Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn the Italian verb "piacere" to express likes and dislikes. This lesson teaches you when to use "piace" for singular and "piacciono" for plural nouns, including positive and negative expressions. Understand that "piacere" agrees with what is liked, not the person, which differs from English. Essential phrases like "Mi piace..." and "Non mi piace..." are covered to help you communicate preferences clearly in everyday conversation.
  1. We use “piace” with a singular noun, and “piacciono” with plural nouns.
Espressione (Expression)Verbo (Verb)Esempio (Example)
Positiva (Positive)PiacereMi piace il colore rosso. (I like the colour red.)
Ti piace il tè verde. (You like green tea.)
Mi piacciono i capelli biondi. (I like blonde hair.)
Negativa (Negative)Non piacereNon mi piace il vestito giallo. (I don't like the yellow dress.)
Non ti piace il colore blu. (You don't like the colour blue.)
Non mi piacciono i pantaloni marroni. (I don't like brown trousers.)

Exceptions!

  1. The verb “piacere” changes according to the noun (singular or plural), not the person.

Exercise 1: Uso di “piacere”

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

piace, piacciono

1.
Non mi ... il colore arancione.
(I don't like the colour orange.)
2.
Ti ... i capelli castani?
(Do you like brown hair?)
3.
A lui non ... i pantaloni verdi.
(He doesn't like the green trousers.)
4.
"Ci ... la sedia rosa in cucina.
(We like the pink chair in the kitchen.)
5.
Ti ... il colore dei miei occhi?
(Do you like the colour of my eyes?)
6.
A loro ... il divano marrone.
(They like the brown sofa.)
7.
A lei ... quel vestito nero.
(She likes that black dress.)
8.
Non mi ... le sedie rosse.
(I don't like the red chairs.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Mi ___ il vestito rosso.

(I ___ the red dress.)

2. Ti ___ le scarpe verdi?

(Do you ___ the green shoes?)

3. Non mi ___ il colore blu.

(I don't ___ the blue color.)

4. Mi ___ i pantaloni neri.

(I ___ the black pants.)

5. Ti ___ il cappello marrone?

(Do you ___ the brown hat?)

6. Non ti ___ gli occhiali gialli.

(You don't ___ the yellow glasses.)

Understanding the Use of "Piacere" in Italian

This lesson focuses on the verb "piacere", which is essential for expressing likes and preferences in Italian. You will learn how to use "piacere" correctly with singular and plural nouns, as well as in positive and negative statements.

Positive Expressions with "Piacere"

In Italian, when you want to say you like something, you use forms of "piacere" that agree with the thing you like, not yourself. For example:
Mi piace il colore rosso. means "I like the red color." Here, "piace" is singular because colore is singular. For plural nouns, use "piacciono" like in Mi piacciono i capelli biondi. (I like blond hair.)

Negative Expressions with "Non piacere"

To say you don't like something, simply add "non" before the verb: Non mi piace il vestito giallo. means "I don't like the yellow dress." The same rule about singular and plural applies here.

Key Points

  • "Piacere" agrees with the noun that is liked, not the person.
    Example: "Ti piace il tè verde." (You like green tea.)
  • Use "piace" for singular nouns and "piacciono" for plural nouns.
  • Frame negatives by placing "non" before the verb: Non ti piacciono gli occhiali gialli. (You don’t like the yellow glasses.)

Comparison with English

Unlike English, where "like" is a simple verb that agrees with the subject, in Italian, "piacere" is flipped: the thing liked is the subject, while the person affected is an indirect object (e.g., "Mi piace" = "(It) pleases me"). This can be different for English speakers, so pay careful attention to the structure.

Useful phrases include:
Mi piace... – I like...
Non mi piace... – I don’t like...
Ti piace? – Do you like?
Remember to adjust piace and piacciono based on the noun’s number.

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Fabio Pirioni

Bachelor in Humanities

University of Udine

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Last Updated:

Monday, 14/07/2025 18:25