At the A2 level in German, you begin to move beyond basic phrases and develop the ability to express your preferences, likes, dislikes, and opinions. This is a vital step towards becoming more comfortable in everyday conversations and social interactions. In this article, we’ll explore key phrases, sentence structures, and vocabulary that will help you confidently express your preferences and opinions in German.
1. Key Vocabulary for Expressing Preferences
When expressing what you like or dislike, or stating preferences in German, several verbs and phrases are commonly used. Here are the most important ones:
- Mögen (to like)
- Lieber (prefer)
- Gefallen (to like something aesthetically or as an experience)
- Nicht mögen (to dislike)
- Hassen (to hate)
Examples:
- Ich mag Pizza. (I like pizza.)
- Ich esse lieber Pasta. (I prefer to eat pasta.)
- Dieser Film gefällt mir. (I like this film.)
- Ich mag es nicht, früh aufzustehen. (I don’t like getting up early.)
- Ich hasse Regen. (I hate rain.)
2. Using the Verb “Mögen” and “Lieber” for Preferences
The verb mögen is used to express what you like, while lieber is used to show preference between two or more options.
A. Mögen (to like)
Mögen is a strong verb and changes its form depending on the subject.
Conjugation of Mögen:
- Ich mag
- Du magst
- Er/Sie/Es mag
- Wir mögen
- Ihr mögt
- Sie/sie mögen
Example Sentences:
- Ich mag Kaffee. (I like coffee.)
- Er mag Fußball spielen. (He likes playing soccer.)
B. Lieber (prefer)
The word lieber works like the English word “prefer,” allowing you to express preferences.
Example Sentences:
- Ich trinke lieber Tee. (I prefer drinking tea.)
- Sie fährt lieber mit dem Bus. (She prefers taking the bus.)
3. Expressing Opinions with “Meiner Meinung nach”
When expressing your opinion in German, the phrase “Meiner Meinung nach” (in my opinion) is commonly used. You can use this phrase to introduce what you think or believe.
Example Sentences:
- Meiner Meinung nach ist dieser Film langweilig. (In my opinion, this movie is boring.)
- Meiner Meinung nach ist das Wetter heute perfekt. (In my opinion, the weather is perfect today.)
You can also use the following expressions to share your opinion:
- Ich denke, dass… (I think that…)
- Ich finde, dass… (I find that…)
- Ich glaube, dass… (I believe that…)
Example Sentences:
- Ich denke, dass Deutsch eine interessante Sprache ist. (I think that German is an interesting language.)
- Ich finde, dass dieses Buch sehr gut ist. (I find that this book is very good.)
- Ich glaube, dass wir pünktlich ankommen. (I believe that we will arrive on time.)
4. Agreeing and Disagreeing in German
In conversations, it’s essential to know how to agree or disagree politely. Here are some useful phrases:
A. Agreeing:
- Ich stimme zu. (I agree.)
- Das stimmt. (That’s true.)
- Du hast recht. (You are right.)
B. Disagreeing:
- Ich stimme nicht zu. (I don’t agree.)
- Das stimmt nicht. (That’s not true.)
- Ich glaube, du liegst falsch. (I think you’re wrong.)
Examples:
- Ich finde, dass der Film sehr spannend war. (I think the film was very exciting.)
- Ich stimme zu! (I agree!)
- Meiner Meinung nach war das Essen nicht so gut. (In my opinion, the food wasn’t very good.)
- Das stimmt nicht! Ich fand das Essen lecker. (That’s not true! I found the food delicious.)
5. Talking About Preferences in Different Contexts
When learning to express your preferences, it’s important to practice in various contexts. Below are some situations where you can use the vocabulary and phrases we’ve covered.
A. Food and Drink Preferences
- Ich mag Schokolade, aber ich esse lieber Obst. (I like chocolate, but I prefer eating fruit.)
- Ich trinke lieber Kaffee als Tee. (I prefer drinking coffee over tea.)
B. Travel Preferences
- Ich reise lieber mit dem Flugzeug als mit dem Auto. (I prefer traveling by plane rather than by car.)
- Meiner Meinung nach ist die Bahn pünktlicher als der Bus. (In my opinion, the train is more punctual than the bus.)
C. Activity Preferences
- Ich mag es, am Wochenende zu wandern. (I like hiking on the weekends.)
- Ich spiele lieber Tennis als Fußball. (I prefer playing tennis over soccer.)
6. Common Mistakes to Avoid
A. Mixing Up “Mögen” and “Gefallen”
Many learners confuse mögen and gefallen. While both translate to “like,” they are used differently. Mögen is used for general likes (Ich mag Pizza), while gefallen is used to express aesthetic or experiential liking (Das Bild gefällt mir – I like the picture).
B. Using “Lieber” Correctly
Remember, lieber is only used when expressing a preference between two or more things. Don’t use it if you are simply saying you like something.
C. Word Order with “Meiner Meinung nach”
When using meiner Meinung nach, the verb comes directly after the phrase. For example, Meiner Meinung nach ist das Wetter gut. (In my opinion, the weather is good.)
Conclusion
At the A2 level, learning how to express your preferences and opinions in German is an important step towards improving your conversational skills. With phrases like Ich mag…, Ich finde…, and Meiner Meinung nach…, you can confidently share your likes, dislikes, and viewpoints in a wide range of situations. By practicing these expressions, you will gain more fluency and feel more comfortable engaging in everyday conversations in German.
