A1 Prepositions & Connectors 14 min read Easy

Expressing Likes: Using 'Gostar de'

To say you like something in Portuguese, you must use gostar de, as the verb gostar never stands alone.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

In Portuguese, you don't just 'like' something; you 'like OF' it, so always use 'gostar de'.

  • Always pair 'gostar' with the preposition 'de': Eu gosto de café.
  • The 'de' contracts with articles: de + o = do, de + a = da.
  • Use the infinitive for actions: Eu gosto de correr.
Subject + Gostar (conjugated) + de + Object/Infinitive

Overview

Expressing preferences is fundamental in any language, and in Portuguese, the verb gostar serves this purpose. Unlike the English verb "to like," which typically takes a direct object, gostar functions differently. In Portuguese, gostar inherently requires the preposition de to connect to what is being liked.

This structure means it functions more akin to "to be pleased of" or "to be fond of," although a direct translation often sounds unnatural in English. Therefore, you will always encounter the fixed phrase gostar de when expressing what someone likes.

This grammatical structure is critical for A1 learners, as it underpins countless daily interactions, from discussing food preferences to sharing hobbies. Mastering gostar de early ensures you can effectively communicate basic likes and dislikes, forming a cornerstone of your Portuguese conversational ability. It is one of the first patterns that highlights the importance of prepositions in Portuguese, a concept that will recur with many other verbs.

Eu gosto de café. (I like coffee.)

Nós gostamos de viajar. (We like to travel.)

Você gosta de música brasileira? (Do you like Brazilian music?)

How This Grammar Works

At its core, the gostar de construction involves three main components: the subject, the conjugated verb gostar, and the mandatory preposition de followed by the object or activity being liked. The de is not optional; its absence changes the verb's meaning or renders the sentence grammatically incorrect in this context. The linguistic reason for this lies in the valency of gostar: it is an intransitive verb when expressing preference, demanding a prepositional phrase (introduced by de) to complete its meaning.
Furthermore, the preposition de frequently contracts with articles and demonstratives that follow it. This isn't an arbitrary rule but a natural phonological process in Portuguese, merging the preposition with the subsequent word. For example, de + o combines to form do, and de + a becomes da.
These contractions are obligatory in standard Portuguese and are crucial for sounding natural and grammatically correct. Understanding this merging mechanism is as important as remembering to include de itself, as it frequently appears in everyday speech and writing.
Consider the structure: Subject + gostar (conjugated) + de + (optional article/demonstrative) + Noun/Infinitive Verb.
Ela gosta da praia. (She likes the beach.) – Here, de + a (feminine definite article) contracts to da.
Eu não gosto deste livro. (I don't like this book.) – Here, de + este (masculine demonstrative) contracts to deste.

