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You may think expressing likes anddislikes is a piece of cake. But, it’s not!

Read on for more…

HOW TO EXPRESSLIKES ANDDISLIKES

ERROR INAPPROPRIATE APPROPRIATE

Giving confusinginformation.

I like cooking. I like going tothe cinema. I like swimmingvery much.

Repeating the samesentence form.

Giving too muchinformation.

My favourite cricketers areVirat Kohli, Rohit Sharma,Ajinkya Rahane, MS Dhoni,Hardik Pandya, JaspritBumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar,Kuldeep Yadav etc.

I like cooking.Going to the cine-ma is also one ofmy favouriteactivities. Anotherthing I enjoy isswimming.

I like most Indiancricketers but myabsolute favouritesare Virat Kohli andJasprit Bumrah.

I like all Italiandishes exceptpasta.

I like Italian cuisine, but Idon’t eat Italian food.

ERRORS WHILE EXPRESSING LIKES & DISLIKES

ERROR INAPPROPRIATE APPROPRIATE

Using “what aboutyou” instead of“how about you”.

What sports do you like?What authors do you like?

Using the samequestion structure.

Asking multiplequestions at thesame time.

Which singer do you like lis-tening to? Who is yourfavourite actress? What kindof food do you enjoy?

What sports doyou like? Howabout authors –who are yourfavourites?

I love the winters.How about you?

I love the winters.What about you?

ERRORS WHEN ASKING OTHERS ABOUT THEIR LIKES & DISLIKES

HOW TO EXPRESS LIKESAND DISLIKESThings to remember when expressinglikes and dislikes➤ Add a reason for liking/disliking something.➤ Use different types of sentences.➤ Mention 2-3 likes/dislikes to avoidoverwhelming the listener.

Words and expressions one can useI like/dislike; I love/hate; I prefer/avoidIs (not) nice, is (not) interesting, is (not) appealing

My choice is; my preference is; myfavourite is

Examples of expressing likes and dislikes➤ I love shopping for clothes in thesales. I’ve got some great bargains.➤ I like travelling because it helps memeet new people.➤ In my opinion, that hotel is not niceas its staff is rude. ➤ I can’t stand people who make racist jokes.➤ Between cricket and football, I preferfootball due to the energy level.

PERFECT LINE: This is a line showing a range of words used to describe likes and dislikes

DESPISE HATE DISLIKE MINDBE

INDIFFERENTTO

APPRECIATE LIKE LOVE ADORE

HOW TO ASK OTHERS ABOUTTHEIR LIKES AND DISLIKES

➤ Modulate your tone to show that youare interested and that the enquiry isnot just a formality.➤ Be a good listener.➤ Use different ways of asking questions.

Words and expressions one can useHow about you? How do you find it?How do you feel about...?What do you prefer? What do you like in...? What are your favourites...?Which is your preferred ...? Which ...

would you be interested in? Which ofthese do you not like?

Examples of asking others abouttheir likes and dislikes➤ How do you feel about the currentsituation of Indian economy? ➤ What do you prefer to eat at dinner? ➤ Which film of 2019 do you dislike the most? ➤ What kind of music do you usuallyenjoy listening to?➤ Between Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni,which one would you choose?

Which singer do youlike listening to?(Listen to reply andacknowledge reply).Who is yourfavourite actress?(Listen to reply andacknowledge reply).

Exercise on asking othersabout their likes and dislikes.Complete the sentences andget them checked from yourEnglish teacher.

Who would you say is your ____actor, and why ____?

What kind of clothes are you ____ towear to the party?

What ____ the movies released lastyear? Did you particularly ____ any?

I am partial to chocolates. ____?

Interactive exercise ondiscussing likes and dislikes

Use the following hints to writeabout 4 likes and 4 dislikes. You cantalk about the entire subject men-tioned in the hint or some part of it.Remember to express your likes and dislikes and also pose questionsas if you are asking a friend ofyours. Get it checked by yourEnglish teacher.

HINTS:Robert Downey, Jr.Chinese cuisineIPL teamsPoliticians Your city/town/villageYour school

INTERACTIVE ACTIVITY

1. ______________ we should take ideasfrom the rest of our colleagues too. (a) I am of the opinion(b) In my opinion(c) My opinion feels that

2. I feel that having the meeting inthe afternoon would be better. _______ (a) Is everyone agreeing?(b) Are you agreeing with me?(c) Do you agree?

3. I completely favour all the pointsthat you have mentioned. I want tosay something more. ______________(a) Can I say something here?(b) Can I talk more?(c) I have a point to make.

