German course

Lesson 56 of 240

New here? This is lesson 56 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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What I like in German

Priya is back at Bäckerei Krause. Renate already knows Anton likes the Pfannkuchen. Priya likes the Schrippe, but he still offers her the doughnut.

By the end, you will say what you like, what you love, and what you do not like.

You will also ask a friend if they like that, and what they like.

By the end of this lesson

Say what you like, love, and don't like.

  • Ich mag ___.I like ___
  • Ich liebe ___.I love ___
  • Ich mag das nicht.I don't like that
  • Magst du das?Do you like that?
  • Was magst du?What do you like?
  • Ich mag das sehr.I like that a lot

Scene — the bread shelf

The bakery is busy. Anton sits at the corner table with a Pfannkuchen and a Milchkaffee he has not finished.

Renate already knows his order. Priya stands at the shelf and looks at the Schrippen.

A wide view establishes the busy bakery, with Anton at the corner table, Renate behind the counter, and Priya by the bread shelf.

Learn — like and love

Six short lines cover like, love, and do not like.

You will also ask what someone likes, and say you like something a lot.

  1. Anton responds positively to Renate's question about his Pfannkuchen.

    Ich mag ___.

    I like ___

    When to use it: Use this to say you like a thing or a food.

    Learn it as one piece, then name the thing.

  2. Renate asks Priya what she likes as Priya considers the rolls at the shelf.

    Ich liebe ___.

    I love ___

    When to use it: Use this when you love something, stronger than like.

    Learn it as one piece when love is the right word.

  3. Priya holds a pale roll with clear affection after choosing what she likes.

    Ich mag das nicht.

    I don't like that

    When to use it: Say this when you do not like that thing.

    Learn it as one piece when you do not like that.

    Say it: The ch in nicht sounds like ich, not ach.

  4. Anton offers Priya a jam doughnut and asks whether she likes it.

    Magst du das?

    Do you like that?

    When to use it: Ask a friend if they like that.

    Learn it as one piece to ask if they like that.

  5. Priya politely rejects the offered doughnut with a small, calm gesture.

    Was magst du?

    What do you like?

    When to use it: Ask a friend what they like.

    Learn it as one piece to ask what they like.

  6. Priya chooses a roll while Renate wraps it at the counter.

    Ich mag das sehr.

    I like that a lot

    When to use it: Say this when you like that a lot.

    Learn it as one piece when you like that a lot.

Story — the doughnut anyway

Watch Priya at the shelf. Anton likes the Pfannkuchen. She likes the Schrippe. He offers the doughnut anyway.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. Anton has a Pfannkuchen beside a Milchkaffee he has not finished.
  2. RenateMagst du das?Do you like that?
  3. AntonIch mag das sehr.I like that a lot.
  4. She turns to Priya at the bread shelf.
  5. RenateWas magst du?What do you like?
  6. PriyaIch mag die Schrippe.I like the roll.
  7. AntonIch liebe Pfannkuchen.I love jam doughnuts.
  8. He still holds the doughnut out to Priya.
  9. AntonMagst du das?Do you like that?
  10. PriyaIch mag das nicht.I don't like that.
  11. He holds it a little closer.
  12. PriyaNein, danke.No, thank you.
  13. Renate is already wrapping a roll.
  14. PriyaEine Schrippe, bitte.A roll, please.

Practice — like it or not

Ten short tasks sit here. You will hear a line, pick a match, fill a gap, and swap a word.

Work through them once, then say the lines out loud.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    German

    Ich mag ___.Drop the English here
    Ich liebe ___.Drop the English here
    Ich mag das nicht.Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its German, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    You want to say you like a food, then name it.

  4. Fill the gap

    I like that a lot

    Ich mag das ____.

  5. What does it mean?

    Ich liebe ___.

  6. Pick the reply

    Anton says:

    Magst du das?

    Do you like that?

    And you reply with:

  7. Swap the word

    You like that a lot, not a no.

    Ich mag das ____.

  8. Fill the gap

    What do you like?

    Was magst ____?

  9. True or false?

    This orders a Berlin bread roll.

  10. What do you say?

    Anton holds the doughnut out. You do not want it.

Say it — say what you like

Now you're Priya at the bakery shelf. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. AntonMagst du das?Do you like that?
  2. Priya (you)Tell him you do not like that.

    Ich mag das nicht.

    I don't like that

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Ich mag ___.I like ___
Ich liebe ___.I love ___
Ich mag das nicht.I don't like that
Magst du das?Do you like that?
Was magst du?What do you like?
Ich mag das sehr.I like that a lot
Next: lesson 57You decide

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these likes handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps mag and liebe ready at the shelf.

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