Formation Pattern

1
Forming sentences with gostar de follows a consistent and predictable pattern. First, the verb gostar must be conjugated according to the subject pronoun. Gostar is a regular -ar verb, making its present tense conjugations straightforward. Second, the preposition de is always inserted after the conjugated verb. Finally, the element being liked—either a noun (a person, place, or thing) or an infinitive verb (an action)—completes the phrase. When a specific noun is liked, the preposition de will often contract with the definite article (o, a, os, as) or a demonstrative (este, esse, aquele, etc.) preceding that noun.
2
Here is the conjugation of gostar in the present tense, which is the most common tense for expressing general likes:
3
| Pronoun | gostar conjugation |
4
| :------------------- | :------------------- |
5
| eu (I) | gosto |
6
| você/ele/ela/a gente (you/he/she/we) | gosta |
7
| nós (we) | gostamos |
8
| vocês/eles/elas (you/they) | gostam |
9
Note on a gente: In Brazilian Portuguese, a gente is a very common informal substitute for nós (we). When using a gente, the verb gostar is conjugated in the third-person singular form, like ele/ela. For example: A gente gosta de samba. (We like samba.) This is an important regional variation to observe.
10
When de precedes articles or demonstratives, these mandatory contractions occur:
11
| de + | Contraction | Example | English Translation |
12
| :----- | :---------- | :-------------------------------------- | :------------------------------ |
13
| o | do | Eu gosto do pão. | I like the bread. |
14
| a | da | Ela gosta da cidade. | She likes the city. |\
15
| os | dos | Nós gostamos dos museus. | We like the museums. |\
16
| as | das | Eles gostam das festas. | They like the parties. |\
17
| um | dum | Gosto dum café forte. | I like a strong coffee. |\
18
| uma | duma | Gostamos duma boa conversa. | We like a good conversation. |\
19
| uns | duns | Precisamos duns livros. | We need some books. |\
20
| umas | dumas | Elas gostam dumas músicas antigas. | They like some old songs. |\
21
| este | deste | Você gosta deste vinho? | Do you like this wine? |\
22
| esta | desta | Ela gosta desta banda. | She likes this band. |\
23
| esse | desse | Gosto desse carro. | I like that car. |\
24
| essa | dessa | Nós gostamos dessa ideia. | We like that idea. |\
25
| isto | disto | Eu gosto disto. | I like this (thing). |\
26
| isso | disso | Não gosto disso. | I don't like that (thing). |\
27
| aqui | daqui | Ele gosta daqui. | He likes it here (from here).|\
28
| ali | dali | Ela não gosta dali. | She doesn't like it there (from there).|\
29
Usage with Nouns:
30
When expressing a general liking for something, you might or might not use a definite article with the noun, depending on regional tendencies and the level of specificity. In European Portuguese, omitting the article is more common for general statements: Gosto de chocolate. (I like chocolate in general). In Brazilian Portuguese, including the article is very frequent, even for general statements: Eu gosto do chocolate. (I like the chocolate, implying chocolate in general). When referring to a specific item, the article is always required:
31
Ele gosta de futebol. (He likes soccer in general - EP preferred)
32
Ele gosta do futebol. (He likes soccer in general - BP preferred/acceptable)
33
Ela gosta da minha casa. (She likes my house - specific house, article mandatory)
34
Usage with Infinitive Verbs:
35
When expressing a liking for an action, de is directly followed by the infinitive form of the verb (the unconjugated form ending in -ar, -er, or -ir). No article is used in this construction.
36
Gostamos de cozinhar. (We like to cook.)
37
Você gosta de estudar português? (Do you like to study Portuguese?)
38
Eles gostam de assistir séries. (They like to watch series.)

When To Use It

Gostar de is a highly versatile expression used in a multitude of contexts to convey preference, enjoyment, or fondness. Its applications span across everyday topics, making it indispensable for beginners. Understanding the appropriate scenarios for its use, and when to opt for stronger alternatives, refines your ability to communicate nuanced feelings in Portuguese.
  • Expressing Hobbies and Activities: This is perhaps the most frequent application. Use gostar de to talk about pastimes, sports, or any activity you find enjoyable.
Eu gosto de ler livros de ficção científica. (I like to read science fiction books.)
Maria gosta de correr no parque pela manhã. (Maria likes to run in the park in the morning.)
Eles gostam de jogar xadrez. (They like to play chess.)
  • Discussing Food and Drink Preferences: When ordering at a restaurant, grocery shopping, or simply talking about what you eat, gostar de is essential. Remember the nuances of article usage between EP and BP here.
Você gosta de feijoada? (Do you like feijoada?)
Não gosto de pimentão. (I don't like bell pepper.)
A gente gosta muito de açaí com granola. (We really like açaí with granola.)
  • Referring to People and Animals (Friendly Context): You can use gostar de to express a friendly liking for someone or a fondness for pets. It's important to note that this is not used for romantic love, which requires amar.
Gosto dos meus vizinhos, são muito simpáticos. (I like my neighbors, they are very friendly.)
As crianças gostam do cachorro novo. (The children like the new dog.)
Eu gosto da sua irmã. (I like your sister – in a friendly way.)
  • Talking About Media (Movies, Music, Books): In discussions about culture and entertainment, gostar de is the standard expression.
Nós gostamos do último filme do diretor. (We like the director's last film.)
Que tipo de música vocês gostam de ouvir? (What type of music do you like to listen to?)
Ela não gosta de programas de TV muito longos. (She doesn't like very long TV shows.)
  • Expressing General Preferences or Opinions: For broader statements about things, places, or even abstract concepts.
Eu gosto do inverno, acho mais aconchegante. (I like winter, I find it cozier.)
Gosto da ideia de sustentabilidade. (I like the idea of sustainability.)
Você gosta de estudar em casa ou na biblioteca? (Do you like to study at home or in the library?)

