German · Beginner (A1) · Chapter 10 of 12
Likes and dislikes
Was magst du?
Say what you like and don't like in German with mögen and gern, give your opinion, and choose between nicht and kein.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Say what you like and don't like
- Say what you like doing with gern
- Choose between nicht and kein
- Give a simple opinion
Listen
Paula and David are planning a dinner for their friends in Munich. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
David
Was kochen wir am Samstag? Magst du Fisch?
What shall we cook on Saturday? Do you like fish?
Paula
Nein, ich mag keinen Fisch. Aber ich esse gern Pasta.
No, I don't like fish. But I like eating pasta.
David
Pasta finde ich gut. Aber Lukas isst kein Fleisch.
Pasta sounds good to me. But Lukas doesn't eat meat.
Paula
Kein Problem. Dann kochen wir Pasta mit Gemüse.
No problem. Then we'll cook pasta with vegetables.
David
Gute Idee. Und was gibt es zum Nachtisch?
Good idea. And what's for dessert?
Paula
Ich backe gern Kuchen. Magst du Apfelkuchen?
I like baking cakes. Do you like apple cake?
David
Ja, sehr! Aber bitte keine Sahne.
Yes, very much. But no cream, please.
Paula
Okay, dann ohne Sahne.
OK, without cream then.
Understand
mögen and gern
To say you like a thing, use with a noun: is irregular, so learn its forms. (, from chapter 3, comes from the same verb and means “would like”.) Sound tip: a g at the end of a word sounds like “k”: (mahk).
To say you like doing something, use a normal verb and add after it: (I like cooking). means you don't like doing it:
| Person | (to like) |
|---|---|
| / / | |
| / |
nicht or kein?
Use (no, not a, not any) for nouns that would have , or no article at all. It has the same endings as , so a masculine object takes :
Use (not) for everything else: verbs, words like or , and nouns with , or . goes just before the word it negates (, ), or at the end when it negates the whole sentence: Only the small part of a separable verb still comes after it: With you will also hear ; both are correct.
| Positive | Negative |
|---|---|
Your opinion: finden
To give your opinion, use (to find): To ask someone's opinion: …? (What do you think of …?). Remember that the verb comes second, so you can also start with the thing:
- Wie findest du den Kuchen?What do you think of the cake?
- Ich finde den Kuchen lecker.I think the cake is delicious.
- Das finde ich langweilig.I find that boring.
More in the grammar: Modal verbs: können, müssen, wollen … · Negation: nicht and kein · The German alphabet and pronunciation · The present tense · Word order
New words
- mögento like · , ,
- der Fischfish · masculine, plural:
- gerngladly; with a verb: to like doing · also ; = I like reading.
- essento eat · , ,
- findento find, to think (opinion) · …? = What do you think of …?
- kein / keineno, not a, not any · masculine object:
- das Fleischmeat · neuter, no plural
- das Gemüsevegetables · neuter, usually no plural
- der Nachtischdessert · masculine, plural: ; = for dessert
- backento bake
- der Kuchencake · masculine, plural:
- die Sahnecream · feminine, no plural; in Austria
- leckertasty, delicious
- mit / ohnewith / without
Practise
1.You don't eat meat. What do you say?
2.Complete with the right form of .
Do you like cake?
3.Write or .
I don't like cooking.
4.Write , or .
I don't want any coffee, thanks.
5.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.Lukas doesn't eat meat.
6.Match the food words.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
Ich esse gern Pasta.
I like eating pasta.
Listen, then say it out loud, as close to the recording as you can.
Check
Five questions on this chapter. Then mark it as finished to add its words to your review deck.
0 of 5 answered.