Like, Love and Hate + -ing: A1 Exercises

Every answer with the reason behind it. Read the explanation for the ones you got right as well — that is where you find out whether you were right for the right reason.

Multiple choice questions — answers

1. I love ___ in the sea in summer. → swimming

After love the verb takes the -ing form. To swimming mixes two markers that cannot both appear.

2. She ___ getting up early at the weekend. → hates

Hate is an ordinary present simple verb, so a third-person subject adds -s.

3. Do you enjoy ___ in a big city? → living

Enjoy takes only the -ing form — unlike like, it has no infinitive alternative.

4. He doesn't ___ waiting in queues. → like

After doesn't the main verb goes back to its base form; the -ing belongs to the verb after it.

5. Which sentence is correct? → I like swimming.

Like swimming and like to swim are both possible; combining to and -ing is not.

6. My parents love ___ to classical music. → listening

Love is followed by the -ing form of the next verb.

7. I don't mind ___ late if the work is interesting. → working

Don't mind is always followed by -ing, never by an infinitive.

8. What is the -ing form of "make"? → making

A silent final -e is dropped before -ing: make becomes making.

9. What is the -ing form of "run"? → running

A final consonant after a single stressed vowel doubles: run becomes running.

10. ___ your sister like cooking? → Does

Your sister is third person singular, so the question takes does and like stays bare.

11. They hate ___ in traffic every morning. → sitting

Hate is followed by -ing, and sit doubles its final consonant.

12. Which sentence means the activity is acceptable but not enjoyable? → I don't mind cleaning.

Don't mind sits between like and don't like — the activity is fine rather than pleasant.

13. She really ___ dancing at weddings. → enjoys

Enjoy takes the third-person -s in the present simple.

14. I like ___ but I hate ___ afterwards. → cooking / washing up

Both verbs take the -ing form after a preference verb.

15. What is the -ing form of "travel" in British English? → travelling

British English doubles the l: travelling, cancelling, modelling.

16. He loves ___ football but he can't play any more. → watching

Love is followed by the -ing form.

17. Which sentence is correct? → My brother likes reading.

Like is a normal verb and still needs the third-person -s.

18. Do they enjoy ___ in the mountains? → walking

Enjoy accepts only the -ing form.

19. I don't like ___ on the phone. → talking

The -ing form is required after like even inside a negative sentence.

20. She hates ___ but she does it every Saturday. → shopping

Hate takes -ing, and shop doubles its final consonant before the ending.

Fill-in-the-blank questions — answers

1. I love ___ books in the evening. (read) → reading

After love the verb takes the -ing form.

2. She hates ___ up before six. (get) → getting

Get doubles its final consonant after a single stressed vowel.

3. Do you enjoy ___ new languages? (learn) → learning

Enjoy is always followed by the -ing form.

4. He doesn't like ___ in the rain. (cycle) → cycling

The silent -e is dropped before -ing, and like takes the -ing form.

5. My parents love ___ to the theatre. (go) → going

Go simply adds -ing with no spelling change.

6. I don't mind ___ the washing-up. (do) → doing

Don't mind takes only the -ing form.

7. She really enjoys ___ in the garden. (work) → working

Work adds -ing with no spelling change.

8. They hate ___ in traffic every morning. (sit) → sitting

Sit doubles the final t before -ing.

9. We love ___ around Europe by train. (travel) → travelling

British English doubles the l; American English does not.

10. My son doesn't like ___ vegetables. (eat) → eating

Eat adds -ing without any change.

11. I enjoy ___ to podcasts while I cook. (listen) → listening

Listen has no stress on the final syllable, so the n does not double.

12. She ___ swimming in cold water. (love, third person) → loves

Love is an ordinary present simple verb and takes the third-person -s.

13. He ___ like getting up early at all. (negative) → doesn't

A third-person singular negative takes doesn't, and like stays in its base form.

14. ___ you like dancing? → Do

You takes do, and like keeps its base form after the auxiliary.

15. I hate ___ my hair in the morning. (wash) → washing

Wash adds -ing with no spelling change.

16. They enjoy ___ films in the original language. (watch) → watching

Watch adds -ing without doubling anything.

17. My grandmother loves ___ letters by hand. (write) → writing

The silent -e is dropped before the -ing ending.

18. ___ your brother enjoy his new job? → Does

Your brother is third person singular, so the question takes does.

19. We don't mind ___ a little for a good table. (wait) → waiting

Don't mind is followed by the -ing form.

20. She likes ___ her own bread at the weekend. (make) → making

Make drops its silent -e before -ing.

Sentence structure: word ordering — answers

1. Describe a hobby you enjoy after dark. → I love reading in the evening.

Describe a hobby you enjoy after dark.

2. Describe a woman's least favourite part of the morning. → She hates getting up early.

Describe a woman's least favourite part of the morning.

3. Ask somebody about a kitchen hobby. → Do you like cooking?

Ask somebody about a kitchen hobby.

4. Describe a man's dislike, in the negative. → He doesn't like waiting in queues.

Describe a man's dislike, in the negative.

5. Describe an outdoor activity your family likes. → My parents enjoy walking in the mountains.

Describe an outdoor activity your family likes.

6. Say that something is acceptable rather than enjoyable. → I don't mind working at the weekend.

Say that something is acceptable rather than enjoyable.

7. Describe your group's favourite way to journey. → We love travelling by train.

Describe your group's favourite way to journey.

8. Ask about a female relative's hobby. → Does your sister like dancing?

Ask about a female relative's hobby.

9. Describe a strong dislike about commuting. → They hate sitting in traffic.

Describe a strong dislike about commuting.

10. Describe your feelings about vocabulary study. → I really enjoy learning new words.

Describe your feelings about vocabulary study.

11. Describe an unusual thing a woman enjoys. → She loves swimming in cold water.

Describe an unusual thing a woman enjoys.

12. Describe a game a man plays with a relative. → He enjoys playing chess with his father.

Describe a game a man plays with a relative.

13. Ask about several people's feelings on where they live. → Do they like living in the countryside?

Ask about several people's feelings on where they live.

14. Name a household chore you dislike. → I hate washing the car.

Name a household chore you dislike.

15. Describe a household preference about mealtimes. → We don't like eating late at night.

Describe a household preference about mealtimes.

16. Describe a male relative's taste in cinema. → My brother loves watching old films.

Describe a male relative's taste in cinema.

17. Ask about a man's feelings towards his job. → Does he enjoy teaching children?

Ask about a man's feelings towards his job.

18. Say that a woman tolerates something. → She doesn't mind driving long distances.

Say that a woman tolerates something.

19. Describe two things you do at the same time. → I like listening to music while I run.

Describe two things you do at the same time.

20. Describe where a family enjoys their holidays. → They love spending summers by the sea.

Describe where a family enjoys their holidays.