Giving Opinions & Preferences with Friends
CEFR: B1
Read/Listen first
Yesterday evening, three friends met at their favourite café to catch up and share opinions. Anna had already watched the new crime series and said she had loved the first season, but the ending was disappointing. Ben hadn’t seen it yet, so he preferred to talk about travel. He said he would rather spend money on weekend trips than on streaming platforms. Cara listened quietly and admitted that she had been trying to spend less, although she still enjoyed going out for coffee. When Ben suggested visiting Rome next month, Anna said she couldn’t join because she had to work. She would consider a shorter trip if they found cheap tickets. Before leaving, they compared their preferences for holidays, movies and even mobile apps, and everyone agreed that hearing honest opinions from close friends was more valuable than reading random online reviews.⚡ Learning goals
- Can give opinions about films, travel and apps with simple reasons.
- Can compare preferences using expressions like “prefer” and “would rather”.
- Can respond politely when friends have different plans or priorities.
✨ Key language
- I would rather + verb “I would rather spend money on weekend trips.”
- I haven’t seen it yet “I haven’t seen that series yet.”
- honest opinions are more valuable “Honest opinions are more valuable than random reviews.”
⚙️ Rules & Grammar — 4 Structures
1️⃣ Present perfect for experiences
Rule: Use the present perfect to talk about experiences or results that are connected to now.Examples: Anna had already watched the new crime series; Ben hadn’t seen it yet; She had been trying to spend less.
Common pitfall + fix: Many learners use the past simple with “yet” or “already”; use have or has plus the past participle instead. — Say “I haven’t seen it yet”, not “I didn’t see it yet”.
Choose the best sentence to talk about an experience connected to now.
Tip: Look at the time reference and the connection to now.
Fill with the best answer: I ______ the new series yet.
Tip: Use have or has plus a past participle after yet.
2️⃣ Past simple for finished events
Rule: Use the past simple to talk about finished actions at a specific time in the past.Examples: Yesterday evening, three friends met at their favourite café; Ben preferred to talk about travel; They compared their preferences before leaving.
Common pitfall + fix: Learners sometimes mix present and past; keep all verbs in the past when the time is clear. — Say “They met and talked”, not “They meet and talked”.
Which sentence correctly uses the past simple to show a finished time?
Tip: Look for the verb form that matches yesterday evening.
Fill with the best answer: Ben ______ to talk about travel.
Tip: Use the regular past form with -ed.
3️⃣ Would rather to express preferences
Rule: Use would rather plus the base verb to show a stronger preference between options.Examples: He said he would rather spend money on weekend trips; I would rather stay at home tonight; She would rather hear honest opinions than read reviews.
Common pitfall + fix: Avoid using to after would rather; say “would rather go”, not “would rather to go”.
Choose the sentence that correctly expresses a preference with would rather.
Tip: After would rather, use the base form of the verb.
Fill with the best answer: I ______ my money on weekend trips.
Tip: Copy the model from the mini text.
4️⃣ Modals for obligation and possibility
Rule: Use can or could for ability and possibility, and have to to express obligation or necessity.Examples: Anna said she could not join; She had to work; They would consider a shorter trip if they found cheap tickets.
Common pitfall + fix: Do not mix can with to; say “have to work”, not “must to work”.
Which sentence correctly shows obligation with have to?
Tip: Put have to or has to before the base verb.
Fill with the best answer: Anna ______ the trip because of work.
Tip: Use could for general possibility in the past.
✍️ Vocabulary
opinions
Meaning: personal views or ideas about something.Synonyms: views, beliefs, thoughts, attitudes.
Chunk/Idiom: give your honest opinion.
Example: She asked her friends for their honest opinions about the film.
Morphology: noun, plural form of opinion.
Self-practice: Write three opinions you often share with friends.
disappointing
Meaning: not as good as you hoped or expected.Synonyms: unsatisfying, frustrating, discouraging, underwhelming.
Chunk/Idiom: a disappointing ending.
Example: The series was exciting, but the last episode was disappointing.
Morphology: adjective, -ing form from disappoint.
Self-practice: Describe a disappointing film or trip you remember.
streaming platforms
Meaning: online services where you watch series, films or videos.Synonyms: streaming services, media platforms, video platforms.
Chunk/Idiom: pay for too many streaming platforms.
Example: Many people pay for several streaming platforms every month.
Morphology: noun phrase, plural countable noun.
Self-practice: List the streaming platforms you use and your favourite one.
weekend trips
Meaning: short journeys that usually last from Friday to Sunday.Synonyms: short breaks, mini holidays, weekend getaways.
Chunk/Idiom: go on weekend trips together.
Example: They often organise weekend trips instead of long holidays abroad.
Morphology: noun phrase, plural compound noun.
Self-practice: Plan two possible weekend trips with a friend.
honest
Meaning: telling the truth and not hiding facts or feelings.Synonyms: sincere, truthful, open, genuine.
Chunk/Idiom: give honest feedback.
Example: Good friends give honest feedback even when it is difficult.
Morphology: adjective, base form honest.
Self-practice: Write one honest opinion about your free time habits.
valuable
Meaning: very useful or important, worth a lot to you.Synonyms: precious, important, meaningful, helpful.
Chunk/Idiom: valuable advice from friends.
Example: She feels that her friends’ advice is more valuable than reviews online.
Morphology: adjective, derived from value plus suffix -able.
Self-practice: Explain why honest advice is valuable in your life.
☁️ Examples (+ audio)
I have already watched the new crime series.
I would rather spend money on weekend trips.
Her honest opinion was more valuable than online reviews.
She could not join because she had to work.
✏️ Exercises
Grammar
Complete the idea: Anna ______ the new crime series.
Tip: Use present perfect to connect past viewing to now.
Which phrase correctly describes the past meeting?
Tip: Look for the past form that matches yesterday evening.
Fill with the best answer:
Ben ______ about travel than about TV.Tip: Copy the structure from the mini text using would rather.
Fill with the best answer:
Anna could not join because she ______.Tip: Use had to plus the base verb to show obligation.
Vocabulary & Comprehension
Which word describes something very useful or important?
Tip: Think about the friends’ opinions at the end of the story.
What does Ben prefer to spend money on?
Tip: Look back at his opinion about travel and streaming platforms.
Fill with the best answer:
Many people pay for several ______ every month.Tip: Use the phrase for services like online series and films.
Fill with the best answer:
They felt that ______ from friends were better than reviews.Tip: Think about what kind of opinions the friends wanted.
✅ Guided practice
Mini-dialogue:
A: What did you think of the new series?B: I liked it, but the ending was disappointing.
A: Really? I would rather spend money on weekend trips than on streaming platforms.
Why this matters:
Sharing clear opinions helps friends understand your real preferences. It also makes it easier to plan activities that everyone enjoys. Honest feedback builds trust in close relationships.Verb & Adjective Pack:
prefer — I prefer weekend trips to long expensive holidays.compare — They compared their opinions before leaving the café.
valuable — Her honest advice was really valuable to them.
disappointing — The final episode was disappointing for many viewers.
Try & compare:
Fill with the best answer: On rainy days, I ______.
Tip: Use would rather plus a base verb to express your preference.
Self-correction: Fix the sentence: Their opinions was more value than the online reviews.
Tip: Check subject–verb agreement and the adjective form.
Practice aloud: Listen, repeat, then type the sentence.
Honest opinions from close friends are really valuable.
Tip: Pay attention to word stress on honest, friends and valuable.