A1-20 · Compare preferences and skills

Hobbies

Talk about what you enjoy and what you prefer.

About 5 minutes to read · 12 quiz questions

Say what you enjoy

Gern goes with an activity to say you enjoy doing it. It does not change for different subjects.

Ich lese gern.

I like reading.

Mara hört gern Musik.

Mara likes listening to music.

Wir spielen gern Schach.

We like playing chess.

Ben kocht gern.

Ben likes cooking.

Ich lese gern means I like reading. Ich spiele gern means I like playing. The verb still agrees with its subject.

Lieber expresses a preference. Am liebsten names your favourite activity. These forms belong to gern.

Ich lese gern, aber ich koche lieber.

I like reading, but I prefer cooking.

Mara hört gern Musik, aber sie tanzt lieber.

Mara likes listening to music, but she prefers dancing.

Am liebsten spiele ich Schach.

I like playing chess best.

Was machst du am liebsten?

What do you like doing best?

The pattern is gern, lieber, am liebsten. In these examples, a second activity makes the comparison clear.

Gut describes doing something well. Besser means better. Gern describes enjoyment, which is a different idea.

Mara spielt sehr gut.

Mara plays very well.

Ben spielt gut, aber Mara spielt besser.

Ben plays well, but Mara plays better.

Ich singe gern, aber nicht gut.

I like singing, but not well.

Heute spiele ich besser als gestern.

Today I play better than yesterday.

You can enjoy something without doing it well. Use gut or besser for skill, and gern or lieber for preference.

Check what you remember with 12 short questions.