Intermediate120 min
How to … express personal preferences
How to … express personal preferences
| Expression | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Really into | To say we like something a lot | I'm really into Polish films. |
| Passionate about | To talk about something we really love | I'm passionate about Mexican music. |
| It's not my cup of tea | Idiomatic expression to say we generally don't like something | Sorry, football just isn’t really my cup of tea. |
| Would rather | To express a preference, followed by the infinitive without 'to' | I'd rather have rice than pasta. |
| Would prefer | Alternative to 'would rather', followed by the infinitive with 'to' | We'd prefer to travel on Tuesday. |
| Given the choice | To talk about hypothetical options | Given the choice, I'd go to Malawi for my holiday. |
| I'd be happy to ... but I don't want to ... | To compromise | We'd be happy to visit the gallery, but we don’t want to go to the museum. |
| How about if we ... then we can ... | To suggest a compromise | How about we spend the morning shopping, then we can go to the castle in the afternoon? |
Expressing Likes and Dislikes:
- We use "really into" something to say we like something a lot.
Example: I'm really into Polish films.
- We use "passionate about" something to talk about something we really love.
Example: I'm passionate about Mexican music.
- We can use the idiom "It's not my cup of tea" to say that we generally don't like something.
Example: Sorry, football just isn’t really my cup of tea.
Common structures for expressing likes and dislikes:
- I'm really into / I'm passionate about + noun/-ing form
- I'm (not) keen on / I'm (not) a big fan of + noun/-ing form
- I love / hate / can't stand + noun/-ing form
- It's not my cup of tea.
- What I like/love about … is …
- The thing I love about … is …
- We use "really into" something to say we like something a lot.
Example: I'm really into Polish films.
- We use "passionate about" something to talk about something we really love.
Example: I'm passionate about Mexican music.
- We can use the idiom "It's not my cup of tea" to say that we generally don't like something.
Example: Sorry, football just isn’t really my cup of tea.
Common structures for expressing likes and dislikes:
- I'm really into / I'm passionate about + noun/-ing form
- I'm (not) keen on / I'm (not) a big fan of + noun/-ing form
- I love / hate / can't stand + noun/-ing form
- It's not my cup of tea.
- What I like/love about … is …
- The thing I love about … is …
Expressing Preferences:
- We use "would rather" to express a preference. It is followed by the infinitive without "to".
Example: I'd rather have rice than pasta.
- "Would prefer" is an alternative to "would rather". It is followed by the infinitive with "to".
Example: We'd prefer to travel on Tuesday.
- We use "given the choice" to talk about hypothetical options, to say what you would like to do if it was possible.
Example: Given the choice, I'd go to Malawi for my holiday.
Common structures for discussing options:
- I'd rather (not) + infinitive without to
- I'd (much) rather + infinitive without to
- I'd prefer (not) + infinitive with to
- Given the choice, I'd ...
- We use "would rather" to express a preference. It is followed by the infinitive without "to".
Example: I'd rather have rice than pasta.
- "Would prefer" is an alternative to "would rather". It is followed by the infinitive with "to".
Example: We'd prefer to travel on Tuesday.
- We use "given the choice" to talk about hypothetical options, to say what you would like to do if it was possible.
Example: Given the choice, I'd go to Malawi for my holiday.
Common structures for discussing options:
- I'd rather (not) + infinitive without to
- I'd (much) rather + infinitive without to
- I'd prefer (not) + infinitive with to
- Given the choice, I'd ...
Compromising:
- When we can’t agree completely on what to do, we compromise. This means we agree to do some things the other person wants and some things we want to do, keeping both sides happy.
- We can use "I'd be happy to …, but I don’t want to …" to compromise.
Example: We'd be happy to visit the gallery, but we don’t want to go to the museum.
- We can also use "How about if we …/What if we …, then we can …" to suggest a compromise.
Example: How about we spend the morning shopping, then we can go to the castle in the afternoon?
Common structures for compromising:
- I'd be happy to …, but I don't want to …
- How about if we … (do your idea), then we can … (do my idea)?
- When we can’t agree completely on what to do, we compromise. This means we agree to do some things the other person wants and some things we want to do, keeping both sides happy.
- We can use "I'd be happy to …, but I don’t want to …" to compromise.
Example: We'd be happy to visit the gallery, but we don’t want to go to the museum.
- We can also use "How about if we …/What if we …, then we can …" to suggest a compromise.
