Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn to express likes and dislikes in German using the verb »gefallen« with indirect object pronouns like »mir«, »dir«, and »ihm«. Practice with examples such as »Mir gefällt das gelbe T-Shirt« and »Uns gefallen die gelben Taschen nicht« to master positive and negative preferences.
  1. Conjugation in the third person: The verb gefallen is always conjugated in the third person singular or plural, as it describes the subject that someone likes.
  2. The sentence is formed with the indirect object pronouns "mir", "dir", "ihm", "uns", "euch", "ihnen".
Ausdruck (expression)Verb (Verb)Beispiel (Example)
Positiv (Positive)GefallenMir gefällt das gelbe T-Shirt.
Dir gefallen die schwarzen Schuhe.
Ihm / Ihr gefällt der blaue Anzug.
Negativ (Negative)Nicht gefallenUns gefallen die gelben Taschen nicht.
Euch gefällt die graue Hose nicht.
Ihnen gefallen die roten Hüte nicht. 

Exercise 1: Vorlieben und Abneigungen: Mir gefällt (nicht)...

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

Mir, Dir, Ihm, Euch, gefallen, Uns, Ihnen, Ihr, gefällt

1. Ihr:
... ... die lila Taschen.
(You like the purple bags.)
2. Sie (Plural):
... ... die schwarze Lederjacke nicht.
(You don't like the black leather jacket.)
3. Er:
... ... die modernen Schuhe.
(He likes the modern shoes.)
4. Sie (Singular):
... ... das schöne Kleid.
(I like the nice dress.)
5. Wir:
... ... die gelben Röcke.
(I like the yellow skirts.)
6. Du:
... ... die blauen Hemden.
(You like the blue shirts.)
7. Ich:
... ... deine neue Kleidung.
(I like your new clothes.)
8. Er:
... ... der rosa Hut.
(He likes the pink hat.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Mir _____ das grüne Hemd sehr gut.

(I really _____ the green shirt.)

2. Dir _____ die blauen Schuhe nicht.

(You _____ don’t like the blue shoes.)

3. Ihm _____ der rote Mantel nicht.

(He _____ doesn’t like the red coat.)

4. Uns _____ die gelben Taschen sehr gut.

(We really _____ the yellow bags.)

5. Euch _____ die schwarze Jacke nicht.

(You all _____ don’t like the black jacket.)

6. Ihnen _____ die roten Hüte sehr gut.

(They really _____ the red hats.)

Preferences and Dislikes: Using "Mir gefällt (nicht)..."

This lesson focuses on expressing likes and dislikes in German with the verb "gefallen". It is designed for beginners at A1 level who are learning how to talk about what appeals to them or others.

Understanding "gefallen"

The verb "gefallen" means "to please" or "to like" and is used to describe preferences. Unlike English where the subject is the person liking something, in German, the thing that is liked is the subject of the sentence. The person who likes it is indicated by an indirect object pronoun.

Key Structure

  • Verb conjugation: "gefallen" is conjugated only in the third person singular or plural because it refers to the object that is liked.
  • Indirect object pronouns: Use pronouns like mir (to me), dir (to you), ihm (to him), ihr (to her), uns (to us), euch (to you all), and ihnen (to them) to show who likes the object.
  • Positive and negative forms: To express dislikes, simply add "nicht" after the verb: e.g., "Mir gefällt das T-Shirt nicht." (I don't like the T-shirt.)

Examples for Practice

Here are some examples to illustrate the usage:

  • Mir gefällt das gelbe T-Shirt. (I like the yellow T-shirt.)
  • Dir gefallen die schwarzen Schuhe. (You like the black shoes.)
  • Uns gefallen die gelben Taschen nicht. (We do not like the yellow bags.)

Useful Notes for English Speakers

In English, the subject of "I like the shirt" is "I". In German, this concept flips — the subject is the thing liked (das T-Shirt), and the person liking it is represented with the dative case pronoun (mir).

Common useful phrases: Mir gefällt... (I like...), Dir gefallen... (You like...), and to negate: nicht gefallen (not to like).

Summary

By mastering the verb "gefallen" and the use of indirect object pronouns, you can naturally express your preferences and dislikes about objects in German. Remember that the liked object is the subject and always conjugates the verb, while the person expressing the preference is in the dative case.

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Sophie Schmidt

International Administration Management

Würzburger Dolmetscherschule

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Last Updated:

Thursday, 17/07/2025 13:17