German for English speakers School · Lesson 2

What you like + don't like

Likes in German — Ich mag Milch (I like milk) — using the verb mögen with direct object.

Conversation

  1. Lindo Lindo

    Was magst du?

    What do you like?

    Tip: <du>, sometimes written as <Du> is the informal version of “You” in English.

  2. Pishi Pishi

    Ich mag Milch.

    I like milk.

  3. Lindo Lindo

    Was magst du nicht?

    What don't you like?

  4. Pishi Pishi

    Ich mag keine Pasta.

    I don't like pasta.

    Tip: When negating a sentence, you only need to use <nicht>.

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How do you say 'I like ...' in German?

Ich mag + noun: Ich mag Milch, Ich mag Hunde. Mögen is the verb 'to like'.

Mögen vs gern?

Mögen + noun: Ich mag Tee. Verb + gern: Ich trinke gern Tee ('I like drinking tea'). Both common.

How do you say 'I don't like ...'?

Ich mag + noun + nicht: Ich mag Käse nicht. Or: Ich mag keinen Käse (using kein for negation).

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