Common Mistakes

Beginners often encounter specific pitfalls when learning gostar de, primarily due to interference from their native language or the novel concept of mandatory prepositions and contractions. Identifying these common errors and understanding their underlying causes can significantly accelerate your mastery of this structure.
  1. 1Omitting de: This is the most frequent error for English speakers. Because "to like" is transitive in English (e.g., "I like pizza"), learners instinctively try to apply the same structure in Portuguese. However, gostar in this context is intransitive and demands de.
  • Incorrect: Eu gosto pizza.
  • Correct: Eu gosto de pizza.
  • Why it's wrong: Without de, gostar cannot properly connect to its object, rendering the sentence ungrammatical in standard Portuguese. It's like saying "I like of pizza" but less understandable.
  1. 1Failing to use Contractions (e.g., de o instead of do): While understandable as a beginner, this mistake makes your Portuguese sound unnatural and can sometimes impede comprehension. Contractions like do, da, deste, disso are not optional stylistic choices; they are integral parts of the language.
  • Incorrect: Gosto de o livro.
  • Correct: Gosto do livro.
  • Why it's wrong: Native speakers automatically contract these sounds. Saying de o sounds stilted and directly violates a core phonological rule of Portuguese. It's akin to saying "of the" every time in English when a simpler construction exists.
  1. 1Confusing with Spanish gustar: If you have prior exposure to Spanish, you might be tempted to apply its structure for expressing likes, which is notably different. In Spanish, gustar means "to be pleasing to," with the grammatical subject being the thing liked (Me gusta el café - The coffee pleases me). Portuguese gostar de directly translates to "to like something" with the person as the grammatical subject.
  • Incorrect: Me gosta o café. (This is a Spanish construction.)
  • Correct: Eu gosto de café.
  • Why it's wrong: This introduces a completely alien grammatical structure to Portuguese and will be confusing for native speakers, as gostar does not function reflexively in this sense.
  1. 1Using gostar de for romantic love: While gostar de can indicate fondness for a person, it is insufficient and inappropriate for expressing romantic love or deep affection. Portuguese has stronger verbs for these emotions.
  • Incorrect (for romantic love): Eu gosto da Ana.
  • Correct (for romantic love): Eu amo a Ana.
  • Why it's wrong: Using gostar de for romantic love diminishes the intensity of the feeling. It implies a friendly liking, not a profound emotional bond, which could lead to misunderstandings.
  1. 1Incorrect Negation: Negating gostar de simply involves placing the negative particle não directly before the conjugated verb gostar.
  • Incorrect: Eu gosto não de viajar.
  • Correct: Eu não gosto de viajar.
  • Why it's wrong: The standard negation pattern in Portuguese is não + verb. Placing não elsewhere is grammatically incorrect.

Real Conversations

Understanding gostar de in theoretical terms is one step; observing its use in authentic communication provides deeper insight. Native speakers seamlessly integrate this structure into various registers, from formal discussions to casual online interactions. The fluidity often comes from the natural rhythm of contractions and the implicit understanding of context.

Casual Texting/Social Media: In informal digital communication, conciseness is often valued, but the de (or its contraction) remains non-negotiable.

- User A: Gosto muito desse meme! 😂 (I really like that meme!)

- User B: Eu tbm! Gosto de coisas assim. (Me too! I like things like that.)

- Friend 1: A gente vai sair pra jantar, você gosta de comida indiana? (We're going out for dinner, do you like Indian food?)

- Friend 2: Adoro! Mas não gosto de pimenta forte. (I love it! But I don't like strong chili.)

E

Everyday Dialogue

In spoken Portuguese, the rhythm of gostar de and its contractions is natural. Pay attention to how people ask about preferences and respond.

- Onde você gosta de passar as férias? (Where do you like to spend your holidays?)

