How to Talk about your Likes, Opinions and Preferences

Here are some useful phrases to talk about what you like or dislike, to give your opinion, and to say what you prefer in English.

Likes and dislikes

like + noun / + ing

“I like French food.”
“I like eating French food.

You can add “quite” or “really” to “like”:

“I quite like Spanish food.” (= I like it, but it isn’t my favourite.)
“I really like Spanish food.” ( = I like it a lot.)

love + noun / + ing

“I love French cuisine.”
“I love going to French restaurants.”

enjoy + noun / + ing

“I enjoy different types of food.”
“I enjoy going out to restaurants.”

enjoy = it’s a hobby / I like doing it

don’t mind + noun / + ing

“I don’t mind a snack for lunch.”
“I don’t mind eating lunch late.”

don’t like + noun / + ing and dislike + noun / + ing

These are the opposite of “like”. “Dislike” is more formal than “don’t like”.

don’t enjoy + noun / + ing

This is the opposite of “enjoy”.

hate + noun / + ing

This is the opposite of “love”.

“I hate boiled eggs.”
“I hate eating late in the evening.”

For more English expressions to talk about your likes and dislikes, see our English speaking page.

Here are some common ways to give your opinion in English.

think

“I think that it’s important to eat lots of vegetables.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to miss breakfast.”

In my opinion

“In my opinion, Italian food is healthy.”

I’m sure that

“I’m sure that a vegetarian diet is better for you.”

Here are some opinion adjectives that you can use to talk about food:

disgusting = taste horrible
“The fish was great, but the chips were disgusting!”

horrible = really bad
“The starters were good, but the main course was horrible.

awful = really bad
“Don’t go there. It’s an awful restaurant.”

terrible = really bad
“The waiters are rude and the service is terrible.”

delicious = tasting very good
“Try the fish soup. It’s delicious.”

fantastic = very good
“Their Sunday lunches are fantastic.”

excellent = very good
“Their wine list is excellent.”

amazing = very good
“We had an amazing meal at the new French restaurant.”

Here are some ways you can talk about your choices.

I prefer X to Y

“I prefer French food to British food.”
“She prefers vegetarian food.”

I’d rather (+ verb without “to”)

“I’d rather have the steak.”
“He’d rather eat meat than fish.”