English Vocabulary in Use Upper-intermediate » Unit 44: Like, dislike and desire

Word List
  • affectionate
  • appal
  • appeal to
  • attract
  • can’t bear
  • can’t stand
  • captivate
  • care for
  • caring
  • desire n, v
  • despise
  • determined
  • devoted
  • disgust
  • dread
  • fall for
  • fall in love
  • fancy
  • fascinate
  • fond of
  • keen on
  • like
  • loathe
  • long for
  • look forward to
  • loving
  • passionate
  • quite
  • repel
  • revolted
  • yearn for
Exercises

44.1 ‣ Complete the sentences with words from A opposite and add the missing prepositions.

  1. Jack and Lily are very d each other.
  2. Mrs Williams is very f_____ her son-in-law.
  3. Are you k_____ rugby? There's a big match on TV tonight.
  4. Spending a whole day with my cousins doesn't a_____ me.
  5. We just looked at each other and we f_____ love immediately.
  6. She's so beautiful. I f_____ her the moment I saw her.
  7. Our grandmother was always very a_____ us when we were little and hugged us every time she saw us.
  8. She's very p_____ wildlife and c_____ sick animals in the local animal rescue centre.

44.2 ‣ Rewrite the sentences, changing the meaning as little as possible. Use the word in brackets.

  1. I'm fond of him. (quite like)
  2. I strongly dislike jazz. (stand)
    _____
  3. Do you think Ethan is attractive? (fancy)
    _____
  4. She likes rowing and golf. (keen)
    _____
  5. I loathe very salty food. (bear)
    _____
  6. His art attracts me. (appeal)
    _____
  7. I find Gina very interesting. (fascinate)
    _____
  8. She has totally charmed him. (captivate)
    _____
  9. I'm dreading the exam. (look)
    _____

44.3 ‣ In each pair of sentences which person probably feels more strongly, a or b?

    • a) He's devoted to his sister.
    • b) He's very fond of his sister
    • a) I dislike his poetry.
    • b) I loathe his poetry
    • a) She's yearning to see him.
    • b) She's longing to see him
    • a) I'm not really looking forward to the exam.
    • b) I'm absolutely dreading the exam

44.4 ‣ Correct the mistakes in these sentences. There may be more than one mistake in the sentence.

  1. I was appealed by the terrible conditions in the prison. They were simply inhuman.
  2. I can't bare selfish people. I dispose anyone who never considers others.
    _____
  3. Her manner repealed me at first and I wouldn't stand being in the same room as her, but now I've begun to like her more.
    _____
  4. I felt a strong desire of finding out what had happened to my old school friends.
    _____
  5. Are you looking forward to start your new job?
    _____
  6. I felt absolutely disgusting by his unkind remarks about Sylvia.
    _____

44.5 ‣

Over to you

Answer the questions.

  1. What characteristics in people do you most detest?
    _____
  2. Would you describe yourself as a caring person? In what ways do you show it?
    _____
  3. What issues are you passionate about? Why?
    _____
Answer Key
A ‣ Words and expressions relating to liking

Dear Anna,

Good to hear from you after so many years. Fancy you being married! I’m not married but I’ve got a boyfriend called Tom.

I must tell you about him. We’ve known each other for three years. I quite liked him when we first met, but I didn’t really fancy him in any big way. I did like being with him - he fascinated me with his stories of his travels around the world and something mysterious about his past attracted me. What’s more, we were both keen on sailing. Little by little I fell in love with him. His sense of humour appealed to me and I was captivated by his smiling eyes. Now, three years later, I can’t see why I didn’t fall for him the moment we met. He’s a very caring person, fond of animals and small children. He’s always affectionate and loving towards me and passionate both about me and about the things he believes in and the people he cares for. I hope we’ll always be as devoted to each other as we are now.

Do write again soon and tell me all about your life!

Love,
Amy
B ‣ Words and expressions relating to disliking

Loathe, detest, despise, cannot stand and cannot bear are all stronger ways of saying 'dislike' and they are all followed by a noun or an -ing form.

I loathe / detest / despise / can't stand / can't bear bad-mannered people. I can't bear listening to her stupid stories.

Repel, revolt, appal and disgust are strong words used to describe the negative effect which something has on a person.

His films disgust me. I was revolted by the way he spoke. We were appalled by the conditions in the refugee camp. His behaviour repels everyone.

C ‣ Words and expressions relating to desiring

Desire is either a formal verb to express a sexual wish for someone or a formal word for wish.
He desired her the moment he saw her.
I have a strong desire to see the Himalayas before I die.

Look forward to means think about something in the future with pleasant anticipation. It is followed by a noun or an -ing form. The opposite is dread, which is rather strong.
I'm looking forward to going to Fiji but I'm dreading the long flight.

Long for means to wish for something very much. Yearn for is a more poetic way of saying long for.
After this long, cold winter, I'm longing for spring. He will never stop yearning for his country although he knows he can never return.

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