- Gosto da praia, mas minha esposa prefere a montanha. (I like the beach, but my wife prefers the mountain.)

- Você gosta do seu trabalho novo? (Do you like your new job?)

- Sim, gosto bastante, o ambiente é bom. (Yes, I like it a lot, the environment is good.)

C

Cultural Insight

Brazilians, particularly, are very expressive about their likes and dislikes, often using intensifiers like muito (a lot) or bastante (quite a lot) with gostar de. The way someone asks Você gosta de...? can also be an opening for a deeper conversation, revealing cultural nuances about shared interests.

Quick FAQ

Q: Do I always, always, always have to use de with gostar when expressing liking?

Yes, unequivocally. When gostar means "to like" or "to enjoy," the preposition de is mandatory and cannot be omitted. Its absence renders the phrase ungrammatical in standard Portuguese. There are no exceptions in this specific context.

Q: What's the difference between gostar de, adorar, and amar?

These verbs express varying degrees of positive sentiment, forming a scale of intensity. Crucially, adorar and amar do not use the preposition de in this context.

  • Gostar de: Expresses a general liking, preference, or enjoyment. It's the most common and versatile option.
  • Eu gosto de música clássica. (I like classical music.)
  • Ela gosta de conversar com os amigos. (She likes to talk with friends.)
  • Adorar: Conveys a stronger sense of liking, adoration, or loving something/an activity intensely. It implies more enthusiasm than gostar de.
  • Eu adoro chocolate! (I love chocolate!)
  • Nós adoramos nadar no mar. (We love swimming in the sea.)
  • Amar: The strongest verb for love. It is typically reserved for romantic love between people, deep familial love, or a passionate, profound love for things or abstract concepts. Using amar for casual likes might sound overly dramatic or even inappropriate.
  • Eu amo minha esposa. (I love my wife.)
Eles amam o Brasil. (They love Brazil.)
Ele ama a liberdade. (He loves freedom.)
Q: Are there any differences in using gostar de between European Portuguese (EP) and Brazilian Portuguese (BP)?

The fundamental grammatical rule—the mandatory use of de and its contractions—remains the same across both variants. The primary differences lie in stylistic preferences and the use of pronouns:

  • Articles with Nouns: In EP, it's more common to omit the definite article when gostar de refers to a general noun (e.g., Gosto de café. - I like coffee). In BP, including the definite article is very frequent even for general nouns (e.g., Eu gosto do café. - I like coffee).
  • Pronoun a gente: As noted earlier, a gente is extensively used in BP as an informal substitute for nós (we), always conjugating gostar in the third-person singular (a gente gosta). While understood in EP, nós (nós gostamos) is predominantly used.
Q: How do I ask someone if they like something?

You can ask by forming a question with gostar de in the same way you'd form a statement, often just by raising your intonation in speech or adding a question mark in writing. In spoken Portuguese, the subject pronoun você/vocês is frequently omitted if clear from context.

  • Você gosta de ler? (Do you like to read?)
  • Gosta de pão de queijo? (Do you like cheese bread? - informal, você omitted)
  • Vocês gostam de ir ao cinema? (Do you all like to go to the cinema?)
Q: What if I want to say I don't like something at all?

For stronger negation, you can combine não gosto de with intensifiers like de jeito nenhum (in no way/at all) or nem um pouco (not even a little bit).

  • Não gosto de brócolis de jeito nenhum. (I don't like broccoli at all.)
  • Ele não gosta de acordar cedo nem um pouco. (He doesn't like waking up early at all.)

Conjugation of 'Gostar' (Present Tense)

Pronoun Conjugation Preposition
Eu
gosto
de
Tu
gostas
de
Você/Ele/Ela
gosta
de
Nós
gostamos
de
Vocês/Eles/Elas
gostam
de

Contractions of 'de'

Preposition Article Result
de
o
do
de
a
da
de
os
dos
de
as
das

Meanings

The verb 'gostar' is the primary way to express preference or affection for objects, people, or activities.

1

General Preference

Expressing that you enjoy something.

“Eu gosto de pizza.”

“Ela gosta de ler.”

