Summary of English Grammar and Vocabulary: Likes & Screen Time

## Introduction In this material, you will learn to express likes, preferences, abilities, and activities using common phrases with prepositions. It's designed for high school students and will help you communicate what you like, what you don't like, what you can do, and what you don't do so well. > Definition: Prepositions like "in," "on," "at," "about," "into," and "of" (in English) connect ideas and are used with verbs, nouns, or gerunds to express interests and abilities. ## 1. Phrases to Express Likes and Dislikes ### 1.1 Phrases to Indicate You Like Something - I'm a big fan of + noun: "I'm a big fan of comics." - I'm interested in + gerund/noun: "I'm interested in making videos." - I'm keen on + noun/gerund: "I'm keen on painting." - I'm really into + noun/gerund: "I'm really into snowboarding." - I'm mad about + noun: "I'm mad about football." > Definition: A "gerund" refers to the -ing verb form in English (playing, cooking, drawing). ### 1.2 Phrases to Express Dislike or Lack of Interest - I'm not a big fan of + noun: "I'm not a big fan of horror films." - I'm not really into + noun/gerund: "I'm not really into social media." - I'm not very keen on + noun: "I'm not very keen on snowboarding." - I'm not mad about + noun: "I'm not mad about technology." - I'm not very interested in + gerund/noun: "I'm not very interested in watching sports programmes." ### 1.3 Practical Examples - "I'm a big fan of romantic films, but my brother isn't really into them." (Conflicting preferences) - "My family aren't really fans of horror films, so we usually watch something else." (Group decision) Did you know that expressing likes and dislikes with these phrases helps plan group activities and avoid misunderstandings? ## 2. Common Prepositions with These Phrases Comparison Table: Common Uses | Preposition | Typical Use | English Example | Translation | |---|---:|---|---| | about | To express strong feelings (positive or negative) about something | "mad about cartoons" | "me chiflan/odia" | | in | To express interest in activities (often used in the phrase "interested in") | "interested in trying new things" | "interesado en" | | on | To express a preference for a medium or topic | "keen on rock music" | "entusiasta de" | | of | To indicate possession or fondness (with nouns) | "a big fan of fantasy novels" | "fan de" | | into | To express deep involvement or enthusiasm for something | "really into graphic novels" | "estar en/aficionado a" | | at | To indicate skill or competence | "good at making videos" | "bueno en" | > Definition: Prepositions connect a phrase to its object of interest. Following a preposition, you can use either a noun or a gerund. ### 2.1 Practical Rule - After prepositions, we use nouns or gerunds: "interested in drawing," "good at telling stories." Fun fact: Native speakers often choose prepositions out of habit. That's why it's helpful to memorize common combinations like "interested in," "good at," and "keen on." ## 3. Expressing Abilities: What You're Good At (and Not So Good At) - I'm quite good at + gerund: "I'm quite good at telling stories." - I'm not very good at + gerund: "I'm not very good at making videos." ### 3.1 Common Activities at a Youth Center or Library - Create a comic - Make a video about a book - Record a review for a podcast - Join a writing workshop ### 3.2 Real-Life Example - "I'm not very keen on reading, but I'm really into the activities here." ## 4. Short Questions and Answers: Simple Present for Routines - How often do you go to the cinema? — "We hardly ever go to the cinema." - Do you make your own videos? — "Yes, I make my own videos." > Definition: The simple present is used for routines and habits: "I watch TV every day." ### 4.1 Tips for Forming Questions in the Simple Present 1. Use "Do/Does" at the beginning: "Do you... ?" / "Does he/she...?" 2. Main verb in base form: "do", "watch", "make". 3. Add frequency if necessary: "How often" / "Always" / "Hardly ever"