Try the activities, then check your answers.
Start here
Name one activity you enjoy in your free time.
Read each explanation, say your answer aloud, then open the model and try again. You may write your answer if you prefer. Use invented personal details whenever you like.
Useful preparation: Existing present simple statements/questions; simple activity verbs.
Allow a first attempt before opening the model. Start: 3 minutes. Learn and You say: 18. Practice: 8. Listening: 9. Quiz and correction: 8. Speaking: 11. Recap: 3.
Choose a play button when you are ready.
Talk about an activity
After like, love and hate, we can use a verb with -ing: I like reading. I love cooking. I hate waiting. Use this pattern in the activities here. We can also say like to read; that is not wrong English.
I like reading.
I love cooking.
Name the activity after like
Reading names the activity in this sentence. The picture shows the activity; the words tell us the person’s preference.
Make the -ing form
Usually add -ing: read → reading; cook → cooking. For dance, remove the final e: dancing. Learn swim → swimming and run → running. These last two double the final consonant.
She likes dancing.
He loves swimming.
Dance becomes dancing
Remove the final silent e before adding -ing here.
Swim becomes swimming
Swim has one syllable and ends in consonant + vowel + consonant. Double the final m before adding -ing.
Questions and negatives
Use don’t or doesn’t before like, love or hate: I don’t like waiting. She doesn’t like running. Ask Do you like reading? Does he like cooking? After does or doesn’t, use like without s.
I don’t like waiting.
Do you like swimming?
Keep like unchanged after doesn’t
The present-tense ending is on likes.
Doesn’t carries the present-tense form. Use like without an extra s.
Guided practice
Try each answer first. Check it, or open a model and its explanation.
Try the form
Compare an answer and explanation
reading
Add ing.
Compare an answer and explanation
dancing
Remove final e before ing.
Compare an answer and explanation
swimming
Double the final m.
Compare an answer and explanation
likes
Add s to like with she.
Build or change a sentence
Compare an answer and explanation
I don’t like waiting. / I do not like waiting.
Use don’t + like + waiting.
Compare an answer and explanation
Do you like cooking?
Put do before you.
Compare an answer and explanation
He doesn’t like running. / He does not like running.
After doesn’t, use like without s.
Compare an answer and explanation
She loves dancing.
Dance becomes dancing; the original sentence is also grammatical.
Listen to a short conversation
Listen. Then open the words and read aloud. Try one part with a partner, or say both parts on your own.
Open the conversation transcript
A: Do you like cooking?
B: Yes, I do. I love cooking.
A: Does your brother like cooking too?
B: No, he doesn’t. He likes reading.
Listening checks
Read the question, play its recording, then choose an answer. You can open the transcript whenever you need it.
Listening 1
Read the transcript
I like swimming. I don’t like running.
Listening 2
Read the transcript
My sister loves cooking, but she hates waiting for food.
Listening 3
Read the transcript
Do you like dancing? Yes, I do. Does Ben like dancing? No, he doesn’t.
Mastery quiz
Choose the best answer for each situation. Aim for 7 out of 8, then correct anything you missed.
Answer key with explanations
reading Reading is the ing form.
swimming Double m before ing.
dancing Remove the e from dance before ing.
loves She takes loves in a positive present sentence.
like After doesn’t, use like.
Do you like reading? Use do + you + like + reading.
No, she doesn’t. Use doesn’t in the short answer.
They hate waiting. They + hate + waiting follows the pattern.
This quiz checks this lesson, not your overall English level.
Make it yours
Speak first, compare a model, then say a new version. These tasks are ungraded.
Speaking task 1
Say one activity you like, one you love and one you do not like.
Compare a possible response
I like reading. I love swimming. I don’t like running.
Success check: Use ing forms to name the activities.
This is one possible response. Try again with your own details.
Tutor follow-up: What one detail can you change?
Speaking task 2
Describe an invented friend’s interests. Include a negative sentence.
Compare a possible response
She likes cooking. She loves dancing. She doesn’t like waiting.
Success check: Use likes/loves, but doesn’t like without s.
This is one possible response. Try again with your own details.
Tutor follow-up: What one detail can you change?
Speaking task 3
Ask about three activities. Answer and ask the same question back. On your own, say both parts.
Compare a possible response
Do you like swimming? Yes, I do. Do you like cooking? No, I don’t. Do you like reading? Yes, I do.
Success check: Use do questions and short answers.
This is one possible response. Try again with your own details.
Tutor follow-up: What one detail can you change?
Recap
Listen and repeat. I like reading. She likes dancing. I don’t like waiting.
I can talk about activities I like and dislike.
- I can use the main pattern.
- I can make one sentence of my own.
- I know one thing to practise again.