2

Affection for People

Expressing that you like or care for a person.

“Eu gosto muito do meu professor.”

“Eles gostam da Maria.”

3

Habitual Activity

Expressing enjoyment of a specific hobby or action.

“Gosto de nadar no verão.”

“Gostamos de jogar futebol.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Expressing Likes: Using 'Gostar de'
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Subj + Gostar + de + Obj
Eu gosto de café.
Negative
Subj + não + Gostar + de + Obj
Eu não gosto de chá.
Question
Gostar + Subj + de + Obj?
Você gosta de música?
Infinitive
Gostar + de + Verb(inf)
Gosto de correr.
Contraction
Gostar + do/da + Noun
Gosto do livro.
Short Answer
Sim, eu gosto.
Sim, eu gosto.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Aprecio bastante esta obra.

Aprecio bastante esta obra. (Book review)

Neutral
Eu gosto deste livro.

Eu gosto deste livro. (Book review)

Informal
Curto esse livro.

Curto esse livro. (Book review)

Slang
Mano, esse livro é top.

Mano, esse livro é top. (Book review)

The Gostar de Web

Gostar

Food

  • café coffee
  • pizza pizza

Activities

  • ler reading
  • nadar swimming
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Examples by Level

1

Eu gosto de café.

I like coffee.

2

Você gosta de pizza?

Do you like pizza?

3

Ela gosta de música.

She likes music.

4

Nós gostamos de viajar.

We like to travel.

1

Eu não gosto do filme.

I don't like the movie.

2

Eles gostam da praia.

They like the beach.

3

Você gosta de ler livros?

Do you like reading books?

4

Gosto muito de chocolate.

I like chocolate a lot.

1

Gosto de quem é honesto.

I like those who are honest.

2

Não gosto de nada que ele diz.

I don't like anything he says.

3

Gostamos de tudo o que vimos.

We like everything we saw.

4

Você gosta de mim?

Do you like me?

1

Gostaria de saber mais.

I would like to know more.

2

Ele gosta de se sentir útil.

He likes to feel useful.

3

Não gostei do que vi ontem.

I didn't like what I saw yesterday.

4

Gostamos de como ela canta.

We like how she sings.

1

Gosto de quem me faz rir.

I like those who make me laugh.

2

Gostaria de que você viesse.

I would like you to come.

3

Não gosto de como as coisas mudam.

I don't like how things change.

4

Gostamos de tudo, menos do preço.

We like everything, except the price.

1

Gostaria de ter sabido antes.

I would have liked to have known sooner.

2

Gosto de quem é autêntico.

I like those who are authentic.

3

Não gostei da forma como falou.

I didn't like the way you spoke.

4

Gostamos de tudo o que é novo.

We like everything that is new.

Easily Confused

Expressing Likes: Using 'Gostar de' vs Gostar vs. Querer

Learners use 'gostar' when they mean 'want'.

Expressing Likes: Using 'Gostar de' vs Gostar vs. Amar

Using 'amar' for everything.

Expressing Likes: Using 'Gostar de' vs Gostar de vs. Apreciar

Using 'apreciar' in casual settings.

Common Mistakes

✗

Eu gosto pizza

✓

Eu gosto de pizza

Missing the required preposition 'de'.
✗

Eu gosto do a pizza

✓

Eu gosto da pizza

Double article usage.
✗

Ele gostam de café

✓

Ele gosta de café

Incorrect conjugation for third person.
✗

Eu gosto de o café

✓

Eu gosto do café

Failure to contract 'de' + 'o'.
✗

Eu gostei de pizza ontem

✓

Eu gostei da pizza ontem

Needs article for specific object.
✗

Nós gostamos de nadar no mar

✓

Nós gostamos de nadar no mar

Actually correct, but often confused with 'gostar do mar'.
✗

Você gosta de mim?

✓

Você gosta de mim?

