A1 · Lesson 18 · 20 min
Likes, dislikes and activities
In this lesson
- I can talk about activities I like, love, hate and enjoy.
- I can use an -ing form after enjoy and commonly after like, love and hate.
- I can recognise that like, love and hate can also be followed by to plus a verb.
Grammar in context
On Saturday, Maya meets her cousin Leo at the park. Maya loves taking photos of birds, but Leo hates getting up early. They both enjoy playing basketball after lunch. Later, Leo says he likes to cook dinner for his family.
Which activity do Maya and Leo both enjoy doing?
Talking about activities
Use like, love, hate and enjoy to say how you feel about an activity. Put the activity after the feeling word. We often use these words to talk about hobbies, sports and everyday activities.
- I like drawing on the bus.
- My aunt loves dancing at weddings.
Use an -ing form
After enjoy, use a verb ending in -ing. We also commonly use an -ing form after like, love and hate. Add -ing to the activity verb: read becomes reading and cook becomes cooking.
- Ben enjoys making sandwiches.
- We hate waiting for the late train.
Negatives and questions
Use do not or don't with I, you, we and they. Use does not or doesn't with he, she and it. After do or does, use like, love, hate or enjoy in the base form. In questions, put do or does first.
- She doesn't like cleaning her room.
- Do you enjoy swimming at the pool?
Like, love and hate can also use to
Like, love and hate can also be followed by to plus a base verb. Both forms are grammatical: I like reading and I like to read. Do not use to plus a verb after enjoy.
- Omar loves to walk to college.
- I hate to leave home before seven.
Common mistakes
Compare the incorrect and corrected forms.
Avoid
I enjoy to play chess.
Use
I enjoy playing chess.
After enjoy, use a verb ending in -ing.
Avoid
She doesn't likes running.
Use
She doesn't like running.
After doesn't, use the base form like.
Put it into practice
Try the exercises, write your own examples and check your understanding.