LESSON NOTES

Survival Phrases S1 #57

I Like It. I Don’t Like It.

CONTENTS

Dialogue - German
Main
English
Vocabulary
Sample sentences
Grammar
Cultural insight

# 57
GERMANPOD101.COM SURVIVAL PHRASES S1 #57 1
DIALOGUE - GERMAN
MAIN

1. Mir gefällt es.

2. Mir gefällt es sehr.

3. Mir gefällt es am besten.

4. Mir gefällt es nicht.

5. Ich mag es nicht. (casual)

6. Es ist interessant.

ENGLISH

1. I like it.

2. I really like it.

3. I like it best.

4. I don’t like it.

5. I don’t like it.

6. It’s interesting.

VOCABULARY

German English Class

mögen to like verb

ich I personal pronoun

nicht not adverb

gefallen to please verb

wirklich, sehr really adverb; particle

am besten (the) best adjective

interessant interesting adjective

SAMPLE SENTENCES

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 Was mögt ihr (am meisten) an der deutschen Er mag Rosenkohl nicht, aber er isst ihn
Sprache? trotzdem.

"What do you like most about the German He doesn't like Brussels sprouts, but he eats it
language?" anyway.

Ich mag dieses Lied. Ich hatte letzte Woche so viel zu tun!

I like this song. I was so busy last week!

Ich bin Lisa. Das habe ich nicht gesagt!

I am Lisa. I didn't say that!

Du bist nicht mein Vater! Gefällt dir das Kleid?

You aren't my father! Do you like the dress?

Es ist sehr schwer, sie zu beeindrucken. Ich kann am besten lesen.

It's really hard to impress them. I can read the best.

Das ist eine interessante Idee, die du in dem interessante Idee

Meeting präsentiert hast.
interesting idea
That's an interesting idea you presented at the
meeting.

Die Frau hört sich eine interessante Geschichte Ich finde Kunst sehr interessant.
an.
I think art is very interesting.
The woman is listening to an interesting story.

Berlin ist eine wirklich interessante Metropole. Seine Arbeit ist nicht sehr interessant.

Berlin is a really interesting metropolis. His work isn't very interesting.

GRAMMAR
We’re going to cover “I like it.” Mir gefällt es. and it’s different degrees “I really like it.” Mir gefällt es sehr.
and “I like it best.” Mir gefällt es am besten. Then we’re also going to take a look at how to express your
appraisal politely if you don’t like something.

By all means we’re pretty sure you’ll like this lesson!

CULTURAL INSIGHT
Quick Tip #1

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In German, you can use two different structures to express your preferences. The first, more
straightforward structure, uses the verb mögen, meaning "to like." This structure is very close to the
English "I like," and focuses on your emotions towards something.

SUBJECT (who) + MÖGEN + NOUN

Example:
I like pizza. / I don’t like pizza.
Ich mag Pizza. / Ich mag keine* Pizza.

*The nouns with zero article are negated using kein.

The second structure uses the word gefallen, or "to please," and the sentences using this structure will
be literally translated as "To me is pleasing…," and puts focus on the object and how it's appealing for
you.

PERSONAL PRONOUN (DATIVE) + GEFÄLLT + NOUN

Example:
I like this idea. / I don't like this idea.
Mir gefällt die Idee. / Die Idee gefällt mir nicht*.

*The nouns with definite articles are negated using nicht.

In German, there are many other ways of expressing that you like something:

Ich finde es super. literally meaning "I find it (to be) awesome."

Ich liebe es. literally meaning "I love it."

Es ist super. literally meaning "It is superb."

Ich bin verrückt danach. literally meaning "I’m mad about it."

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