Example: How about we spend the morning shopping, then we can go to the castle in the afternoon?
Common structures for compromising:
- I'd be happy to …, but I don't want to …
- How about if we … (do your idea), then we can … (do my idea)?
Quiz
Question 1 of 10
Which sentence correctly uses 'really into'?
I'm really into cook.
I'm really into cooking.
while, whereas and whilst
- We can use while, whereas, and whilst to link two ideas in the same sentence that contrast with each other.
- Example: I love listening to jazz, whilst my partner can’t stand it.
- Example: While I used to be quite optimistic when I was younger, nowadays I think I’m more of a realist.
- Example: My wife comes from a big family, whereas mine is quite small.
- We can use while/whilst or whereas at the beginning of the sentence or in the middle.
- If we use while/whilst/whereas at the beginning of the sentence, we put a comma at the end of the first statement, before the contrasting statement.
- When we use while/whilst and whereas in the middle of the sentence, we put it directly after the comma.
- Example: Whilst Emil enjoys a good steak, I’m a vegetarian.
- Example: Emil enjoys a good steak, whereas I’m a vegetarian.
- Notice that while and whilst can also be used to introduce a time clause, to describe when two things happen at the same time.
- Example: Tim made supper whilst I went upstairs for a shower.
- Example: While I was stuck in bed, everyone else was enjoying the holiday.
Understanding Emotions and Feelings
Emotions and feelings are an essential part of being human. They influence the way we think, behave, and connect with others. Sometimes, people use the words emotions and feelings interchangeably, but there are subtle differences between them. While emotions are immediate reactions to certain events or thoughts, feelings are the result of emotional experiences and are often more long-lasting.
Everyone experiences a wide range of emotions, from happiness and sadness to anger, fear, surprise, and disgust. For example, you might feel joyful when you receive good news or anxious before a big exam. Sometimes, emotions can be intense and difficult to handle, especially if they are negative. However, it is important to recognize and accept all emotions, instead of trying to ignore or suppress them.
Being able to identify and name your emotions is important for your **emotional intelligence. Higher emotional intelligence allows you to better understand yourself and others. For instance, if you realize you are feeling frustrated, you can take steps to calm down before reacting impulsively. Similarly, understanding that someone is upset can help you respond with empathy and support.
Managing emotions doesn’t mean pretending that everything is fine all the time. Instead, it means finding healthy ways to express your feelings. Talking to a friend or writing in a journal can help you release stress and gain perspective. Sometimes, people choose to bottle up their emotions, which can lead to further problems such as anxiety and depression.
It's also helpful to be aware that cultural background influences how people express emotions. In some cultures, people are encouraged to show their feelings openly, while in others, it might be seen as inappropriate. Understanding these differences can help avoid misunderstandings and improve relationships.
Certain emotions, like gratitude and contentment, can have a positive effect on mental health. Practicing mindfulness and focusing on positive experiences can help increase feelings of well-being. On the other hand, emotions such as resentment or jealousy can harm relationships and your own peace of mind if not addressed.
Sometimes, feelings are complicated and can even be conflicting. It’s possible to feel both excited and nervous at the same time, especially before starting something new. Learning to accept these mixed feelings is part of growing emotionally mature.
If you ever find your emotions becoming overwhelming or difficult to manage, it's okay to ask for help. Speaking to a counselor or a trusted adult can provide useful tools for coping with strong feelings. In conclusion, emotions and feelings are natural, and learning to understand and express them is key to leading a healthy and fulfilling life.
Everyone experiences a wide range of emotions, from happiness and sadness to anger, fear, surprise, and disgust. For example, you might feel joyful when you receive good news or anxious before a big exam. Sometimes, emotions can be intense and difficult to handle, especially if they are negative. However, it is important to recognize and accept all emotions, instead of trying to ignore or suppress them.
Being able to identify and name your emotions is important for your **emotional intelligence. Higher emotional intelligence allows you to better understand yourself and others. For instance, if you realize you are feeling frustrated, you can take steps to calm down before reacting impulsively. Similarly, understanding that someone is upset can help you respond with empathy and support.
Managing emotions doesn’t mean pretending that everything is fine all the time. Instead, it means finding healthy ways to express your feelings. Talking to a friend or writing in a journal can help you release stress and gain perspective. Sometimes, people choose to bottle up their emotions, which can lead to further problems such as anxiety and depression.