Often confused with 'você gosta eu'.
✗

Gosto de que você faz

✓

Gosto do que você faz

Should use 'do que' for 'what'.
✗

Gosto de quem eles

✓

Gosto de quem eles gostam

Incomplete sentence structure.
✗

Gostaria de que ir

✓

Gostaria de ir

Unnecessary 'que' with infinitive.
✗

Gosto da forma como que você fala

✓

Gosto da forma como você fala

Redundant 'que'.
✗

Gostaria de ter gostado

✓

Gostaria de ter gostado

Correct, but often misused in tense.
✗

Gosto de tudo que eu vejo

✓

Gosto de tudo o que vejo

Missing 'o' before 'que'.
✗

Não gosto de como ele se comporta

✓

Não gosto de como ele se comporta

Correct, but often confused with 'da forma como'.

Sentence Patterns

Eu gosto de ___.

Eu não gosto de ___.

Você gosta do ___?

Eu gosto da ___.

Real World Usage

Social Media constant

Gosto muito da sua foto!

Dating very common

Gosto de você.

Job Interview common

Gosto de trabalhar em equipe.

Ordering Food common

Gosto de comida apimentada.

Travel occasional

Gosto de visitar museus.

Texting constant

Gostei do filme!

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💡

The 'de' rule

Always treat 'gostar' and 'de' as a single unit in your mind.
⚠️

Don't forget the contraction

If you say 'de o', you will sound like a beginner. Always use 'do'.
🎯

Use 'muito' for emphasis

Add 'muito' after the verb to say you like something a lot.
💬

Romantic nuance

Be careful saying 'gosto de você' to a stranger; it can sound like a confession of interest.

Smart Tips

Remember to contract 'de' + 'o' to 'do'.

Eu gosto de o livro. → Eu gosto do livro.

Use the infinitive form directly after 'de'.

Eu gosto de nado. → Eu gosto de nadar.

If you don't know the gender, use the general form without an article.

Eu gosto do pizza. → Eu gosto de pizza.

Add 'muito' after the verb.

Eu gosto de café. → Eu gosto muito de café.

Pronunciation

dji / de

The 'de' sound

In Brazil, 'de' often sounds like 'dji'. In Portugal, it is a crisp 'de'.

Question

Você gosta de café? ↑

Rising intonation at the end for questions.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Gostar is a 'DE'pendent verb; it always needs its 'de' partner.

Visual Association

Imagine a person holding a coffee cup with a giant 'DE' sticker on it. Every time they take a sip, they say 'Gosto DE café'.

Rhyme

If you want to say you like a thing, remember 'gostar' needs 'de' to sing.

Story

Maria loves coffee. She walks into a cafe and says 'Gosto de café'. The waiter brings it. She is happy because she remembered the 'de'.

Word Web

gostardedodagostosogosto

Challenge

Write 5 sentences about things you like using 'gostar de' in the next 5 minutes.

Cultural Notes

Brazilians use 'curtir' as a slang synonym for 'gostar'.

In Portugal, 'tu' is more common than 'você' for friends.

Using 'gostar' for people can imply romantic interest.

Comes from the Latin 'gustare', meaning 'to taste'.

Conversation Starters

“

O que você gosta de comer?

“

Você gosta de música brasileira?

“

Você gosta de morar aqui?

“

Você gosta de filmes de terror?

Journal Prompts

Escreva sobre três coisas que você gosta de fazer no fim de semana.
Descreva um amigo e por que você gosta dele.
Escreva sobre um lugar que você gosta e por quê.
Reflita sobre como seus gostos mudaram com o tempo.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

Eu ___ de café.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: gosto
First person singular conjugation.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu gosto de pizza
Requires 'de'.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu gosto de o livro.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu gosto do livro
Contraction required.
Change to negative. Sentence Transformation

Eu gosto de música.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu não gosto de música
Negative goes before verb.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Você gosta de praia? B: ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Sim, eu gosto
Short answer does not need 'de'.
Order the words. Sentence Building

de / gosto / café / eu

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu gosto de café
Standard SVO order.
Sort the contractions. Grammar Sorting

de + o = ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: do
Masculine singular contraction.
Match the verb form. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: gostamos
First person plural.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Eu ___ de café.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: gosto
First person singular conjugation.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu gosto de pizza
Requires 'de'.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu gosto de o livro.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu gosto do livro
Contraction required.
Change to negative. Sentence Transformation

