Italian · Beginner (A1) · Chapter 10 of 12
Likes and dislikes
Cosa ti piace?
Say what you like and don't like in Italian with mi piace and mi piacciono, make sentences negative, and agree or disagree.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Say what you like and don't like
- Ask someone what they like
- Agree and disagree: me too, me neither
Listen
Elisa and Giacomo are friends in Verona. They're deciding where to have dinner together on Friday. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Giacomo
Elisa, ti piace il sushi?
Elisa, do you like sushi?
Elisa
No, non mi piace molto. Mi piace di più la pizza.
No, I don't like it much. I prefer pizza.
Giacomo
Anche a me. Allora pizzeria?
Me too. So, a pizzeria?
Elisa
Sì. C'è una pizzeria molto buona qui vicino.
Yes. There's a very good pizzeria near here.
Giacomo
Perfetto. Ti piacciono i funghi?
Perfect. Do you like mushrooms?
Elisa
Sì, mi piacciono molto. E a te?
Yes, I like them a lot. What about you?
Giacomo
A me no. Non mi piacciono per niente.
I don't. I don't like them at all.
Elisa
Allora io prendo una pizza ai funghi e tu una margherita.
So I'll have a mushroom pizza and you'll have a margherita.
Giacomo
Va bene. Allora a venerdì.
OK. See you on Friday, then.
Understand
Mi piace: saying you like something
Italian says “I like” the other way round: literally means “it is pleasing to me”. The thing you like is the subject, so the verb changes with it. Use with one thing or with a verb, and with more than one thing.
Keep the article with the noun: , not Mi piace caffè. To ask a friend, say To ask politely, say
| Use | Example |
|---|---|
| + one thing | (I like pizza.) |
| + a verb | (I like cooking.) |
| + more than one thing | (I like mushrooms.) |
| / | (Do you like sushi?) |
| / | (Do you like Verona? polite) |
Non with piacere
You know from chapter 4 that goes before the verb: (I work) → (I don't work). With , goes before or , not between them and the verb: ,
… means “not at all”: . … means “not much”.
- Non mi piace il sushi.I don't like sushi.
- Non mi piacciono per niente.I don't like them at all.
- Non ti piace la pizza?Don't you like pizza?
Me too, me neither
To agree or disagree, use (to me). Don't say (I too) here: with you need . To ask back, say (And you?).
| Your friend says | You agree | You disagree |
|---|---|---|
| (Me too.) | (I don't.) | |
| (Me neither.) | (I do.) |
More in the grammar: Piacere: how to say you like something · Questions and negation
New words
- Ti piace…?Do you like…? · with one thing or a verb
- Mi piace…I like…
- Non mi piace…I don't like…
- di piùmore · = I prefer, I like it more
- Anche a me.Me too.
- la pizzeriapizzeria, pizza restaurant · feminine
- Ti piacciono…?Do you like…? · with more than one thing
- il fungomushroom · masculine; plural: (the h keeps the g hard); = a mushroom pizza
- Mi piacciono…I like… · with more than one thing
- E a te?And you? / What about you?
- A me no.I don't.
- per nienteat all · … = not at all
- la margheritamargherita pizza · feminine; tomato, mozzarella and basil
- Neanche a me.Me neither.
Practise
1.Complete: Mi ___ i funghi.
2.Say “I like cooking”.
I like cooking.
3.Your friend says You don't like it either. Answer.
Me neither.
4.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.I don't like it at all.
5.Which is correct?
6.Match the answers with their meanings.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
Mi piace molto la pizza.
I really like pizza.
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.