It's also helpful to be aware that cultural background influences how people express emotions. In some cultures, people are encouraged to show their feelings openly, while in others, it might be seen as inappropriate. Understanding these differences can help avoid misunderstandings and improve relationships.
Certain emotions, like gratitude and contentment, can have a positive effect on mental health. Practicing mindfulness and focusing on positive experiences can help increase feelings of well-being. On the other hand, emotions such as resentment or jealousy can harm relationships and your own peace of mind if not addressed.
Sometimes, feelings are complicated and can even be conflicting. It’s possible to feel both excited and nervous at the same time, especially before starting something new. Learning to accept these mixed feelings is part of growing emotionally mature.
If you ever find your emotions becoming overwhelming or difficult to manage, it's okay to ask for help. Speaking to a counselor or a trusted adult can provide useful tools for coping with strong feelings. In conclusion, emotions and feelings are natural, and learning to understand and express them is key to leading a healthy and fulfilling life.
- emotion (noun): A strong feeling such as happiness, anger, or fear caused by a situation or event.
- feeling (noun): A state of mind or emotional response to something.
- interchangeably (adverb): Used so that one thing can replace another without a significant difference.
- subtle (adjective): Not obvious; delicate or difficult to notice.
- immediate (adjective): Happening or done right away, without any delay.
- reaction (noun): A response to a situation or event.
- experience (noun): Something that happens to you and affects how you feel.
- long-lasting (adjective): Continuing for a long time.
- range (noun): A variety or group of different things.
- happiness (noun): The feeling of being happy or satisfied.
- sadness (noun): The feeling of being sad or unhappy.
- anger (noun): A strong feeling of being upset or annoyed.
- fear (noun): The feeling you have when you are worried something bad will happen.
- surprise (noun): A feeling when something unexpected happens.
- disgust (noun): A strong feeling of dislike or disapproval.
- joyful (adjective): Feeling or showing great happiness.
- anxious (adjective): Worried or fearful about something.
- intense (adjective): Very strong or extreme in feeling.
- suppress (verb): To stop yourself from showing a feeling or from acting on an emotion.
- emotional intelligence (noun phrase): The ability to recognize, understand, and manage your own emotions and those of others.
- frustrated (adjective): Feeling annoyed or impatient because you cannot achieve what you want.
- impulsively (adverb): Doing something quickly without thinking about the results.
- upset (adjective): Unhappy or worried.
- empathy (noun): The ability to understand and share another person’s feelings.
- support (noun): Help or encouragement given to someone.
- pretend (verb): To act as if something is true when it is not.
- express (verb): To show what you think or feel.
- release (verb): To let something out (such as emotions).
- stress (noun): A state of mental or emotional strain or tension.
- perspective (noun): A particular way of viewing or thinking about something.
- bottle up (phrasal verb): To keep emotions or feelings inside instead of expressing them.
- anxiety (noun): A feeling of worry or fear, often about what might happen.
- depression (noun): A long-term feeling of deep sadness.
- misunderstanding (noun): Failure to understand something correctly.
- gratitude (noun): The feeling of being thankful.
- contentment (noun): A feeling of happiness and satisfaction.
- mindfulness (noun): The quality of being aware of your thoughts and feelings in the present moment.
- well-being (noun): The state of being healthy, happy, or comfortable.
- resentment (noun): A feeling of anger or displeasure about someone or something unfair.
- jealousy (noun): The feeling of being unhappy because someone has something you want or someone else’s attention.
- conflicting (adjective): Opposing or incompatible; not able to exist together.
- counselor (noun): A person trained to listen to and give advice about emotional or personal problems.
- cope with (phrasal verb): To succeed in dealing with a difficult situation.
Quiz
Question 1 of 10
What is the difference between emotions and feelings?
Emotions are long-lasting, feelings are immediate.
Emotions are immediate reactions; feelings are longer-lasting.
- 😊 What emotion do you feel most often in your daily life? Why?
- 😠 Describe a situation when you felt angry and how you handled it.
- 🤔 How do you usually express your feelings to others?
- 😰 Can you remember a time when you felt anxious? How did you manage it?
- ❤️ Why is empathy important in friendships and relationships?
- 🌍 How do cultural differences influence the way people show their emotions?
- 📝 Have you ever kept your feelings bottled up? What happened?
- 😢 How do you help a friend who is feeling sad or upset?
- 😃 What activities make you feel joyful and content?
- 💬 How can talking to a counselor or trusted adult help with difficult emotions?