Eu gosto de música.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu não gosto de música
Negative goes before verb.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Você gosta de praia? B: ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Sim, eu gosto
Short answer does not need 'de'.
Order the words. Sentence Building

de / gosto / café / eu

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu gosto de café
Standard SVO order.
Sort the contractions. Grammar Sorting

de + o = ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: do
Masculine singular contraction.
Match the verb form. Match Pairs

Match 'Nós' with the correct form.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: gostamos
First person plural.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

11 exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct contraction. Fill in the Blank

Você gosta ___ filme que assistimos ontem?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: do
Fill in the blank with the correct verb form. Fill in the Blank

Nós não ___ de acordar cedo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: gostamos
Find and fix the mistake. Error Correction

Eu gosto dos seus sapatos novos. E você, gosta o meu?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: E você, gosta do meu?
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Reorder

de / eles / não / viajar / gostam / de avião

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eles não gostam de viajar de avião.
Translate the following sentence to Portuguese. Translation

She likes the yellow house.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ela gosta da casa amarela.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which option is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A gente gosta de pizza.
Match the subjects to the correct verb forms. Match Pairs

Match the pronouns and verbs.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: [["Eu","gosto de"],["N\u00f3s","gostamos de"],["Ela","gosta de"],["Eles","gostam de"]]
Fill in the blank. Fill in the Blank

Meus amigos e eu ___ de ir ao cinema.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: gostamos
Find and fix the mistake. Error Correction

Tu gostas de o novo jogo?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tu gostas do novo jogo?
How would you ask 'Do you (formal) like to cook?' Translation

Translate: Do you like to cook?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Você gosta de cozinhar?
Which verb doesn't need 'de'? Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu adoro frutos do mar.

Score: /11

FAQ (8)

It is a structural requirement of the verb 'gostar'. Without it, the sentence is grammatically incomplete.

No, that is incorrect. You must say 'gosto de pizza'.

Use 'do' for masculine nouns (de + o) and 'da' for feminine nouns (de + a).

Yes, it follows the standard -ar verb conjugation pattern.

Yes, but be aware it can imply romantic interest.

Use 'gostar de' followed by the infinitive verb, e.g., 'gosto de nadar'.

Place 'não' before the verb: 'Eu não gosto de café'.

The grammar is the same, but pronunciation of 'de' varies.

Scaffolded Practice

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Mastery Progress

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In Other Languages

Spanish partial

Gustar

Portuguese uses 'gostar' as a standard active verb.

French low

Aimer

Portuguese requires 'de'.

German moderate

Mögen

Portuguese is a standard verb.

Japanese low

Suki desu

Portuguese uses a verb.

Arabic low

Yuhibbu

Portuguese distinguishes preference.

Chinese low

Xǐhuān

Portuguese requires a preposition.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Food & Drink Essentials: Ordering, Gender & 'Lanche' vs 'Almoço'

Learn These First

A1 Requires

The Magic Connector DE (do/da)

Overview Portuguese, a language rich in grammatical nuance, employs prepositions as essential connectors, binding words...
A1 Requires

The 'Sticky' Verb: Gostar (to like)

Overview The Portuguese verb `gostar` translates to "to like" in English, yet its grammatical behavior fundamentally dif...

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A1

The Conditional 'Se' (If)

Overview The conditional conjunction `se` in Portuguese serves as the direct equivalent of "if" in English, introducing...
C2

Portuguese Verb Regimen: Using the Right Prepositions (Regência Verbal)

Overview Portuguese `Regência Verbal` defines the precise relationship between a verb and its complements. Unlike Englis...
C1

Advanced Connectors: Result & Consequence (tão... que, de modo que)

Overview As you advance in Portuguese, moving towards the C1 level, your goal shifts from merely being understood to exp...
A1

Asking 'Why' in Portuguese (Por que)

Overview Portuguese, like English, requires a precise way to ask "why." For learners at the A1 (Beginner) CEFR level, **...
B1

Por vs. Para: Doing Favors & Swapping

Overview Prepositions like `por` and `para` are fundamental to Portuguese grammar, acting as essential connectors that d...
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