Expressing Likes and Dislikes - verb+gern(e) construction

using gern with schwimme Look carefully at the following examples:

Ich spiele gern Golf.
- I like to play golf.
Ich spiele nicht gern Golf.
- I don't like to play golf.
Ich schwimme gern.
- I like to swim.
Ich schwimme nicht gern.
- I don't like to swim.

The easiest way to say you like or don't like something is to use the appropriate verb + gern(e). To say that you don't like something just say nicht gern(e).

There is no difference in meaning between gerne or gern; gerne is an older form and gern is more commonly used nowadays.

It is best to keep gern or nicht gern immediately after the verb.

Vorsicht / Caution

Many online translation tools (google translate, for ex.) often confuse the use of gern with the use of mag, which is a verb, but should only be used to express liking things / nouns. For ex., Ich mag Basketball.

Yet, to say I like playing basketball we say, Ich spiele gern Basketball (not Ich mag Basketball spielen).

Wichtig (Important)!

Please note that the expressions gern and nicht gern are not verbs (gern is an adverb), so never say Ich gern or Ich nicht gern something. Gern must follow an action verb to indicate you like/dislike whatever action is expressed by the verb:

Ich spiele Tennis (I play/I am playing Tennis)

If you add gern, you change the meaning of the sentence:

Ich spiele gern Tennis (I like to play Tennis)

Remember that with a particular sport or game you play, use the verb 'to play'(spielen) + sport/game. Otherwise use the verb itself (schwimmen + gern) like in the examples above.

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