4. Which of these is an appro-priate way to talk aboutsomeone’s age? (a) He is an oldie.(b) He is quite senior.(c) He is an aged person.

5. I watch movies __ weekends. (a) At, (b) On, (c) By

Select the word or group ofwords that is most oppositein meaning to the words incapital letters.

6. OUTLANDISH(a) Modern, (b) Moderate(c) Disrespectful, (d) Coward

7. SUPPLICATE(a) short of supply, (b) To be arrogant(c) To be tolerant, (d) To act foolish

8. VOLITION(a) Pretext, (b) Unwillingness(c) Compliance, (d) Interlude

9. DEFERENTIAL(a) Discount,

(b) Differences(c) Preconception, (d) Impolite

10. PAROCHIAL(a) Open-minded,

(b) Temporary,(c) Irrelevant, (d) Disinclination

ANSWERS:1. B, 2. C, 3. A, 4. C, 5. B, 6. Ans.(a) Outlandish: strikingly out of the ordinary; bizarre.Modern: designed and made using the most recent ideas and method.7. Ans.(b) Supplicate: ask or beg for something earnestly or humbly.8. Ans.(b) Volition: the faculty or power of using one’s will.Unwillingness: the quality or state of being unwilling to do something.9. Ans.(d) Deferential: showing deference; respectful.Impolite: not having or showing good manners; rude.10. Ans.(a) Parochial: having a limited or narrow outlook or scope.

couch potatoMeaning: A lazy and inactive person; one whospends a great deal of time watching television.Example: I spoiled my body being a couchpotato. I am going to join the gym right now.

On tenterhooksMeaning: Tensely awaiting a decision ordevelopment.Example: I’m on tenterhooks waiting to hearwhether I’ve been admitted to the university.

Pot calling the kettle blackMeaning: Accusing someone of something ofwhich you are also guilty; being hypocritical.Example: You’re telling me I’m too impa-tient? That’s the pot calling the kettle black.

Sweep under the rugMeaning: Attempt to temporarilyconceal a problem or error. Example: You can sweep your mistakeunder the rug, butthe audit will

make clear what you did.

Under the TableMeaning: Without being officially recorded.Example: Legally I’m not supposed to work in thiscountry, but the boss pays me under the table.

Be part of the furnitureMeaning: If someone or something is part ofthe furniture, they have been somewhere solong as to seem an integral part of the place.Example: She worked for that company for solong that she became part of the furniture.

To be treated like a doormat Meaning: The phrase to be a doormat or tobe treated like a doormat describes a weakperson who is abused by others and submitsto domination.Example: Don’t let him treat you like a doormat.

Memory like a sieveMeaning: To have a memory like a

sieve means to have a very poormemory.

Example: He’s got a memo-ry like a sieve.

IDIOMS ABOUT FURNITUREBalmy and Barmy Balmy means mild, soothing, and pleasant,and it’s commonly used to discuss weather.Barmy most commonly means goofy or crazy,stemmingExample: The weather was balmy, addingto the enjoyment of the day She obviously thought he was barmy

Censure and censorTo ‘censor’ means to remove, block, or in-terfere with the communication of another.To ‘censure’, on the other hand, means “tofind fault with and criticise as blameworthy.”Example:You will receive a censure if you miss practice without a writtenexcuse.CBFC tend to censor bad language in fea-ture films

Loath and loatheLoath means to be unwilling or reluctantabout something; Loathe, on the other hand,means to strongly dislike someone or some-thing or find it disgustingExample:The new finance minister seemsloath to cut income tax.Love it or loathe it, there’s no denying thatthe holiday season is upon us.

Allude and EludeAllude is to suggest or indirectly call atten-tion to somethingExample: She had a way of alluding toJean but never saying her name.Elude mean to escape from capture, frommemory, or to be unattained byExample: After three years, the cup still elud-ed them.

Vexing vocabulary

GRAMMAR QUIZ

Wonderful wordsyou must know

agastopiaadmiration of a particular partof someone’s body.

cabotagecoastal navigation; the exclusiveright of a country to control theair traffic within its borders.

salopetteshigh-waisted skiing pants withshoulder straps.

bibbleto drink often; to eat and/ordrink noisily.

macrosmatichaving a good senseof smell.

zoanthropya form of madness involvingthe delusion of being an animal.

nudiustertianthe day before yesterday.

pauciloquentuttering few words.

kakorrhaphiophobiafear of failure.

tittynopea small quantity of somethingleft over.

Photo: Getty Images

Photo: Getty Images

Photo: Getty Images

Photo: Getty Images

“Do not believe what your teacher tells youmerely out of respect for the teacher”

Gautama Buddha