gern, lieber, am liebsten

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📘 Grammatik · Unit 23 · 1/8

gern, lieber, am liebsten

3 parts10 examples3 common mistakes

Example

  1. Ich trinke gern Kaffee.I like drinking coffee.

Rule

With gern you say what you like — without needing a separate verb for it.

Practise

This topic’s own test: 10 sets, 10 questions in each.Grammatik-Test →

gern stands next to the verb

German has no verb like „to like“ for activities. You take the normal verb and add gern.

  1. Ich trinke gern Kaffee.I like drinking coffee.
  2. Sie liest gern Zeitung.She likes reading the newspaper.
  3. Ich koche nicht gern.I don't like cooking.
  4. Spielst du gern Fussball?Do you like playing football?

The comparison

gern has an irregular comparison — just like gut. This is how you compare preferences.

PositivKomparativSuperlativ
gernlieberam liebsten
gutbesseram besten
vielmehram meisten
  1. Ich trinke gern Tee, aber lieber Kaffee.I like drinking tea, but I prefer coffee.
  2. Am liebsten esse ich Fisch.I like eating fish best.
  3. Was machst du am liebsten?What do you like doing best?

mögen for things

For things and people — not for activities — you use mögen. It is a modal verb, but here it stands without a second verb.

  1. Ich mag Schokolade.I like chocolate.
  2. Magst du deinen neuen Kollegen?Do you like your new colleague?
  3. Ich mag keinen Fisch.I don't like fish.

Common mistakes

Ich liebe Kaffee trinken. Ich trinke gern Kaffee.
For activities you use gern next to the verb, not lieben.
Ich mag schwimmen. Ich schwimme gern.
mögen is used with things; with activities, gern is used.
Ich trinke mehr gern Kaffee. Ich trinke lieber Kaffee.
The comparative of gern is lieber.

Quick check · 3 questions

Got the rule? Try three questions; the full test is below.

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