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Italian • Level 1 • GRAMMAR

piacere

💡 Grammar Rule

Understanding the Verb Piacere and Similar Verbs

In Italian, the verb piacere does not follow the same structure as the English verb "to like." Instead of the person being the subject, the thing being liked is the subject. This makes the construction similar to "is pleasing to."

1. The Structure and Conjugation

The verb must agree in number with the thing that causes the feeling. In the present tense, you will mostly use two forms:

  • Piace: Used for singular nouns or infinitives (actions).
  • Piacciono: Used for plural nouns.

Examples:

  • Mi piace il caffè. (I like coffee.)
  • Mi piace cucinare. (I like to cook.)
  • Mi piacciono i gatti. (I like cats.)

2. The Experiencer (Indirect Objects)

The person who likes the thing is expressed as an indirect object. You can use unstressed pronouns or stressed forms for emphasis.

  • Unstressed Pronouns: mi (to me), ti (to you), gli/le (to him/her), ci (to us), vi (to you all), gli (to them).
  • Stressed Forms (for emphasis): a me, a te, a lui/lei, a noi, a voi, a loro.

Example of emphasis: A me piace la pasta, a lui piacciono i panini. (I like pasta, while he likes sandwiches.)

3. Using Nouns

When the person liking something is named (e.g., Maria), you must use the preposition a before the name.

Example: A Maria piace molto il cinema. (Maria likes the cinema a lot.)

4. Negation and Questions

To make a negative sentence, place non before the pronoun. Questions keep the same word order as statements but change the intonation.

  • Non mi piace questo libro. (I don't like this book.)
  • Ti piace la musica? (Do you like music?)

5. Other Verbs Following This Pattern

Several other common Italian verbs use this exact same "reverse" structure:

  • Mancare (to miss/to be lacking): Mi manchi. (I miss you - literally: You are missing to me.)
  • Servire (to need/to be useful): Mi servono le chiavi. (I need the keys.)
  • Bastare (to be sufficient): Ti bastano dieci euro? (Is ten euros enough for you?)
  • Sembrare / Parere (to seem): Mi sembra una buona idea. (It seems like a good idea to me.)
Do you like chocolate ice cream?
Ti piace il gelato al cioccolato?
Yes, I like it a lot.
Sì, mi piace molto.
My sister likes flowers.
A mia sorella piacciono i fiori.
That’s nice, they are very pretty.
Che bello, sono molto belli.
Do you like modern art, Mr. Rossi?
Le piace l'arte moderna, signor Rossi?
No, I don't like it at all.
No, non mi piace per nulla.
We are missing the house keys.
Ci mancano le chiavi di casa.
Look, they are on the table.
Guarda, sono sul tavolo.
Do you all need this book for the class?
Vi serve questo libro per la lezione?
Yes, we need it a lot.
Sì, ci serve molto.
It seems like a good restaurant to them.
A loro sembra un buon ristorante.
I like the food there too.
Anche a me piace il cibo lì.
Is one coffee enough for Maria?
A Maria basta un caffè?
No, she needs two.
No, le servono due caffè.
I miss you a lot.
Mi manchi molto.
I miss you too.
Anche tu mi manchi.
Do you like these shoes?
Ti piacciono queste scarpe?
No, they seem a bit expensive to me.
No, mi sembrano un po' care.
The children like to play in the park.
Ai bambini piace giocare al parco.
Yes, they have a lot of fun there.
Sì, si divertono molto lì.
Are twenty minutes enough for you all?
Vi bastano venti minuti?
Yes, it is enough time.
Sì, è tempo sufficiente.
It seems to me that it is going to rain.
Mi sembra che stia per piovere.
The sky is very gray.
Il cielo è molto grigio.
Do you need help with the suitcases, ma’am?
Le serve aiuto con le valigie, signora?
No, thanks, I’m fine.
No, grazie, sto bene.
Pablo likes pizza very much.
A Pablo piace molto la pizza.
Everyone likes it!
A tutti piace!
Do these news seem interesting to them?
Gli sembrano interessanti queste notizie?
Yes, they like them a lot.
Sì, piacciono loro molto.
Do you like to read before sleeping?
Ti piace leggere prima di dormire?
Yes, it relaxes me a lot.
Sì, mi rilassa molto.
My friends don’t like the cold.
Ai miei amici non piace il freddo.
We don’t like it either.
Neanche a noi piace.
Is this bread enough for us for dinner?
Ci basta questo pane per la cena?
No, we need two more loaves.
No, ci servono altri due pani.
She is missing her books.
Le mancano i suoi libri.
They are in the library.
Sono in biblioteca.
Does this exercise seem difficult to you?
Ti sembra difficile questo esercizio?
No, it seems very easy to me.
No, mi sembra molto facile.
Mr. and Mrs. Rossi like to travel.
Ai signori Rossi piace viaggiare.
Yes, they often go to Italy.
Sì, vanno spesso in Italia.
Do you like pasta al dente, ma’am?
Le piace la pasta al dente, signora?
Yes, I only like it that way.
Sì, mi piace solo così.
I need some new glasses.
Mi servono degli occhiali nuovi.
We can go to the optician tomorrow.
Possiamo andare dall'ottico domani.
Do you all like cats?
Vi piacciono i gatti?
No, we prefer dogs.
No, preferiamo i cani.
The plan seems fine to Lucia.
A Lucia sembra bene il piano.
Great! See you later.
Ottimo! Ci vediamo dopo.

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