Many learners only know "I like" and "I don't like", so everything sounds the same strength. Others say "I prefer to stay than go," because that is how the sentence works in their own language. In this episode you learn to say what you like and dislike with natural strength, to state and ask about preferences, and to choose politely without sounding unhelpful. In this episode: • Likes and dislikes, strongest to weakest • -ing or to? • Stating preferences • Asking, and rather with another person • An invented scene: takeout and the weekend • Practice • Self-check questions with answers Key phrases from this episode: I love... — very strong like — I love this soup. I'm really into... — I enjoy it a lot (casual) — I'm really into baking right now. I'm a big fan of... — I like it a lot (neutral) — I'm a big fan of spicy food. It's not bad — it's okay, fairly good (casual) I don't mind... — it's fine with me — I don't mind washing the dishes. It's not really my thing — I don't enjoy it, said gently (casual) I'm not a fan of... — I don't like it (polite) — I'm not a fan of cold weather. I like cooking. / I like to cook. — both natural I hate getting up early. / I hate to get up early. — both natural I don't mind cooking — not "I don't mind to cook" I enjoy walking — not "I enjoy to walk" I prefer X to Y — I like X more — I prefer tea to coffee. I'd rather + verb — I would prefer to — I'd rather stay home tonight. I'd rather X than Y — I'd rather walk than drive. I'd rather not — a soft no — I'd rather not go out in the rain. I'd prefer to... — a little more formal — I'd prefer to eat early. Season 2 · Real American English: the complete spoken course for learners worldwide — accent, everyday grammar, prepositions, articles, phrasal verbs, idioms, slang and real conversations at home. Listen, repeat out loud, then take the 52-question quiz. Audio voiced with AI from an original script by Dr. Rashmi R Nair.