IELTS Part 1: Functional English

IELTS Functional English: Likes and Dislikes

You will often be asked to talk about your likes and dislikes in the IELTS Speaking exam, especially in Part 1 when the examiner asks you some getting-to-know you questions.

Get off to a good start by using a wide range of expressions. As well as 'I like...', or 'I don't like ...', try to show off your ability to use other English expressions.

Functional English to Likes and Dislikes

We've put together a list of commonly-used functional English expressions to talk about likes and dislikes. Which ones would you normally use?

I've always liked the idea of …
I quite fancy …
I've never really fancied …
I'm quite fond of …
I've always been keen on …
… doesn't really appeal to me
I can't bear …
I've got a soft spot for …
I like the idea of …
… doesn't really do it for me
I was quite taken by …
I'm not a big fan of …
I'm not that bothered about …
I'm not really into …

Practise Talking about Likes and Dislikes

Click the play buttons below to answer some questions. Try talking about your likes and dislikes using some of the expressions above that are new to you. The questions are random and not on a particular subject.

 




 

 

 

 

 

Current functions
Using fillers
Expressing opinions
Speculating
Comparing
Likes and dislikes

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