3 ways to say "I LIKE it!"

I'M FOND OF the spectacular views that I suddenly notice just walking around
NYC. What about you? What are some things that you ARE FOND OF in this town? 

There are a lot of things to like about New York City. Don't you agree? There's Bryant Park, the High Line, the wide selection of restaurants and the variety of entertainment choices all over the place. In addition, you may enjoy talking to the locals or riding the subway or just exploring our diverse neighborhoods.

With so much to like, it's good to have more ways to express how you feel when you're talking about them. Don't you think? Well, fortunately, there are! Besides using LIKE, you can say LOVE or ADORE. In addition, there are three other ways to say you admire or enjoy something (or someone): you can say you'RE A BIG FAN of it, you ARE FOND OF it, or that IT'S YOUR CUP OF TEA. Now, you just need to know how to use them all in a sentence, and you're all set!

Here are some examples:

1. They love their neighborhood. There's so much to do right outside their doorstep. 
2. I adore that restaurant. The people there are nice; the food is fantastic, and the prices are so reasonable.
3. We'RE so FOND OF that park. It's a great place to take the kids and just have them run around.
4. He'S A BIG FAN of the city's new bike sharing program. He's been using it about twice a week.
5. She enjoys talking to strangers on the subway. It's just HER CUP OF TEA. She says it's a good way to practice her English. 

Of course, there are some things to dislike about New York, as well, and sometimes, you'll probably want to talk about those, too, right? In addition to hate, you can also say loathe or detest, which are strong words for not liking something. However, you can also use the expressions above in the negative for a softer and more informal way of saying that you don't like something.

Here are some examples:

1. He detests taking the subway during rush hour. He loathes being packed in like sardines.
2. He'S NOT A BIG FAN of taking the subway. He prefers the bus or a taxi.
3. They'RE NOT TOO FOND OF that store. They said the workers were rude.
4. I don't think he'll go bowling with you. It's NOT HIS CUP OF TEA.

So, what ARE you A BIG FAN OF in New York, and what simply isn't YOUR CUP OF TEA? Leave a comment below and tell us. You can also share your thoughts on the NYLC Facebook page or on our Twitter page. Include #ilovenylc in your tweets. Until next time, keep practicing! :-)

--Joe Yu, ESL instructor