.’ Invite your partner's preference.
4. ‘Why do you like this film?’ Choose an answer to ‘why’.
5. Choose a sentence that separates two different preferences.

Build your answer

Write a few keywords. Then look away and speak. Notes stay on this page only.

Speak: your challenge

Talk aloud about a café, film or song for 30–40 seconds. Say one thing you like, one thing you do not really like and ask for the listener's opinion.

Keep the reasons simple: quiet, funny, interesting or expensive.

Speak aloud. This page does not record, listen to or assess your speech. There is no automatic speaking score.

Self-check

Open to everyone. Answers, notes and checklists are not saved to an account. These original lessons use level labels to organize learning; completion is not official CEFR certification or proof of a level.