Unit 3 Reaching agreement (pre-intermediate)

Expressing likes and dislikes

• That's agreed, then.

• I think that will be more fun ...

• I adore ...

• I'd rather ...

Answer explanation

If you love something

“I love eating ice-cream.”

“I adore sun-bathing.”

“She’s mad about that new boy band.”

“He’s crazy about that girl.”

If you like something a lot

“She’s fond of chocolate.”

“I like swimming very much.”

“He really likes that new golf course.”

If you like something

“He quite likes going to the cinema.”

“I like cooking.”

If you neither like nor dislike something

“I don’t mind doing the housework.”

In reply to a question if you like something or not, you can say: “I don’t really care either way.” “It’s all the same to me.”

If you don’t like something

“She doesn’t like cooking very much.”

“He’s not very fond of doing the gardening.”

“He’s not a great fan of football.”

“Horse-riding isn’t really his thing.”

“I dislike wasting time.”

If you really dislike something

“I don’t like sport at all.”

“He can’t stand his boss.”

“She can’t bear cooking in a dirty kitchen.”

“I hate crowded supermarkets.”

“He detests being late.”

“She loathes celery.”

Things to remember

Dislike is quite formal.

Fond of is normally used to talk about food or people.

The ‘oa’ in loathe rhymes with the ‘oa’ in boat.

Expressing preference

• I'm not a big fan of ..

• I'd prefer ..

• Shall we settle on

• I can't stand ..

Answer explanation

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.”

Using Comparatives

I think that is better (than) .. more fun ...

Playing volleyball is safer.

Making suggestions

• I'm not keen on ..

• Ok, I agree.

• Why don't you buy a new car?

• That's a great idea

Answer explanation

1. Subject + should + verb...

You should study listening more if you want to improve your English.

He should quit his job.

We can change the word "should" to "need" if we want to use stronger language.

You need to see that movie. It is amazing!

She needs to tell us if she is going to be late.

2. Another common way to give a suggestion or recommendation is to use the word "could". "Could" is much softer and more indirect than using "should". We use "could" to give different options, but when we use "could" it shows that we do not have an opinion.

Subject + could + verb...

You could do yoga if you want to be healthier.

We could go to Thailand for

He could take the bus or the subway.

3. Look at the difference between "should" and "could".

You should try yoga. (=I think that yoga is the best for you.)

You could try yoga. (=Yoga is one possibility for you.)

As you can see, we use "should" to show our own opinion about what another person should do or try. We use "could" to just provide an option. We are not sharing our feelings or thoughts when we use "could".

4. We can also use some questions to make a suggestion or recommendation in an indirect way.

Why don't/doesn't + subject + verb...?

Why don't you try Jujitsu?

Why doesn't she break up with her boyfriend?

If you hate your job, then why don't you quit?

Why don't you buy a new car? Yours always breaks down.

Why doesn't he try to save more money? He always uses his money very recklessly.

Why don't they play soccer with us tomorrow?

How about + gerund/noun...?

How about trying this restaurant?

How about going back to school to get your master's degree?

How about this movie?

How about getting your mom a necklace for her birthday?

If you don't want to go outside, how about watching a movie?

Since you don't want to get the red hat, how about the blue one? It looks good.

5. We can also just use the words "suggest" or "recommend". We can use two different sentence patterns to do this.I suggest/recommend that + sentence

I suggest that you study grammar more.

I suggest that he think more about it before he makes a decision.

I recommend that she focus on improving her speaking.

I recommend that you go to Thailand for your honeymoon.

Note: We do not put an "s" after the verbs in the second party. This is called the "Subjunctive Form". It is very rare in English, so do not worry about it. Just know that in sentences with "recommend" and "suggest" that we do not add an "s" to the verb that follows "that". However, if you do put an "s" by mistake, it is not a big problem. English speakers can still easily understand and most people will not even know that you made a mistake.

I suggest/recommend + gerund/noun...We use this when we are making the suggestion directly to the person that will do the action.

I suggest going to Europe in the summer.

I recommend trying that Mexican restaurant.

She recommends trying meditation to relieve stress.

We can also do this when both people know who will do the action or when it is general advice.

A) Mark says he wants to lose weight.

B) I suggest dieting and lifting weights.(=I suggest that Mark diet and lift weights.)

A) It is hard for people to learn English.

B) I suggest speaking as often as possible.(=I suggest that anyone who is trying to learn English speak as often as they can.)

6. We can use this sentence pattern when we will also be doing the action with the other person.

Let's + verb...

Let's try this restaurant.

Let's go home.

Let's tell her the truth.

Reaching an agreement

• That's a great idea

• I'm a big fan of ..

• I don't really fancy ..

• I love

She is a big fan of.., We can't stand ..,

I adore .., I love .., I'm keen on .., I quite fancy .., He doesn't really fancy ..,

• Expressions for making suggestions

• Expressions

  for preferences

• Expressions for likes and dislikes

• Expressions for reaching an agreement

That's a great idea, Ok, I agree,

Shall we settle on .., That's agreed, then, Let's ..

• Expressions for making suggestions

• Expressions for preferences

• Expressions for likes and dislikes

• Expressions for reaching an agreement

I think, .. will be better / more fun, i'd prefer .., i'd rather ..,

• Expressions for reaching an agreement

• Expressions for likes and dislikes

• Expressions for making suggestions

• Expressions for preferences

Why she doesn't help him/, How about trying this restaurant?, You should try yoga, We could go Europe next vacation.

• Expressions

  for preferences

• Expressions for making suggestions

• Expressions for reaching an agreement

• Expressions for likes and dislikes